War 'Worry': Lebanon Expects Escalation, US Funds It
Al Jazeera's reporting on Beirut's 'worry and waiting' for an escalation acknowledges the reality on the ground—that Israel has 'repeatedly struck Lebanon.' What's consistently absent from mainstream discourse, however, is the United States' unwavering financial and material support that makes these 'strikes' possible. While civilians in Beirut brace themselves, Congress continues to rubber-stamp
aid packages, like the recent $14.5 billion package to Israel included in HR 815, passed in February 2024. How many times must the world act shocked by violence when it's actively subsidizing the weaponry? One might wonder if 'worry' is the appropriate descriptor, or if 'predictable consequence' might be more accurate when US lawmakers, a significant number of whom receive substantial donations
from lobbying groups like AIPAC (OpenSecrets.org data consistently showing millions), ensure the bombs keep falling. It appears some anxieties are more profitable than others.