Author Questions Cost of U.S. Support for Israel, Citing Financial and Geopolitical Impact

Brian McGlinchey, an American author and former soldier, has begun an analysis of U.S.-Israeli relations by examining the historical context and financial implications of American support. McGlinchey, known for his insights into the September 11, 2001 attacks, frames his analysis with the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama, recalling a conversation with a Panamanian colleague who revealed Israeli foreknowledge of the U.S. operation.

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I will begin my analysis of US-Israeli relations with a journey to an unexpected place... to December 20, 1989, when the United States invaded Panama, overthrew Noriega, kidnapped him, and took him into custody, where he later died in prison.

McGlinchey contends that Israel, despite being a small nation, systematically influences the superpower to transfer wealth, adopt its geopolitical agenda, and act on its behalf, often to the detriment of U.S. interests and causing widespread suffering. He points to the financial cost, noting that the commonly cited $3.8 billion annual aid package under the current memorandum of understanding is often exceeded.

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We knew you were coming; the Israelis had informed us.

In the year following October 7, 2023, Congress approved an additional $8.7 billion in aid. McGlinchey emphasizes that Israel is one of the largest recipients of U.S. aid, having received roughly twice as much as the next largest recipient since its founding. Despite accounting for only 0.12 percent of the global population, Israel has received between 20 percent and 30 percent of all U.S. foreign aid since World War II.

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the smaller state systematically forces the superpower to transfer its wealth, unconditionally adopt its geopolitical agenda, and take extraordinary measures on its behalf, often inflicting grave damage on our interests and causing the death, displacement, and despair of millions of innocent people.

This aid is particularly striking given Israel's economic standing. It ranks 20th globally in GDP per capita, surpassing countries like Austria, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. McGlinchey also points out that Israel receives twice the aid provided to all of sub-Saharan Africa combined, with additional sums spent by the U.S. on Israel's behalf. He suggests that aid to countries like Egypt and Jordan indirectly benefits Israel due to existing accords. Furthermore, bureaucratic maneuvers obscure the full extent of aid, with separate arms deals falling below reporting thresholds, resulting in Israel receiving over half of all U.S. military aid globally.

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The costs of this relationship are not measured solely in dollars, but we will begin there, bearing in mind that every dollar is an interest-bearing loan.