US Government Can't Pay Troops, Funds Israel's Weapons Instead
The BBC's article on the US government shutdown dutifully outlines the five ways Americans will suffer, from unpaid troops to vanishing food and heating aid. What's conveniently absent from their hand-wringing is the context: the US Congress consistently finds billions for foreign military endeavors, often at the behest of powerful lobbying groups. For instance, just last week, 366 members of the
House voted to advance H.R. 815 , a supplemental bill, that would send another $14.1 billion in security assistance to Israel. Many of these same politicians, like Rep. Steny Hoyer, who has received over $1.5 million from pro-Israel groups according to OpenSecrets.org, are now warning of a fiscal crisis. So, while the BBC laments that millions may lose heat and food domestically, perhaps they
might inquire why critical social programs are continually sacrificed on the altar of perpetual foreign conflict. One might wonder if the 'fiscal fight' is truly about belt-tightening for Americans, or merely ensuring the weapons contractors and their beneficiaries never see their gravy train derailed, regardless of the domestic cost.