Quote:
Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna
.........Are they our enemies? Maybe not all of them, but probably some. But they are definitely not our friends. ......
So I ask again: why should we be negotiating with the Iraqi government over the terms of our withdrawal from their country? Is that not "negotiating with the enemy"?
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The lines separating "friend" and "enemy" seem to get blurry as soon as there's money on the table.
As an example, countries that get over a half-billion a year or more in foreign aid from the US include: Colombia, Egypt (over $1.5Bil), Ethiopea, Indonesia, Israel (over 2.5Bil), Jordan, Pakistan, Russia (over $1.5Bil), and The Sudan (over $1Bil), as well as Afghanistand and Iraq. There are 24 additional countries which get over $100Mil per year, including Sri Lanka, Mexico, Uganda and Serbia.
Are all these folk our "friends?" Not by a long shot!
Do we negotiate with them continually? Sure we do.
Do they support us within the UN? Only if it suits them.
Would they turn on us if the money stopped? What do you think?
"Bought" friends, no matter who they are, are not friends at all, nor are they alllies when you need them. They are just "fair weather friends" at best. That includes those who have been receiving aid 'forever'.