Why did Saudi Arabia get any aid in the first place? Why did one of the richest nations on earth get a place on the Washington dole? Why were we giving money to a country that cannot guarantee the safety of our citizens on its soil? Why were we helping them pick up the tab for all their funding of jihadist activities around the world? Why were we in effect paying them to spread the notion that we must be conquered and made over into an Islamic state?
A minuscule amount? Sure. But a penny would be too much.
From Reuters, with thanks to EPG:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lawmakers cheered as the House of Representatives voted on Thursday to strip financial assistance for Saudi Arabia from a foreign aid bill because of criticism that the country has not been sufficiently cooperative in the U.S. war on terror.
The vote was a stinging defeat for the Bush Administration which had strongly opposed the measure saying it would “severely undermine” counterterrorism cooperation with Saudi Arabia and U.S. efforts for peace in the Middle East.
The House voted 217-191 to remove $25,000 in the $19.4 billion 2005 foreign aid bill earmarked for Saudi Arabia.
The funds were designated for military training but approval would have triggered millions of dollars in discounts on hardware and other military training, lawmakers said.
“I don’t want my taxpayer dollars going to the Saudis and I don’t want anyone else’s to,” said Nevada Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley.