When most Americans think of foreign aid, they may conjure up images of white men handing out meals or medicine to starving Africans, but in reality much of the foreign “aid” the government conducts goes directly to the military of the recipient nations. Since 1950, the US government has provided over $91 billion to armies around the world.[1] What’s most starling about these numbers is that the nations that receive the bulk of this aid (mentioned above; Israel and Egypt) really do not share American values nor are they in any sort of conflict where military aid would even be put to use. During the Second World War, the United States offered its allies a great deal of military and economic aid which made sense, the Allies were fighting a common enemy that had declared war against the United States. The nations receiving aid today, however, are certainly not furthering American ideals or interests. Let’s start with Israel. Israel was founded as the homeland of the Jews. Whereas America is the land of the free and open to all, Israel is specifically meant for Jews and the laws of that nation do little to hide this. Non-Jews cannot marry Jews and Israel does not recognize any foreign marriages. Many Arabs living within Israel are treated as second rate citizens, and why shouldn’t they be? By law they cannot use many of the same streets as Jews nor can they live in many Jewish “settlements.” By giving Israel billions each year to bolster its military might, we are allying with a nation that has been compared to South Africa during the Apartheid years, and a nation that has continued to occupy foreign territory for decades. I’m not pointing all this out to insult Israel but simply to point out that America should not be supporting this regime’s military, but I’m sure accusations of anti-Semitism will fly my way anyhow.

            Egypt does not fare any better. Egypt, while in theory a democracy is in reality a de-facto dictatorship. Opposition parties are routinely outlawed and popular opposition candidates are jailed during election years so they cannot even declare their intention to run. Insulting the government is a crime punishable by lengthy prison sentences and human rights groups have consistently accused Egyptian police of using torture and other abuses. While the government is relatively secular, this is not necessarily to America’s benefit. By supporting an oppressive regime, the general population of Egypt associates oppression with America and freedom with more radical Islamic organizations such as the outlawed but widely popular Muslim Brotherhood. Truly a counterproductive approach.

            A better way to approach the Middle East, and in fact all regions, would be to interact with foreign nations purely as traders. This would not only diminish worldwide resentment towards America but may do a great deal to win foreigners over as friends. Another portion of the bill announced this week reveals American plans to sell $30 billion worth of military equipment to Saudi Arabia, who is considered a close ally of America. This I can hardly complain about, selling guns to oppressive dictators is at least more honorable than giving them the guns for free.