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
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »
I guess this will help Hamas restock and reload.
‘Not going to go to Hamas’, my plumb behind.
Midas on February 23, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Iran is handing out union cards as we speak……
Starlink on February 23, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Jizya, bitches!
Kid from Brooklyn on February 23, 2009 at 9:30 PM
Golly!
Tzetzes on February 23, 2009 at 9:31 PM
The ball’s in Israel’s court, now. They must leave the UN, kick all UN scum out, and reject any of the idiot messiah’s attempts to supply the enemy.
Israel is now the last remnant of the Western world left standing. They carry a heavy burden and must rise to the challenge.
progressoverpeace on February 23, 2009 at 9:31 PM
Uh… 2 days ago Hamas and the UN tried to use the witless John Kerry to try to smuggle a note to Obama.
Now Obama and witless Clinton want to use the UN to smuggle a big pile of cash to Hamas.
AWESOME!
kooly on February 23, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Jizya, beeyotches!
Kid from Brooklyn on February 23, 2009 at 9:32 PM
Tzetzes on February 23, 2009 at 9:31 PM
That almost looked like the scene from Airplane where they gave sub-titles to the Black guys talking.
Y’all don’t need to be so upset. Barry’s just paying back all those anonymous donors.
kingsjester on February 23, 2009 at 9:34 PM
FloatingRock on February 23, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Ah hell, why don’t we just give the a blank check on the treasury and a pass to Fort Knox? We’re going down the tube so fast that none of us will ever be able to use the money.
rplat on February 23, 2009 at 9:35 PM
This man is insane.
katy on February 23, 2009 at 9:35 PM
I have similar thoughts, but I doubt they’ll do it.
(messed up the quotes)
FloatingRock on February 23, 2009 at 9:35 PM
And this is how the Messiah goes about protecting the American people and defending the Constitution of the USA-by giving weapons to terrorists who want to wipe America off the face of the earth.
technopeasant on February 23, 2009 at 9:35 PM
Is this where Rahm Emmanuel uses the “F” word…..
Cinday Blackburn on February 23, 2009 at 9:37 PM
I’ve been hammering my Israeli friends about the absolute need to leave the UN for years (along with a bunch of other things). I used to be quite the oddity at dinners at my left-leaning friends’ houses.
progressoverpeace on February 23, 2009 at 9:39 PM
When I heard that story I wondered if there were actually two copies of the letter, or if Kerry had conveyed the contents verbally.
FloatingRock on February 23, 2009 at 9:40 PM
He would send every taxpaying American a fish wrapped in newspaper, but that would get him into hot water with the environmentalist contingency of the Dhimmicratic party.
daesleeper on February 23, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Can’t say I didn’t see this coming – Obama is batting a thousand for bailing out losers – shouldn’t be a surprise he’d be bailing out the Palestinians now too.
And yes – I said it – Palestinians are by and large losers – they elected Hamas.
Don’t feel so bad – I’m an equal opportunity offender. Americans by and large are losers too – we elected Obama.
These are the days of our lives.
HondaV65 on February 23, 2009 at 9:42 PM
I’m sorry if this is crass, but…
Aside from the fact Hamas is explicitly anti-Israel, what is the real difference here? Corrupt, Israel hating, poorly managed thugocracy vs. Corrupt, Israel hating, poorly managed thugocracy.
BKennedy on February 23, 2009 at 9:42 PM
Gonna be rough four years…!
d1carter on February 23, 2009 at 9:42 PM
And Republicans nominated McCain. We’re all losers now.
FloatingRock on February 23, 2009 at 9:44 PM
This is about 1/1000 of the US Stimulus package. The US has about 303M people, with a per capita income of about $45K, and Gaza has about 409K people, with a per capita income of $1.5K. So, some quick math gives us that that Gaza has 1/750th of the population of the US, and each person will therefore receive 75% of the amount each US citizen will get from the Stimulus.
But, if we factor in the difference in per capita income, we have a multiplier of (45/1.5) or 30x, thus giving each Gazan the equivalent of 22.5 times the stimulus bestowed upon each American citizen.
That’s very impressive in terms of giving — it’s almost as if we personally are rebuilding the economy of Gaza and gold plating it to boot.
