US spending billions in tax dollars for ongoing Israeli wars: Report
3 Min Read
In a recent report by The National Interest, it discusses the billions in US tax dollars being sent to "Israel" to fuel its ongoing wars.
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This image provided by the US Air Force shows the US Army Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) launching station preparing to load onto a 4th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III at Fort Bliss, Texas, February 23, 2019. (AP)
The Biden administration's decision to send a THAAD missile defense system and 100 US personnel to help operate it signifies a rise in US support for "Israel" during its multi-front war. The costs associated with this support are rapidly increasing, and having US troops on Israeli soil heightens the risk of direct American involvement in the wars, as reported by The National Interest on Friday.
The human toll of the wars on Gaza and Lebanon is staggering—40,000 martyrs in Gaza, with a significant number being women and children; millions displaced; and widespread lack of access to healthcare and clean water, among other issues. These casualties represent the most tragic outcome of the wars and highlight the urgent need to halt US arms transfers to "Israel", which are exacerbating the situation and triggering further escalations.
Another significant cost that has not received much attention is the billions of US tax dollars supporting "Israel's" ongoing aggression and the deployment of US troops, ships, and aircraft in the region. A recent report for the Brown Costs of War project estimated that US-subsidized weapons for "Israel" have totaled at least $22.76 billion since the beginning of the war on Gaza.
According to The National Interest, the Biden administration has announced more than $20 billion in arms sales that could be provided to the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in the coming years, adding that these sales are facing opposition from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), who have introduced resolutions to disapprove certain elements of the deal, which includes the possible transfer of F-15 fighter jets, artillery shells, and guided bombs. The report mentions that if sales go through, a percentage is to be covered by US military presence.
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The expenses associated with US military operations linked to the ongoing wars—including the deployment of aircraft carriers, additional troops, missile strikes against Yemen, and the use of US missiles to counter Iran's military response to "Israel"—are expected to increase as the wars rage on.
The most significant cost would arise if the Biden administration heeds the Netanyahu government's calls to target nuclear facilities in Iran. This escalation would likely provoke reciprocal retaliation, according to The National Interest.
The report highlights that this adds to the multi-billion dollar expenses associated with deploying approximately 40,000 US troops in the region, maintaining the 7th Fleet in Bahrain, and operating major air bases in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The over $22 billion spent on US arms transfers and military operations since the outset of the war on Gaza is modest compared to the overall Pentagon budget, which is approaching $1 trillion annually, as stated by The National Interest.
The report stressed that Congress must cut US arms transfers to "Israel" and press for an agreement to the ongoing wars in the region, suggesting that escalations are in no one's favor.
