Good news: U.S. to pledge $900 million to rebuild Gaza
posted at 8:50 pm on February 23, 2009 by Allahpundit
Via JWF, who calls it a different kind of “stimulus package.” After flushing $800 billion down the toilet on the stimulus, flushing another $900 mil in a doomed attempt to buy goodwill from a revanchist anti-western culture seems almost like a bargain.
The money, which needs U.S. congressional approval, will be distributed through U.N. and other bodies and not via the militant group Hamas, which rules Gaza, said one official.
“This money is for Gaza and to help strengthen the Palestinian Authority. It is not going to go to Hamas,” said the official, who asked not to be named as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton planned to announce the funding at a donors’ conference in Egypt next week…
Clinton’s bid to get “substantial” funds could face an uphill battle in Congress because Hamas continues to rule Gaza and the U.S. focus is on its own souring economy…
The United States wants Abbas’s PA to play a central role in the reconstruction effort in Gaza, hoping this will increase its influence in the Hamas stronghold. Washington is also putting pressure on other donors to bolster Abbas.
Wasn’t one of the left’s chief criticisms of Israel’s Gaza operation that there was no Plan B if Hamas disintegrated? Fatah couldn’t ride in as the white knight on the backs of Israeli tanks to restore order or else they’d be seen as stooges and collaborators, we were told, not unreasonably. How is this de facto bribe of Gazans by Uncle Sam to restore Abbas to authority any different? And why would Hamas take the chance of letting the Palestinian Authority back into the strip knowing the threat it might pose to their hegemony? What am I missing here?
Blowback
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After flushing $800 billion down the toilet on the stimulus, flushing another $900 mil
Allahpundit
Makes me think of that scene in The Black Knight when the Joker pours gas on and burns that big pile of money.
jcheney on February 24, 2009 at 12:10 PM
Does this mean that Palestinians will be forced to “Buy American”?
US flags made in China contain lead, melamine, non-halal meats products and other non-carbon neutral materials released during the burning process.
13times on February 24, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Could we at least give them the money in the form of Israeli commandos? It is about the only way the money would actually do any good…
18-1 on February 24, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Great!
.
We will build a school.
.
Hamas will use as a launching pad to strike Israel.
.
Israel will retaliate destroying the school.
.
CBS reports “Israel destroys US school”
.
.
Obama & Hillary declare Israel misusing US taxpayer money.
.
.It doesn’t get any better than this.
subbottomfeeder on February 24, 2009 at 12:39 PM
What a huge wase of my money. Gazans can rot in the Gaza strip as far as I am concerned. Those people are nothing but trouble, and they pile it on themselves.
I would rather give the money to Israel to replentish the ammo they were forced to burn while shutting down the rocket attacks. All the decent Palastinian people left the area years ago. The highly successful Palestinian Christians are gone, and only the radical Muslim Palestinian thieves and beggers are left.
saiga on February 24, 2009 at 1:40 PM
I suspect Hamas might consider putting a bit of this towards purchasing a few products from the newly mobile A. Q. Khan.
eeyore on February 24, 2009 at 1:44 PM
The muslims have ruined the Palestinian areas the same way they ruined Lebanon. The Muslims breed like rats, and take over the territory forcing the responsible hard working people out. Lebanon was beautifull and clean while there was a sizeable Christian population, and the country was the financial center of the middle east. Now that the muslims have bread themselves out of standing room, the place is a $hithole.
Just like what is happening to Gaza. To reward those bums is a travesty,and will encourage more of the same.
saiga on February 24, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Come to think of it, Carter smiled a lot, too, when he was being duplicitous.
Okay, Obama is Carter, so who is Reagan?
Oh, that’s right, Obama is Reagan, too. ; ))
Angry Dumbo on February 24, 2009 at 1:52 PM
***
DATELINE WASHINGTON DC–FEBRUARY 24, 1944
***
President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented his budget request to Congress today. One of his items was a $900 million appropriation to help the innocent Nazi German and Imperial Japanese civilian populations to rebuild their war damaged cities and to improve their lives.
***
Some critics say that the Axis military dictatorships and their secret police will seize the money and use it to buy more bombs and bullets for their war efforts. The president reassured his critics that this would not happen since the LEAGUE OF NATIONS and the AMERICAN RED CROSS would prevent the aid from falling into the hands of the SS and Kempi Tai thugs.
***
Impeachment proceedings will start in congress tomorrow.
***
John Bibb
***
rocketman on February 24, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Not really. His teeth are too big. He can’t get his lips to meet.
JiangxiDad on February 24, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Why don’t we just burn the money on the capitol steps? It will save on transport costs, and the conversion to other flammable materials.
Vashta.Nerada on February 24, 2009 at 5:12 PM
You gotta be kidding me. What dork shy a few brain cells came up with this idea.
Ticked in Tucson
Dave M on February 24, 2009 at 5:35 PM
This has got to be a bad dream.
whig33 on February 24, 2009 at 5:41 PM
FLUSH….!
RobCon on February 24, 2009 at 6:25 PM
Haven’t heard that word in a while. Very fitting. Thanks.
pastorjim67 on February 24, 2009 at 6:45 PM
It’s just payback for all the foreign contributions to Obama’s presidential campaign.
Hamas Letter Handed to Sen. Kerry (last week)
Dear President Obama,
Please send us money ASAP.
Love,
Hamas
TN Mom on February 24, 2009 at 6:46 PM
UNBELIEVABLE!
I really hate those cowards in Washington, DC.
larvcom on February 24, 2009 at 7:38 PM
This is the apogee of asininity and the perigee of common sense.
dentalque on February 24, 2009 at 9:46 PM
These people were dancing in the streets when the towers came down…..
Wine_N_Dine on February 24, 2009 at 10:01 PM
Maybe the Prez is paying back is terrorist buddies that funded his campaign with taxpayer dollars. I wonder.
workingforpigs on February 24, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Stupid is as stupid does.
One consoling note: I read where the money will be given to the UN to disperse. That means Hamas will probably only see $3 or so.
thegreatbeast on February 24, 2009 at 11:58 PM
Question:
Aren’t target drones for the IDF supposed to be cheaper?
Penguin on February 25, 2009 at 2:49 AM
How many square feet is the Gaza?
Compared to the continental US?
And Obie wants to give them more then the entire stimulus package needed to save to our own nation with an economy about 10 trillion times larger than the Gaza economy?
He hardly needs 900 million dollars to rebuild a couple rocket factories and suicide belt warehouses
entagor on February 25, 2009 at 2:51 AM
So tax payer money is now going to go in the hands of the terrorists, I bet this is Obama’s idea of ‘Hope’.
thetryfecta on February 25, 2009 at 10:08 AM
What the. . . .? Barry O is nuts if he thinks Gaza is not Hamas and Hamas is not Gaza.
scullymj on February 25, 2009 at 4:06 PM
send them FEMA trailers.
workingforpigs on February 25, 2009 at 7:00 PM
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