Do we want to rebuild the economy of Gaza while a government hostile to our own, and which officially desires the destruction of a neighboring state who is our ally, is in control?
I’m sensitive to the plight of the Palestinian people, but I don’t think this is going to help them, nor is it going to help their neighbors. The money will not spread evenly over Gaza as my numbers naively show, but will almost certainly go into the pockets of people whom we do not wish to have possess that kind of purchasing power.
unclesmrgol on February 23, 2009 at 9:47 PM
OUR 900 MIL GOING TO BUILD NEW TARGETS FOR ISREALI ARTILLERY
AND BOMBING PRACTICE.
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on February 23, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Besides, even if the money could be kept out of terrorist hands, they’ll be able to use money from other sources for terrorism instead of rebuilding; nearly a billion dollars worth.
FloatingRock on February 23, 2009 at 9:47 PM
It goes on and on, doesn’t it? I think these people have lost their minds. We are on a ship of fools, how do we get the thing turned around?
Christian Conservative on February 23, 2009 at 9:47 PM
He’s doing this because he wants to throw Israel under the bus. When Hamas resumes hostilities and Israel retaliates, Obama can then complain that Israel is destroying his 900M investment into Gaza and use this as a cause to officially turn US policy away from Israel. He’ll probably give some speech about being “neutral” between Israel and Hamastan.
ebrawer on February 23, 2009 at 9:47 PM
I remember a few years back, as part of the “peace process” the United States agreed to send funds and arms to train the Palestinian police……….
……… who would in turn, ensure law and order in the region, and peace would reign in the world.
Shortly after, they used our money, training, and arms to become an even more effective killing machine……… just like what our neighbors are doing south of the border right now.
The bureaucrats in charge feign indignation, and the only answer to the problem…………
……….. throw more American Taxpayer dollars at it without any American oversight, just the UN.
Yeah……..
……… this is going to work out well.
Seven Percent Solution on February 23, 2009 at 9:48 PM
mmmmmm this should make for a good jab on The Jon Libowitz Show….never mind.
moxie_neanderthal on February 23, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Global apocalypse in 3… 2… 1…
Glenn Jericho on February 23, 2009 at 9:48 PM
At this rate, I don’t think he’ll have that long. Either there will be another world war or our government will crumble one in one fashion or another.
FloatingRock on February 23, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Okay, so the President of the United States is directly funding terror.. hmmm……do we really need more than this to throw him out?
SoxNation on February 23, 2009 at 9:49 PM
We can’t have the Palis launching their rockets from hovels, you know. Gotta have the marble countertops in the Pali condos built with our money.
ILB on February 23, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Dems want to spend another $410 billion!
WisCon on February 23, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Evidently Rev. Wright did not go over this passage in Mr. President’s 20 years there: Genesis 12: 1 – 3
kingsjester on February 23, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Yet another fresh hell
anniekc on February 23, 2009 at 9:52 PM
If Hamas had not sent rockets into Israel, Gaza would be just fine thank you. We are now paying for Hamas terrorism!
And with printed money yet! Osama bin Laden must be thinking, “I won! I won!”
Christian Conservative on February 23, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Unfortunately this won’t be dispensed to the population and it won’t buy good will. Rather, it will either end up in a Paris bank account or buy a helluva lot of weapons, but no peace in our time.
Thank you Neville Obama.
moxie_neanderthal on February 23, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Pogo: “We have met the enemy and he is us!”
Christian Conservative on February 23, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Maybe we should ask Mr. Teleprompter this………….
Seven Percent Solution on February 23, 2009 at 9:53 PM
Let me get this straight…
$900 million to be distributed by the notoriously corrupt UN to rebuild Gaza, with the intent to let Fatah take a larger role- the same Fatah (aka the PLO) that was voted out due to extreme corruption and was forcibly and violently removed from Gaza and more recently hunted down by Hamas?
By the time the UN, the PLO/Fatah and Hamas get through taking their cut, there won’t be enough left of the $900 million to rebuild an outhouse. Even if it does get rebuilt, that just gives Hamas some nice shiny new buildings to fire rockets from.
