After an unprecedented embassy bombing followed by an unprecedented drone and missile attack, Israel and Iran may have us on the brink of WWIII. In this episode, as Congress and the Biden administration ponder additional support for Israel, we take a look at what has already been approved for Israel in the 2024 defense authorization and funding law.
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Background Sources
Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes
Netanyahu
“Wait, Who’s the Superpower Here?” Howard Eissenstat. Sept 20, 2012. Slate.
“Perfect English or Not, Netanyahu Shares No Common Language With Obama.” Akiva Eldar. February 10, 2009. Haaretz.
Attacks on U.S. Bases
“‘Logistics’ Outpost in Jordan Where 3 U.S. Troops Died Is Secretly a Drone Base Ken Klippenstein. February 9, 2024. The Intercept.
“Almost 50 US troops have been hurt by militant attacks in Iraq and Syria, Pentagon says.” Doug G. Ware. November 6, 2023. Stars and Stripes.
“Pentagon deploys additional 300 troops to Middle East as more attacks reported at US bases.” Doug G. Ware. October 31, 2023. Stars and Stripes.
Iran-Israel Conflict
“How Iran attacks exposed Israel's weakness.” David Hearst. April 15, 2024. Middle East Eye.
“What was in wave of Iranian attacks and how were they thwarted?” Tom Spender. April 15, 2024. BBC.
“Israel Conflict Spreads to 16 Nations as Biden Admin Says There’s No War.” Ken Klippenstein and Daniel Boguslaw. April 14, 2024. The Intercept.
“Scoop: Biden told Bibi U.S. won't support an Israeli counterattack on Iran.” Barak Ravid. April 14, 2024. Axios.
“Behind the Scenes: How U.S. Rallied to Israel's Defense During Iran's Massive Attack.” Ben Samuels. April 14, 2024. Haaretz.
“A 7-Year-Old Girl Is the Lone Serious Casualty of Iran’s Barrage.” Cassandra Vinograd and Natan Odenheimer. April 14, 2024. The New York Times.
“Conducted on the strength of Article 51 of the UN Charter pertaining to legitimate defense, Iran’s military action…” [tweet] Permanent Mission of I.R.Iran to UN, NY (@Iran_UN). April 13, 2024.
“U.S. denies involvement in attack on Iranian consulate, but braces for retaliation.” Ellen Knickmeyer and Lolita C. Baldor. April 3, 2024. PBS NewsHour.
Fear of U.S. War with Iran
“The Middle East Could Still Explode.” Ali Vaez. April 15, 2024. Foreign Affairs.
“Netanyahu’s recklessness was fostered by blind U.S. support, but Israel is the one pushing its war with Iran out of the shadows. Murtaza Hussain. April 14, 2024. The Intercept.
“Biden officials worry that Israeli response to Iran's attack may trigger wider war.” Carol E. Lee et al. April 14, 2024. NBC News.
“Netanyahu Wants a Never-ending War.” Uri Misgav. November 23, 2023. Haaretz.
“Fears grow of all-out Israel-Hezbollah war as fighting escalates.” Julian Borger. December 17, 2023. The Guardian.
“Netanyahu is drawing the US into war with Iran.” Marwan Bishara. October 9, 2023. Aljazeera.
Defense funding for Israel
“From Arrow to Iron Dome: The economics of Israel's air defense strategy.” Yuval Azulay. April 15, 2024.” CTech by Calcalist.
“Pentagon fails sixth audit, with number of passing grades stagnant.” Noah Robertson. November 15, 2023. Defense News.
“U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel,” [RL33222]. Jeremy M. Sharp. March 1, 2023. Congressional Research Service via EveryCRSReport.com.
“David's Sling System and SkyCeptor Missile.” Raytheon.
“Rafael’s Iron Dome™: celebrating 10 years of iron defense.” 2021. Rafael.
“Israel's Iron Dome Anti-Rocket System: U.S. Assistance and Coproduction,” [IN10158]. Jeremy M. Sharp. September 30, 2014. Congressional Research Service via EveryCRSReport.com.
“Israel Agrees to Spend Half of Iron Dome Funds in U.S.” Tony Capaccio. May 27, 2014. Bloomberg.
“Boeing and Israel Aerospace Industries' Arrow 3 Interceptor Successfully Completes 2nd Flight Test.” January 7, 2014. Boeing.
Boeing and Raytheon Campaign Contributions and Lobbying
“RTX Corp.” Open Secrets.
“Client Profile: RTX Corp: Lobbyists.” Open Secrets.
“Boeing Co. Open Secrets.
“Client Profile: Boeing Co: Lobbyists.” Open Secrets.
Foreign Military Financing
“Transfer of Defense Articles: Foreign Military Sales (FMS),” [IF11437]. Nathan J. Lucas and Michael J. Vassalotti. February 21, 2020. Congressional Research Service via EveryCRSReport.com.
“Guidelines for Foreign Military Financing of Direct Commercial Contracts.” March 2017. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, U.S. Department of Defense.*
Abraham Accords
“The Abraham Accords Declaration.” U.S. Department of State.
Jordan
“Arab States That Stood Up to Iran Won't Be on Board to Assist an Israeli Counterstrike.” Zvi Bar’el. April 15, 2024. Haaretz.
“Jordan's First Envoy to Israel Calls to Cut Ties With Netanyahu Gov't.” Jonathan Shamir. April 16, 2023. Haaretz.
Saudi Arabia
“Saudi Arabia warns of military escalation in region as Iran attacks Israel.” April 14, 2024. Al Arabiya English.
Laws
H.R.2882 - Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024
H.R.2670 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
Executive Producer Recommended Sources
“As The Arabs See The Jews.” King Abdullah. 1947. From the Internet Archive, originally published in The American Magazine.
Music
Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito
Editing
Production Assistance
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