Department of External Affairs: May 2010 Foreign Policy Review

[Badger]

Sorry for not getting on with this earlier. A new foreign policy review will begin soon, and I hope to begin working with willing Senators (nudge nudge) on figuring out the foreign aid budget.

<Raises hand to volunteer>

[Badger]

What are we defining as Palestine?  And why is Israel not receiving any aid?

I didn't know Israel is struggling with massive poverty.

Is this only humanitarian aid as opposed to military aid?

[Badger]

What are we defining as Palestine?  And why is Israel not receiving any aid?

I didn't know Israel is struggling with massive poverty.

Is this only humanitarian aid as opposed to military aid?

The DoEA previleges humanitarian aid over military aid and prefers to spend the already teeny foreign aid budget largely on humanitarian causes than paying for the guns of other countries, especially those who can already afford tons of them on their own.

I do find it interesting that nobody participated in the roundtable on this topic, nobody bothered asking questions, but everybody is ready to lobby for their turf or complain after the fact. Not that I'm surprised.

So I take it the answer to my question is: "yes".

Is military aid under the auspices of your office? If not, which office?

[Badger]

Is military aid under the auspices of your office? If not, which office?

Yes, it seems, though defense is obviously the least talked about topic around here.

It is not in my philosophy in this office to use the teeny budget for foreign aid on helping other countries buy their guns to kill people. If my budget was increased, then I could explore military aid to our allies who are clearly in need of such aid, under conditions.

Fair enough. Can't get blood from a stone.