Musings, perspectives, rants

Americans often bleat about how much 'aid' the US gives to the world, so generous that they are.  Actually, the aid America gives is far more likely to be military, to support those that tie in with US political objectives.  This is especially so since 9/11.

Military aid to the New Allies in the War on Terrorism

Country                    2001                   2003

Armenia                       0                     3,750
Azerbaijan                    0                     3,750
Ethiopia                        0                     1,000
Georgia                     4,971                  8,200
India                            498                 51,000
Indonesia                        0                       400
Jordan                     76,535                200,400
Kazakhstan                2,479                   4,000
Krygyzstan                 2,226                   5,100
Kenya                         1,443                  2,100
Nepal                             237                  3,500
Oman                             250                20,750
Pakistan                            0                 51,000
Philippines                    3,431                22,400
Tajikistan                          0                      350
Turkey                         1,689                20,300
Uzbekistan                   2,939                  9,950
Yemen                            198                  2,650

Total                          96,698               410,600

Now, consider economic aid and aid to combat poverty.  The US is "dead last among industrialized countries in terms of international giving as a percentage of GNP".

Another myth blown apart.

Source: Power Trip: US Unilateralism and global strategy after September 11, editor John Feffer.