House passes US-Israel Military “Merger”
By a vote of 216-212, the House narrowly passed a nearly $1.15 trillion annual defense policy bill. In it are terms to integrate or some say merge, the defense industrial complexes of the US and Israel, including requirements to share intelligence. The effect of this, if it becomes law, is the creation of a bureaucracy within the Pentagon that determines where funding goes to, and takes those decisions out of the hands of Congress. This technology and intelligence sharing goes beyond what we have with treaty allies, NATO and AUKUS.
The bill goes to the Senate.
Proponents say Israel develops cutting edge weapons, and co-developing will benefit the US. US and Israel already co-develops weapons, such as the Iron Dome.
Opponents say we are more likely to be entangled in the Middle East; lose oversight and leverage to shape Israel policy and decisions by conditioning aid that needs to be passed by Congress. By burying money flows within the Pentagon, where the money ends up gets hidden and classified. Furthermore, there are fears of a further creation of a surveillance state by bringing in house tech and practices of a country already well advanced in domestic surveillance and control. Some question the need to send $3+ billion a year to Israel (comments say while they have universal healthcare and education).
First of all, defense budget of $1.15T is up from $900B last year and is too bloated. I think this “merger” or “integration” law threatens the sovereignty of the US and should be stripped out of the final Defense bill. Keep foreign aid allotment in the hands of Congress. Use our leverage and enact conditions. While co-development of weapons has been happening and probably beneficial, the level of integration should not exceed that of treaty allies (where the US has a duty to defend) and we should safeguard national security secrets.
The timing of this when American public opinion is turning negative towards Israeli policies and US entanglements, is a shrewd and strategic counteraction. Really smart, as AIPAC still has strong influence in both parties, so there’s a chance to pass this with 60 votes in the Senate (avoid filibuster). Something like this brings up important questions about ensuring US sovereignty.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, the proposed "merger" or integration of the US and Israeli defense industrial complexes raises significant concerns and strategic implications:
Increased Entanglement in the Middle East: Critics argue that deeper integration could lead to greater US involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts, reducing the ability to condition aid or influence Israeli policies through Congressional oversight.
Loss of Congressional Oversight: By shifting funding decisions to a Pentagon bureaucracy, the transparency and accountability of foreign aid allocations could diminish, potentially hiding money flows and reducing leverage over policy conditions.
Surveillance State Concerns: Integrating Israeli technology and practices, particularly in domestic surveillance, raises fears about expanding surveillance capabilities within the US, potentially infringing on civil liberties.
Defense Budget Growth: The $1.15 trillion defense budget, up from $900 billion, is seen by some as excessively bloated, with concerns about prioritizing domestic needs over foreign aid.
Strategic Counteraction: The timing of this proposal, amidst shifting American public opinion on Israeli policies, reflects a strategic move leveraging AIPAC's bipartisan influence to potentially secure Senate approval.
Co-Development Benefits vs. Sovereignty Risks: While co-developing weapons like the Iron Dome has proven beneficial, critics emphasize that integration should not exceed the level of treaty allies (e.g., NATO, AUKUS) to safeguard US sovereignty and national security secrets.
This debate underscores the balance between strategic alliances and maintaining national sovereignty, transparency, and public accountability.
Sources: Macro Monday: The Middle East, Macro Monday: The Middle East, Can’t Get Enough CHIPS | The Daily Peel | 8/10/22
"Murica First" rednecks gonna be real quiet about this one
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