Americans pride themselves that their country is the world’s biggest aid donor but let’s not kid ourselves that the money doesn’t come without strings, which at times threaten the recipient nation’s sovereign choices.
Washington uses the withdrawal or cutting of aid like the sword of Damocles over the heads of leaderships with the implication ‘do our bidding, or else.’ In many instances, US aid isn’t so much charity as bribery and, moreover, rather than being used to help ordinary people it often falls into the hands of corrupt politicians willing to put US interests before national concerns.
There are exceptions. Israel’s $3 billion (Dh11 billion) annual aid package is sacrosanct. Israelis bristle at the idea of taking marching orders from Washington. Israeli prime ministers go out of their way to prove to the electorate that the White House doesn’t call the tune, as Benjamin Netanyahu did this year by refusing to halt Jewish colony expansion and accepting the idea of a Palestinian state along 1967 borders.
Israel’s former PM, Ariel Sharon ,was famously quoted as telling Knesset members in response to questions about America’s reaction to IDF brutality, “Don’t worry. We control the United States.” That may sound like an arrogant boast but, in fact, it contains a kernel of truth. No member of Congress would dream of introducing a bill to cut Israel’s aid even when their country’s commander in chief is snubbed by Tel Aviv. But many would happily fight to reduce health care and welfare payments benefiting America’s poor. This is happening now as President Barack Obama seeks Congressional approval to raise the debt ceiling.
However, Congress has no such compunction when it comes to reducing aid to US allies Egypt and Pakistan. The House Foreign Affairs Committee last week approved a bill on blocking security and civilian aid to Pakistan unless the White House can certify Islamabad is making every effort to vigorously combat terrorism and assists in preventing nuclear proliferation.
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Blood money
Such hardened attitudes ignore the souring of Pakistani-US relations over civilians killed by US drone attacks, America’s infringement of Pakistan’s sovereignty over the assassination of Osama Bin Laden without the Pakistani government’s knowledge—and the US-influenced acquittal of CIA contractor Raymond Davis charged with the murder of two men in Lahore. The families say they had received ‘blood money’ but, quite frankly, US aid to Pakistan could be similarly characterised.
The US is also considering rebalancing its aid to Egypt with less going to the military and more to economic development agencies, NGOs, human rights organisations and pro-democracy groups which would receive the monies without Egyptian government approval. This comes at a time when Egyptians are particularly suspicious of foreign agendas being pursued by such agencies and groups. Member of the Coordinating Committee for Revolution Supporters Essam Al Nizami rightly pointed out that there is no such thing as a “free lunch.”
A congressional bill being considered stipulates that aid to Egypt should only be given with the proviso that any new government must not be controlled by a terrorist organisation—a euphemism for the Islamist coalition led by the Muslim Brotherhood. Republican Congressman and member of the House Armed Services Committee Allen West urges the White House to halt sales of M1 Abram tanks to Egypt until an elected Egyptian government is seen to be minus members of the Brotherhood and commits to preserving peace with Israel.
When former president Hosni Mubarak is being reviled for being in the pocket of Israel and the US, it seems to me that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces should preempt congressional discussions with a simple ‘thanks, but no thanks.’ If Egypt can rid the country of corruption at the top, it will not be in need of US largesse—and, in any case, until such time as the economy improves, Egypt is being assisted by Gulf states. On the military front, Cairo should cast around for alternative weapons suppliers so that it is not reliant on the US for spare parts.
Congress is also mulling reducing aid to the Lebanese government in the wake of a call by the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who last week stated, “The US should immediately cut off assistance to the Lebanese government as long as any violent extremist group designated by the US as a foreign terrorist organisation participates in it.” Recently, too, Congressman Eliot Engel passed two bills making aid to the Palestinian National Authority conditional upon its abandoning its bid for UN recognition of statehood and its return to the peace table even though its legs have long been shattered.
The overall message is clear and simple. US aid—other than emergency aid or aid to Israel—isn’t given in order to help the less fortunate; it’s an enticement, an inducement, a backhander to manipulate both the internal and foreign policies of foreign nations. Countries should shun such tainted handouts from a superpower that, hand-in-glove with Israel, works against them and, instead, ask their true allies to step into the breach like Europe has done to keep Greece afloat. It’s beyond time that the Arab world—if such an entity still exists—bands together to keep the wolf in sheep’s clothing far from the region’s door, else risk being gobbled up.
Linda S. Heard is a British specialist writer on Middle East affairs. She welcomes feedback and can be contacted by email at heardonthegrapevines@yahoo.co.uk.
