The US Congress is showing tangible support for longtime ally Israel as Gazoo turbans fire rockets, backing a measure that would double the amount of money for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. The Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee approved a defense spending bill on Tuesday that would provide $621.6 million for Israeli missile defense, including $351 million for the Iron Dome system that intercepts short-range rockets and mortars. In the latest hostilities between Israel and Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason,, Iron Dome has been successful in shooting down rockets and preventing Israeli deaths.
"It works," said Sen. Dick Durbin
...Senator-for-Life from Illinois and Democratic Party Whip. In April 2006, Time magazine identified Durbin as one of
America's 10 Best Senators,so what's that tell you? He was the first United States Senator to support the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama, then the junior senator from Illinois....
, a Democrat and chairman of the subcommittee.
Since 1988 and the early days of US-Israeli cooperation on missile defense, presidents have proposed a specific amount for the program knowing full well that members of Congress will increase the funds, especially after they hear from Israel.
Overall, the defense bill would provide $549.3 billion for the fiscal year beginning October 1. The bill spares several of the weapons programs that the Pentagon had proposed scaling back or eliminating, including the A-10 Warthog, the close air support aircraft and the USS George Washington aircraft carrier.
| In the meantime, The Times of Israel points out that Israel has completed another battery: |
Since the latest conflict with Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, started eight days ago, Iron Dome has intercepted almost 200 rockets and mortars fired from Gazoo.