OK, back on my soapbox. It was awhile ago, but back when I did study such things the US got back @$2 for every $1 we 'gave away.' Foreign aid has always been tied to our business and strategic interest more than to humanitarian need [Egypt, for example, vs. Chad]. Much 'foreign aid' works like this [case study from the late 1970's - old, I know, but the basics are still the same]. We 'give' a country an $800k [back then] dialysis machine. Great for them, right? Well, the $800k gift actually goes to one of our medical suppliers, who ship it [freight due] on one of our carriers along with our technicians [billed to them, along with upkeep and supplies]. The net effect for the country we 'gave' it to is an increase in costs, and those who used to have to fly to the US or Europe to have dialysis can now get it done at home. Good for our manufacturer, though. The unspoken part of this is that for many poor countries most of the populace will almost never in their lives see a physician, and what is really needed in the country is some training in basic sanitation [which is what raised our life expectancy.] We used to say that for every doctor we could get into a third world situation we were killing some number of hundreds of people, mostly because of the costs to support the relatively few who would benefit vs. the much larger number who could benefit from some basic understanding of hygiene and nutrition. It only takes a brief glance at the poorest of the poor nations to see that our 'giving' more often is tied to political situations [by both parties] than to need. Enough already. BillR
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of LarryT Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 10:22 AM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] US Foreign Aid Agree completely - we send way too much of our tax dollars to questionable locations to be used for questionable projects - and usually most of the money ends up in the pockets of evil people. With the exception of Israel, we could stop sending those billionS you mention and little would happen. I'd like to know what all those billions spent have accomplished? They certainly don't buy good will. Of course, IMNSHO, all that animosity is caused by jealousy. Larry T (66 MGB, 74 911, 91 300D) www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil PORSCHE POSTERS! youroil.net 800-583-8601 Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donald Snook" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 11:54 AM Subject: Re: [MBZ] GWB > Mac wrote: "How can a nation turn on a president because he got a hummer > in a closet... then RE-ELECT another pres who has dragged them into a > needless and ugly war? No one outside the U.S. understands this > disconnect. I am not trying to be rude, but you need to know this is the > way it is." > > I don't agree that the war in Iraq was needless. I do agree that it is > ugly. ALL war is ugly. ALL war is awful. ALL loss of life in a war is a > catastrophic loss to the world. > > I don't have the guts to tell the people of Iraq, that the MILLIONS of > people of that Saddam slaughtered didn't mean anything. I don't have the > stomach to say that the loss of 4,000 american lives was too high a cost > to save Millions of Iraqis from the worst dictator since Stalin and Pol > Pot. > > > Saddam was hung by his own people, for crimes he committed against the > Iraqis. I am proud that American soldiers put their lives in danger and > gave the ultimate sacrifice to help Iraq try to choose their own course. > I am VERY proud that the people of Iraq got to vote for their leaders for > the first time in decades. > > I am not trying to be rude, either. However I don't know what country you > are from, but I will say this. All of these commentators from other > countries who say that America is the now one of the most hated countries > in the world, and all of the protestors in other countries chanting death > to America ought to stop and think about what would happen if the US > complied with their wishes for complete self determination. > > What would happen if the US stopped the BILLIONS of dollars in foreign > aid, what would happen if the US decided it would stop forgiving interest > payments on outstanding loans. What would happen if the US told these > countries that beg for help from the US, that we are tired of being > vilified in your press and then also asked for help. > > These countries that scream insults about the US and chant death to > America are like a teenager who screams "I hate you, Dad! Why don't you > just leave me alone." Then the child goes up to their room which is > provided by dad and plays their Ipod paid for by dad and then drives the > car bought by dad and just wants to be left alone. > > The USA will never do this, but I sure wish we would agree to their > demands and just leave these other countries alone and leave them to their > devices. You don't want our help, okay. > > Donald H. Snook > > > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ > For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com