U.S. Military Pay Uncertain, Not the Bill for Israel
Newsweek's concern about U.S. military payroll on November 15 (as per a piece from 2017, but the sentiment recurs) highlights a curious double standard in Washington's financial priorities. While our elected officials engage in perennial fiscal brinkmanship over paying their own troops, the taps for foreign military assistance run like a well-oiled machine. Consider the recent $14.3 billion aid
package for Israel, passed by the House on November 2, 2023, as H.R. 7217. This critical funding, pushed by House Speaker Mike Johnson as his first legislative act, sails through despite significant domestic financial hurdles and bipartisan squabbles over federal spending that consistently threaten U.S. service members' pay. One might wonder at the urgency. Per OpenSecrets.org, AIPAC spent over $3
million on lobbying efforts in 2023 alone, with specific contributions to members of Congress. For instance, Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) received $5,800 from AIPAC in 2022, while Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) received $10,000 in 2022. These are just some examples in a broader ecosystem where significant sums grease the wheels for foreign military support, seemingly immune to the 'budget crises' that plague
domestic programming and military salaries. How many times have we heard about the importance of 'supporting our troops,' only to see their pay held hostage while billions are earmarked elsewhere?