Not. One. Dime. Every dollar will only serve to strengthen Hamas; if Gazans are to turn away from Hamas, it will only happen after seeing the negative consequences of Hamas rule.
Hollowpoint on February 23, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Y’all don’t need to be so upset. Barry’s just paying back all those anonymous donors.
kingsjester on February 23, 2009 at 9:34 PM
That I believe!
nwsseeker on February 23, 2009 at 9:54 PM
Our neighbors south of the border are fighting and dying at the hands of some pretty bad hombres, and the bad guys are getting their guns from — us. Not our government, but border gun shops. I think the Mexicans are doing the best they can against the pervading culture of corruption, given the the fact that the bad guys are getting reloads from US citizens.
unclesmrgol on February 23, 2009 at 9:56 PM
Maybe the deal is in the form of $900,000,000 worth of GM pick up trucks. They seem to go through them pretty fast over.
moxie_neanderthal on February 23, 2009 at 9:57 PM
If this needs Congressional approval, I want to see the roll call on this one.
DrStock on February 23, 2009 at 9:57 PM
Dude………….. with respect,
……… American taxpayer dollars trained some of these soldiers.
Seven Percent Solution on February 23, 2009 at 10:04 PM
A = B, B = C, therefore A = C
Thomas Jefferson
Me
A = C
WashJeff on February 23, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Incompetent.
jdflorida on February 23, 2009 at 10:05 PM
I’d be happier if they’d just pile it on the Whitehouse lawn and set it on fire.
Asher on February 23, 2009 at 10:05 PM
These dollar amounts being tossed about are astronomical.
Do the people in charge think we won’t bat an eye over a measely $900 million because it’s chump change compared to the trillions they’re spending on propping up our banks and stimulating the economy? I don’t want a penny of my tax dollars going to Gaza, or any other terrorist breeding ground.
This is madness. Pure madness.
fogw on February 23, 2009 at 10:05 PM
The great dream of Islam will come true. Muslims dream to see flags that read: “There is no god but Allah” fluttering in the wind on the Temple Mount, Haram al-Sharif and Hotair, Allah willing. And that 900 million from Imam Osama bin Obama is sure going to help a lot!
Aleph on February 23, 2009 at 10:07 PM
I guess Jerome Corsi was right with his allegations of Palestinian and Muslim fund raising ties to Obama.
Multibucket on February 23, 2009 at 10:14 PM
When the hell will our representatives stand up and shout from the roof tops to STOP THIS INSANITY!!
katy on February 23, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Here I’ll say it… IT’S FU#^ING BU!!$HIT.
Static on February 23, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Not going to Hamas??? We’re not putting money in their right pocket but rather the left pocket. No problemo!
There is no god but Obama…
Mojave Mark on February 23, 2009 at 10:17 PM
The line in the sand,draws ever near,
NO MORE BAILOUTS!
The Liberal Party by word,and deed,
are standing,hugging,
with the enemy!
canopfor on February 23, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Maybe that makes the number in the budget checkbook a nice round number? Easier to balance.
jusgottabeme on February 23, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Whaaaaaaaaaaaat the f**k?!!!!!!!!!!!!
Halli Casser-Jayne
http://www.thecjpoliticalreport.com
The CJ Political Report on February 23, 2009 at 10:20 PM
I just received, and just started reading George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”. The copy I have also includes “1984″.
We’re there, folk.
Skandia Recluse on February 23, 2009 at 10:20 PM
I keep telling myself that no one could be as stupid as 0 appears with all his plans. If true, that leaves only one answer and that is he actually wants to see the ruin of the US.
Oleta on February 23, 2009 at 10:21 PM
And the difference is?
mdenis39 on February 23, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Congress has to approve this:
That means we’ll see a roll call vote on who wants to fund terror.
INC on February 23, 2009 at 10:24 PM
When Obama announces the Budget,that should be
an eye opener,as how many US Military bases he
plans on shutting down,and what Military projects
he eliminates,if any!
Just a wild guess,but that should show Hopey’s true
intentions overall,if he does!
canopfor on February 23, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Dear Palestinians,
Our American instinct to provide compassionate humanitarian aid had us thinking about this for a bit.
Then we replayed the tapes of you dancing in the streets on 9/11.
cool breeze on February 23, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Yes, the U.N. is not exactly known for its neutrality and integrity.
