Though in the limited time left before Congress adjourns for August break it seemed doubtful an emergency aid package to re-arm Israel could pass, it appears the Senate is not as moribund on some issues as others.
As PBS reported:
The Senate on Friday rushed through a $225 million bill to replenish Israel’s missile defense system, and House approval was expected in the final hours before lawmakers began a summer break.
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) had blocked the quarter billion dollar supplemental gift to Israel previously, but when he was provided a menu of other programs that could be cut to make way for additional military aid to Israel he dropped his objections paving the way for the package to pass.
The shot of aid passed the Senate unanimously by voice vote, which makes it somewhat difficult to assess the support for the measure among individual Senators.
The neoconservative dynamic duo, Senators McCain and Graham, were particularly exuberant over the last minute approval of military aid to Israel.
Said John McCain of the lopsided Israeli war on Gaza, in which some 1,500 Palestinians have been killed — 80% being civilians: “We are with the Israelis, because if they don’t have the Iron Dome, they can’t defend themselves.”
Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) was pleased by the Senate vote to replenish the Israeli military, even as the UN began to notice that Israel was shelling the very same safe havens in which it recommended for Palestinians to hide.
Said Graham, in what should be the bumper sticker of American neoconservatism:
We are with you. Here are the missiles.
Not to be out-done, Senator McCain said of the US-financed Israeli campaign against Palestinians in Gaza:
The restraint of the Israelis, in my view, is admirable.
