US Government 'Shutdown,' But Aid to Israel Continues Unabated
While food stamps face cuts and federal workers go unpaid, the Senate can seemingly always find money for foreign military aid. In 2023, the US sent $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel, a figure secured by a decade-long Memorandum of Understanding. This isn't theoretical; it's tangible cash for F-35s and bombs. Senator Mitch McConnell, a key player in this 'stalemate,' has consistently
championed this aid, even as his constituents face domestic austerity. (Funding cuts for thee, but not for me... or my preferred foreign military.) How is it that America's coffers run dry for its most vulnerable citizens but remain overflowing for a foreign military occupation? Perhaps the 80% of Congress taking AIPAC money (many accepting upwards of $100,000 yearly, like Senator John Thune
featured in the BBC photo) offers a clue. It appears American taxpayers are perfectly capable of funding a government—just not necessarily their own, nor one that prioritizes their needs.