INC on February 23, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Obama only won the election by 9 percentage points and there is no way 80% of the people could be sanctioning the way he has handled the economy. He has raped the treasury and has no idea how to solve the serious financial problems this country is facing. He and his gaggle of lunatics are doing a soft shoe dance and performing multiple slight of hand tricks. We are in deep trouble because there is absolutely no leadership in this government and there is no one in the wings that will step forward and give us that leadership. The country is floundering and its longevity is in serious peril. The Washington Post and ABC are left wing propaganda machines and are attempting to bolster Obama when in fact his support among the people is seriously deteriorating. The mainstream media is scamming us and they must be exposed. These are dire times and the forces pushing this country are out of control.
rplat on February 23, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Where does the money come from? The “stimulus”,purported tax breaks next year (exempting the rich, whoever they are) and a whopping new socialized medicine plan seems to be a pretty good load of money already. As the immortal Fred Guinn said playing the judge in “My Cousin Vinnie”…”Are you on drugs?”
Remember Howard Beale.
Mason on February 23, 2009 at 10:27 PM
The question is, is Gaza shovel ready?
I think the Obama error filled Presidency is shovel ready, at this point.
As in, throw it in a hole and toss some dirt on it.
NoDonkey on February 23, 2009 at 10:28 PM
I hate feeling helpless, and I hate feeling hopeless. Ever since the election, I’ve just felt increasingly so.
Mr. Obama, you suck.
capitalist piglet on February 23, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Idea?
If Obama plans on this 900 Million,
how about, he attaches some strings,
like, the Israel Soldiers release!!
canopfor on February 23, 2009 at 10:30 PM
What do you want to bet this story doesn’t get much play
on the MSM.
deptofredundancydept on February 23, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Must be that new style “power diplomacy”.
Buy it! Then when they piss on us, we can demand our money back.
GarandFan on February 23, 2009 at 10:30 PM
It is uncanny how accurate Orwell was! And, pardon the diversion, here’s another. Local Fox news has come out with the news that some digital billboards have cameras hidden inside to tell if the person viewing the billboard is male or female and what part they are looking at. Now, we’ve all been converted to digital TV’s (that hang on the wall, much like 1984). It won’t be long until Big Brother will know what we are doing and what we are saying in our living rooms. Hey, the double speak is already here. What’s next — the cloning of workers? Just sayin…
Christian Conservative on February 23, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Where does this 80% poll number come from. It’s the second time I’ve heard this in the past 30 minutes.
DrStock on February 23, 2009 at 10:31 PM
I hope our military has enough brains to stockpile & hide weapons without the politicians finding out. And it seems like this would be an easy task given our current politicians. When the shit hits the fan we can all jump in and get the job done. When it gets really bad the politicians will have to duck & run and get the hell out of the way.
izoneguy on February 23, 2009 at 10:35 PM
And Republicans nominated McCain. We’re all losers now.
FloatingRock on February 23, 2009 at 9:44 PM
——
Just proves the primary system is broken.
*All* states should have the Repub. primary on the same day.
I would suggest the vote *nationwide* be on Labor Day.
Leaves plenty of time before the convention and the election, but also prevents the northeast (who haven’t produced a real conservative in 40 years…) lib-RINOS from picking the candidate.
Mew
acat on February 23, 2009 at 10:35 PM
Don’t believe any poll – Obama is in control of the message.
REPEAT – don’t believe anything coming out of the state sanctioned media.
izoneguy on February 23, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Not that I’m not sympathetic, and your comments are usually thoughtful, but seriously – $900 million ransom??? What could possibly go wrong with this plan? Never mind, don’t give Obama any ideas.
cool breeze on February 23, 2009 at 10:40 PM
.
…and Kerry opened the note, and read it. All it said was “900M”…
AZCON on February 23, 2009 at 10:50 PM
We give money and weapons to Israel, so they can defend themselves against Hamas and Islamic militancy in general, and now we give money and mortar to Hamas so they can continue to do harm to Israel? On top of the more obvious things, this is just money down the drain back and forth.
Cool story, Barry O.
