Israel has started production at the off-shore Tamar Field, a natural gas field that economists say could turn the nation into a net exporter of energy and politicians are seeing as a potential windfall of new tax revenue.
The Israeli Navy sees something else; they see an off-shore site ripe for attack, and they see a need to create another $700 million worth of warships to protect it from attack in future wars.
And while you’d figure that’s the sort of thing that would pay for itself, anyone familiar with international politics knows it doesn’t work that way. Israel’s government is balking at the price-tag, and if history is any indicator that means it is only a matter of time before the US Congress moves to subsidize the operation. That the field is operated by a large US energy company will likely add pressure to make such a move.
And when the US starts paying for something, they don’t stop. That’s how the annual aid to Israel has grown to billions of dollars, and as Israel moves to reap billions of dollars from the enterprise, it may wind up being another bill for American taxpayers.
What are you saying Jason.., that American people need to pay that $700million..?
Orders are orders….
No, he'd saying we will get stuck with the bill. Likely he's right. Who pays for Iron Dome? Who pays for all the aircraft in the Israeli Air Force?
Gee, maybe Israel should start borrowing directly from the Chinese, instead of the US borrowing from China to give to Israel for which we get zero in return.
We get the interest payment.
First, Israel is not "borrowing" from the US taxpayer – it's a one-way arrangement…don't you feel better now?
Second, the Chinese are not stupid enough, like the US Congress, to agree to a one-sided agreement like the "aid" packages they make for Israel.
You know, I didn't get too excited about the "term limits" thing a few years ago as I knew there was little real desire by the voters to do it – they all like their own reps. But I can see myself getting seriously involved in an effort to get Congresscritters who put other countries, like Israel, first, rather than the country and people they agreed to serve and defend. Time to start removing those who've lost their way and have forgotten to whom they are beholden. Vote em out! In this time of rampant nationalism one would think that it would be an easy task to get people to realize what these scumbags are doing.
Gee, maybe Israel should start borrowing directly from the Chinese, instead of the US borrowing from China to give to Israel for which we get zero in return.
Third World dependency.
That's to be expected seeing as how the gas doesn't belong to Israel – the drill is way outside Israeli territorial waters.
If Israel stopped attacking and threatening to attack others defending itself just might be cheaper. This, as any business, should be self sustaining. Not a penny. If anything, this project should be taxed to help defray the expense of the US fleet in the Med, you know, the one that used to have a ship called the USS Liberty before Israel attacked it, killing 34 and wounded 174 American sailors.
For a nation at peace, offshore oil is a windfall, see Norway.
For a nation at war, offshore oil is a vulnerability, the vulnerability more important as the deposit is more important to that nation.
Israel as a matter of policy has avoided peace. It is a nation permanently at war with everyone around it, including many bordering on that offshore oil or able to threaten it.
This is yet another example of Israel's war policy coming home to ruin what could have been good things.
For the same reason, the settler colony Jewish state’s 240 billion dollar economy would tank if the US stopped protecting it directly and indirectly.
What Lola (Isreal) wants, Lola gets. There is no exception to the rule, the Isreali lobby is irresistable you fool, give in. Or should I say it has already been done.
The way it will be done is that a new modern US war ship costing US taxpayers billions will be decommissioned and "sold" to Isreal for 10 cents on the dollar. The US will accept an Israeli IOU which will later be forgiven when no one is looking.
The off shore gas fields kind of tells the real reason for keeping Gaa and the repeated attacks on Lebanon. I am sure our traitors in the congress will give Isarael the $700 million a year and add a service charge collected in the usual bribe account aka congress and senate retirement accounts. There really ia nor area that acually belonga to Israel because the area belongs to egypt and Lebanon. I am usure the USA will get into another shooting war to cement the Israel claim.
Cut them off at the pass, like they did in the old West movies. Or was it "head them off at the pass?" Or was it "we are getting ready to be reamed, yet again ? " What else to they want ? A dam ? Indoor ski resort ?
Since no other Middle East producer is interested in the area's resources, I suspect that the "gas" Israel found is yet another shale ponzi scheme which will milk the US for unreturnable loans for the next 500 years.
This also means that now they must destroy everyone who might in a worse case scenario maybe potentially threaten the offshore wells and battleships- get it? That means Syria, Iran, Hezbollah- anyone with missiles. And it won't end there, there will be more ethnic cleansing. It is sickening as Obama has caused yet another foreign policy disaster, with more in process or on the drawing board. The man not only lacks vision- he has shown himself to be a snake who cannot be trusted by anyone, and we are now seeing Kerry and Hagel contaminated in the process. The carnage must be left on their doorstep- and felony murder has no statute of limitations.