une aide de 900 millions de dollars

One of the many, many groups that send me releases via e-mail every day -- which I generally delete immediately, not because I'm not interested or the subject is unimportant, but because there's only so much time in the day -- is one called The Israel Project.

Today's release from that group grabbed my attention, though, because -- inexplicably -- it was in French. Here's the headline and subhead:

Les États-Unis annoncent une aide de 900 millions de dollars pour la reconstruction de Gaza
L'argent aidera Gaza pour consolider l'Autorité palestinienne

... which reminds me: Night before last, I was downstairs working out for the first time this year (more about that later), when a report came on CNN about Hillary Clinton promising this aid to Gaza, with the stipulation that it had to be channeled through the Palestinian Authority.

Which of course raises the question, How on Earth do you get aid to Gaza through the Palestinian Authority when the Palestinian Authority doesn't control Gaza -- where, in fact, being associated with the Palestinian Authority can get you shot by Hamas, the real power?

Wolf Blitzer didn't say, and I didn't think about it until I saw this headline. So merci for that.

And now a follow-up question occurs to me: What IS going to happen to this money, in reality?

And here's a follow-up to the follow-up: If this money isn't effectively going to go to relieve actual human suffering, or to further our interests in the region, either, aren't there a whole lot of better ways to spend this money in the world? I ask that because we have notoriously underfunded our diplomatic efforts around the world for years and years. What might this money -- mere chump change by stimulus standards, but a respectable amount (I would think) if added on to the State Department budget -- accomplish if we actually drew up a list of our international priorities, and funded them?

Comments

[Lee Muller]

Obama is paying back the illegal donations from Palestine made through untraceable cash cards, through his web site.

He sent envoys to Hamas during the campaign, and John Kerry just carried notes back from Hamas to Obama last week, bypassing Hillary Clinton.

[Brad Warthen]

Actually, according to the NYT, two-thirds of the money isn't even nominally to aid Gaza, but to fill the gaping hole in the Palestinian Authority's finances over on the West Bank:

The United States has promised an additional $600 million to the Palestinian Authority to cover a budget shortfall and bolster the Palestinian
economy. Some of that money may also end up in Gaza, large parts of
which are in ruins after Israel’s military assault on the militant
group Hamas. But much of it will go to the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority is in control.

Yeah, I know it's a priority of ours that the Palestinian Authority remain something of a going concern -- you've got to have SOMEBODY to negotiate with -- but I still wonder about this...

[Rich]

I think it's a way of saying that Gaza will only get the money through legitimate channels. We can't possibly deal directly with Hamas.

This decision reinforces the Palestinian Authority which must ultimately become the legitimate government a Palestinian Republic.

[RonPaulWasRight]

Hillary abroad promising aide to ANYBODY, let alone the PA, is about ridiculous right now.

Or is it just me?

Maybe she needs to bring her a55 home and get a grip on what's going on in her own country.

[bud]

It's time to end all spending on the middle east. And that includes Isreal.

[RonPaulWasRight]

That may be a moot point with our new O-dollars.

[Brad Warthen]

"RonPaulWasRight" seems to be saying that the SECRETARY OF STATE should not be wasting time thinking about foreign affairs.

Let's call that Reason No. 945 to be glad that Ron Paul will never be president...

Sorry. Couldn't resist. Ron Paul is way too reasonable to say what his supporter is suggesting...

[RonPaulWasRight]

He is way reasonable and he has said it over and over and over. It is called a non-interventionist foreign policy.

You media types just choose to put him in the crazy corner. And drown him out!

[Lee Muller]

Hillary is not acting as a Secretary of State should, negotiating with anyone in power over the Palestinians. She is handing out money to terrorists, in repayment for the illegal campaign donations to Obama from the West Bank and Gaza.

[Lee Muller]

Now Obama says he is reaching out to "moderates in the Taliban".

[RonPaulWasRight]

And Ron Paul's 'people' say it again, here:

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=23

###

Obama is either delusional, Lee, or he is treasonous. One or the other -- but even children LEARN you don't reason with terrorists. It is more dangerous and less successful than reasoning with a drunk.

[Lee Muller]

On every issue, Obama looks very inept and stupid. He cannot be that dumb. So you have to ask if he intends to destroy the economy, pollute our culture with more illegal aliens, and help Islamofascists attack Israel, the USA, and our allies in Europe.

[christena]

Email is very important to one and all because it will help to all

Christena
HD Access for just $10 a month to your FAVORITE Channels!