YoungAmerican on February 23, 2009 at 10:59 PM
He is either incompetent or malicious.
If incompetant… God help us all, we’re in for a rocky 4 years.
If malicious… God help us all, we’re in for a rockier 4 years.
Either way… God help us all.
Oh and BTW: THANK YOU OBAMA VOTERS
Chaz706 on February 23, 2009 at 11:01 PM
Yep, gotta take care of his Hammas buddies
mindhacker on February 23, 2009 at 11:04 PM
I think this is what Obama meant when he talked to Bill O’Reilly about how we have to be “neighborly.”
Star20 on February 23, 2009 at 11:27 PM
Give them $900 million and five minutes to get out of town.
Limerick on February 23, 2009 at 11:42 PM
God help us one and all! I am totally speechless for what levels this administration will stoop to.
libertylady on February 23, 2009 at 11:44 PM
Don’t worry, it was already accounted for in the porkulus package.
/sarc
The Principal Chair on February 23, 2009 at 11:44 PM
How does Obama expect the Gazans to ever reject Hamas if they do not suffer the consequences of Hamas’ militant policies?
DarkKnight3565 on February 23, 2009 at 11:51 PM
I believe that they do. I also believe if and when the sh*t hits the fan. And it will. I want to personally watch the Politicians being strung upside down! Almost all of them are treasonous Ba@tards. After we hang them upside down, and scare the living ?&(^&* out of them. Put them on a boat and take them to a real vile and dirty third World Country. As we line up a lot of the Kool-Aid drinkers, illegals, Union Officials, Judges, Ayers, Wright, and add anyone else to the list.
sheebe on February 23, 2009 at 11:52 PM
Maybe the students who took over NYU could give them the nine hundred million.
Johan Klaus on February 23, 2009 at 11:52 PM
ACORN
Johan Klaus on February 23, 2009 at 11:54 PM
We should be zero-basing all foreign aid and requiring the squishies over at the State department to develop business cases for any aid dollars we contribute. I gotta believe that 50% of the aid is legacy committments that don’t clear the hurdle given our financial straits. Among the other 50% that might be valid, we could probably do a lot of re-prioritizing to situations and countries that really matter to American interests.
The Principal Chair on February 23, 2009 at 11:54 PM
I am leaving in a few months on my second tour of duty in Iraq. I volunteered to go back because I believed that it was the right thing to do. I honestly do believe in the war on terror and the fact that fighting terrorists is the absolute right thing to do!
How sad to discover that my new Commander-in-Chief is a terrorist supporter! This will be my last deployment as there is no way that I can stay in the military with this man running the show!
fumpbump on February 23, 2009 at 11:58 PM
Rebuilding Gaza? Um, America is rebuilding, er, digging it’s grave. As the situation stands today, there are two peoples in the Holy land who both claim the right to that land. Thing is, the land was given to Abraham, the father of the Jewish people by God in Genesis chapter 13 verse 14-15.
“And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land (Israel) which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.”
Now, let me get this straight. God gave the land to Abraham and his descendants (the Jews) and America is helping Ishmael (father of the Arab nations) take it some of it away (Genesis 16:11-12).
Good move, America. Really good move. Keep diggin that hole.
apacalyps on February 24, 2009 at 12:01 AM
HOLY CRAP!!! HANNITY JUST POINTED OUT THAT IT HAS ONLY BEEN 35 F$%&ING DAYS!!! ONLY 1426 DAYS TO GO!!!
fumpbump on February 24, 2009 at 12:02 AM
Thanks for your service. Jimah Carter was my reason for leaving. Wish I had stayed and waited on Ronnie. Just say’in.
Limerick on February 24, 2009 at 12:06 AM
Not a thing, unless you still think this leftist clown is brilliant. Needless to say, when Carter II sends the billion to Gaza, half of it will end up buying Russian and Chinese weapons which will end up shooting Israeli and American civilians, but no matter. As long as the State Department feels good.
Jaibones on February 24, 2009 at 12:12 AM
Hey, just a thought: if we have to spend a billion dollars there on Islamic terrorists, can’t we at least send a few cruise missiles in first, so we have something to apologize for?
Jaibones on February 24, 2009 at 12:13 AM
Comment pages: « Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »