Time for a Change: The Costs and Benefits of the U.S. Relationship with Israel
Abstract
Containment evaporated as the foundation of American foreign policy with the end of the Cold War. Washington is searching for a replacement, for a strategy that will serve American interests under current conditions of reduced threat and limited resources. Domestic affairs have taken precedence over foreign policy, the economy over defense. The government is pinching pennies, and raising taxes, to make up for quadrupling the national debt in a score of years. As the United States adjusts to the circumstances of the post-containment era, it is appropriate to reevaluate all aspects of U.S. foreign policy, particularly those that are most costly. One needs to ask whether past programs serve American interests, whether they produce benefits commensurate with their costs, and whether we can afford to maintain them in the future. This paper considers the costs and benefits of support for Israel from the perspective of American interests. Israel has long been the main recipient of American foreign aid, both military and economic. It now receives 22 percent of U.S. foreign assistance. This support far exceeds what is provided to poor but important countries like South Korea, Turkey, Panama, and Mexico. In Israel, American aid has contributed to a relatively high standard of living and built a regional military power. By serving as Israel's main foreign-backer, the United States has identified itself closely with Israeli actions and policies. One would expect exceptional benefits to accrue to the United States from the extraordinary level of aid being provided. This, however, is not the case. The cost of supporting Israel is not matched by commensurate strategic, economic, or moral advantages. If anything, these intangible factors multiply the costs rather than provide off-setting benefits. This is particularly true because of changes in the international situation: the end of the Cold War, growing American dependence on imported oil, and the growth of Islamic extremism.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA441095
Entities
People
- Martin Mclean
Organizations
- National War College