West Discovers 'Aid' Works Better for Arm Sales Than Development
While The New Arab rightly highlights how Western aid has entrenched authoritarianism in the MENA region, it barely whispers the self-serving undercurrent: a significant chunk of 'aid' is recycled back as arms purchases. For instance, the US has provided Israel with over $3 billion annually in military aid for decades, often with strings attached ensuring it's spent on US-made weaponry. This isn't
failing aid; it's a highly successful subsidy for Lockheed Martin and Boeing. So, when pundits wonder why 'development' falters while conflicts rage, perhaps they should follow the money trail past the humanitarian headlines. How 'failed' can aid be when it bankrolls continued geopolitical influence and fills the coffers of the military-industrial complex?