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Arab region should shun conditional US aid
It’s an enticement to help Washington manipulate both the internal and foreign policies of recipient foreign nations
Posted on July 28, 2011 by Linda S. Heard
Americans pride themselves that their country is the world’s biggest aid donor but let’s not kid ourselves that the money doesn’t come without strings, which at times threaten the recipient nation’s sovereign choices.
Washington uses the withdrawal or cutting of aid like the sword of Damocles over the heads of leaderships with the implication ‘do our bidding, or else.’ In many instances, US aid isn’t so much charity as bribery and, moreover, rather than being used to help ordinary people it often falls into the hands of corrupt politicians willing to put US interests before national concerns.
There are exceptions. Israel’s $3 billion (Dh11 billion) annual aid package is sacrosanct. Israelis bristle at the idea of taking marching orders from Washington. Israeli prime ministers go out of their way to prove to the electorate that the White House doesn’t call the tune, as Benjamin Netanyahu did this year by refusing to halt Jewish colony expansion and accepting the idea of a Palestinian state along 1967 borders.
Israel’s former PM, Ariel Sharon ,was famously quoted as telling Knesset members in response to questions about America’s reaction to IDF brutality, “Don’t worry. We control the United States.” That may sound like an arrogant boast but, in fact, it contains a kernel of truth. No member of Congress would dream of introducing a bill to cut Israel’s aid even when their country’s commander in chief is snubbed by Tel Aviv. But many would happily fight to reduce health care and welfare payments benefiting America’s poor. This is happening now as President Barack Obama seeks Congressional approval to raise the debt ceiling.
However, Congress has no such compunction when it comes to reducing aid to US allies Egypt and Pakistan. The House Foreign Affairs Committee last week approved a bill on blocking security and civilian aid to Pakistan unless the White House can certify Islamabad is making every effort to vigorously combat terrorism and assists in preventing nuclear proliferation.
Article continues below
Blood money
Such hardened attitudes ignore the souring of Pakistani-US relations over civilians killed by US drone attacks, America’s infringement of Pakistan’s sovereignty over the assassination of Osama Bin Laden without the Pakistani government’s knowledge—and the US-influenced acquittal of CIA contractor Raymond Davis charged with the murder of two men in Lahore. The families say they had received ‘blood money’ but, quite frankly, US aid to Pakistan could be similarly characterised.
The US is also considering rebalancing its aid to Egypt with less going to the military and more to economic development agencies, NGOs, human rights organisations and pro-democracy groups which would receive the monies without Egyptian government approval. This comes at a time when Egyptians are particularly suspicious of foreign agendas being pursued by such agencies and groups. Member of the Coordinating Committee for Revolution Supporters Essam Al Nizami rightly pointed out that there is no such thing as a “free lunch.”
A congressional bill being considered stipulates that aid to Egypt should only be given with the proviso that any new government must not be controlled by a terrorist organisation—a euphemism for the Islamist coalition led by the Muslim Brotherhood. Republican Congressman and member of the House Armed Services Committee Allen West urges the White House to halt sales of M1 Abram tanks to Egypt until an elected Egyptian government is seen to be minus members of the Brotherhood and commits to preserving peace with Israel.
When former president Hosni Mubarak is being reviled for being in the pocket of Israel and the US, it seems to me that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces should preempt congressional discussions with a simple ‘thanks, but no thanks.’ If Egypt can rid the country of corruption at the top, it will not be in need of US largesse—and, in any case, until such time as the economy improves, Egypt is being assisted by Gulf states. On the military front, Cairo should cast around for alternative weapons suppliers so that it is not reliant on the US for spare parts.
Congress is also mulling reducing aid to the Lebanese government in the wake of a call by the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who last week stated, “The US should immediately cut off assistance to the Lebanese government as long as any violent extremist group designated by the US as a foreign terrorist organisation participates in it.” Recently, too, Congressman Eliot Engel passed two bills making aid to the Palestinian National Authority conditional upon its abandoning its bid for UN recognition of statehood and its return to the peace table even though its legs have long been shattered.
The overall message is clear and simple. US aid—other than emergency aid or aid to Israel—isn’t given in order to help the less fortunate; it’s an enticement, an inducement, a backhander to manipulate both the internal and foreign policies of foreign nations. Countries should shun such tainted handouts from a superpower that, hand-in-glove with Israel, works against them and, instead, ask their true allies to step into the breach like Europe has done to keep Greece afloat. It’s beyond time that the Arab world—if such an entity still exists—bands together to keep the wolf in sheep’s clothing far from the region’s door, else risk being gobbled up.
Linda S. Heard is a British specialist writer on Middle East affairs. She welcomes feedback and can be contacted by email at heardonthegrapevines@yahoo.co.uk.