This chart shows how much the United States gave to other countries in foreign aid, listing only the 25 countries with the largest dollar amounts, in 2012.
Some things about this list are surprising, some are not.
Afghanistan makes sense.
Israel does not to me. Only $25 million of Israel’s portion is economic assistance, the $3 billion is military assistance. Really? Does Israel need our military assistance? Israel is a rich, badass country with an attitude. They compete in our country against our U.S. firms for government and commercial contracts. If we give money to Israel, we might as well give money to Japan and Germany!
Iraq makes sense.
Then there is Egypt. Most of that money, over $1 billion, is military aid. Egypt is a corrupt country. Recently there was a military coup. I must say that it bothers me that we’re giving money to Egypt.
Then, on number 13 is the mother of all ludicrous names on this list: Russia! WHAT? $339 million is for economic aid, $109 million military aid. They must be outright laughing at us. What is wrong with our country? After all that is going on, we are providing military and economic aid to Russia.
So they can provoke us better.