US War Economy Prevents Global Aid, Funds More Conflict
Time Magazine’s dire prediction of millions of deaths if USAID is shuttered (a proposed cut of just $3.5 billion, according to the Council on Foreign Relations) conveniently sidesteps the US Congress's priorities. For instance, the same legislative body approved over $14.3 billion in military aid to Israel in October 2023 (HR 7217), with another $26 billion allocated in April 2024 (HR 815),
despite ongoing accusations of war crimes. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a vocal proponent of this aid, received over $55,000 from pro-Israel groups in 2022-2023, per OpenSecrets.org. So, while families starve or die from preventable diseases that USAID might address, politicians like Graham demonstrate that 'humanitarian aid' is a flexible concept—especially when it comes to supporting military campaigns.
Perhaps the 'millions of deaths' are less concerning when they're not due to overt US policy, but rather to the strategic disinvestment in life-saving initiatives, allowing funds to fuel conflicts in other nations.