Obama orders $20.3 million for Gaza refugees

[Saoirse]

Obama orders $20.3 million for Gaza refugees
What will this $20.3 million be used for? Where will these refugees go, especially given that Palestinian refugee status is now something that is handed down to children and grandchildren? Does Obama mean to pressure the neighboring Arab countries to take refugees from Gaza? Does he mean to bring them to the United States? If he is thinking about bringing them here, will he do anything to try to prevent our importation of Hamas jihadists?

Presidential memorandum No. 2009-15, issued on February 2, 2009 (thanks to Michael):

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

SUBJECT: Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related to Gaza

By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 2(c)(1) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (the "Act"), as amended (22 U.S.C. 2601), I hereby determine, pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Act, that it is important to the national interest to furnish assistance under the Act in an amount not to exceed $20.3 million from the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund for the purpose of meeting unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs, including by contributions to international, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations and payment of administrative expenses of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State, related to humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees and conflict victims in Gaza.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA


UPDATE: Eastview asks a pointed question in the comments below: "Who chooses what specific organization get[s] this $20.3 million, what restrictions are there on the goods and services it purchases, what mechanism exists to monitor its flow, and what are the reporting requirements? Or is O just going to cut HAMAS a check?"
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/024727.php#respond


This is an article from January 30th.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090130/...s_palestinians
Also found it on the White House Blog: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog_post/relief_for_gaza/

WHY???

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Saoirse

WHY???

Well, to reward Hamas for rocketing the Israelis from the territory that the Israelis recently ceded to them and for provoking the Izzys to defend themselves, you silly.

TR

[Saoirse]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

Well, to reward Hamas for rocketing the Israelis from the territory that the Israelis recently ceded to them and for provoking the Izzys to defend themselves, you silly.

TR

TR! LOL But of course, <slapping my forehead>. Do redheads have blond moments? Seriously though, that WHY was somewhat on the rhetorical side, as the WHY is the lead into so many questions. But I thank you, kind Sir, for your answer!

[csquare]

This is the Gaza stimulus package. I'm sure most will be for infrastructure. They have to build new tunnels that are deeper and stronger.

[Saoirse]

as they say on the info-mercials... BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE....

Poor Hamas, beat up by the Israelis...where's the love?


http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/024728.php#respond

February 5, 2009
Hamas negotiators leave Egypt with no ceasefire deal, but millions in cash
Apparently someone in Egypt is interested in bankrolling Hamas' jihad against Israel. It could even be someone in the Egyptian government who was involved in these negotiations. But we will probably never find out for sure. "Hamas negotiators stopped with suitcases of cash," by Sarah El Deeb for Associated Press, February 5 (thanks to Sr. Soph):

CAIRO – Hamas negotiators left Egypt without a long-term cease-fire with Israel on Thursday — but not before some members of the militant group's delegation were stopped at the Gaza border carrying millions in cash.
The delegation walked away from the cease-fire talks because of disagreements over the blockage on Gaza and border security. Talks will continue at a later date.

An Egyptian security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the group initially refused to be searched by Egyptian authorities at the Rafah border crossing. When the group relented, authorities found $7 million and 2 million euros ($2.5 million) in cash in their suitcases. Another security official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said $9 million and 2 million euros were found. The discrepancy could not be immediately explained.


Check the pockets of those "security officials"!

The money was later deposited in an account in Egypt by a Hamas member who stayed behind while the rest of the delegation was allowed to return to Gaza, the second security official said. He later returned to Gaza, the second official said.
It was not clear what would happen to the money.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas....


Gee, why not?

[Red Flag 1]

WOW!!!

POTUS after Ford would be a natural pick to represent POTUS after G W Bush for our nation at the UN!

Decades of US positions have been reversed. What does our main allay in the Mideast think of us now? I pray we and they survive the folly of our last election. If there is any good in this, it escapes me!

My $.02.

RF 1

[nmap]

I suspect that the objective is to increase rapport with the various Middle Eastern countries other than Israel. That would include Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, and perhaps even some elements within Iraq. Despite the decline in oil prices, the realities of long-term depletion remain. Therefore, the scheme may be to diplomatically protect important sources of supply. Ironically, none of this will change the rapid population growth that underlies (in my opinion) some of the problems in Gaza and other portions of the Arab world. I also suspect that the recipients of the funds will show no gratitude, thus rendering the aid valueless from a US diplomatic perspective.

If we abandon old friends, we may find that the loyalty of our hoped-for new friends is lacking. The outcome may be disappointing if, at some point, we find ourselves in need of friends.

[Saoirse]

Originally Posted by nmap

I suspect that the objective is to increase rapport with the various Middle Eastern countries other than Israel. That would include Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, and perhaps even some elements within Iraq. Despite the decline in oil prices, the realities of long-term depletion remain. Therefore, the scheme may be to diplomatically protect important sources of supply. Ironically, none of this will change the rapid population growth that underlies (in my opinion) some of the problems in Gaza and other portions of the Arab world. I also suspect that the recipients of the funds will show no gratitude, thus rendering the aid valueless from a US diplomatic perspective.

If we abandon old friends, we may find that the loyalty of our hoped-for new friends is lacking. The outcome may be disappointing if, at some point, we find ourselves in need of friends.

Good point, NMap! Unfortunately, as the saying goes, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions"...bribery too! Every time we give "aid" (in any form) it always seems to come back and bite us in the arse!!! I also wonder if this financial aid is going to spur the influx of Gaza refugees into our boarders.

[Saoirse]

Aid was on the way and they intercept the shipment and seize it's content??

JERUSALEM — The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said Friday it has halted all aid shipments into the Gaza Strip due to interference by the ruling Hamas militant group.

The U.N. Relief and Works agency said it made the decision after Hamas personnel intercepted an aid shipment for the second time this week.

In a statement, UNRWA said 10 truckloads of flour and rice that had been delivered into Gaza on Thursday were taken away by trucks affiliated with the Hamas-run Ministry of Social Affairs. Earlier this week, Hamas police took thousands of blankets and food parcels meant for needy residents.



http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,489327,00.html

[SF_BHT]

Originally Posted by Saoirse

Obama orders $20.3 million for Gaza refugees

UPDATE: Eastview asks a pointed question in the comments below: "Who chooses what specific organization get[s] this $20.3 million, what restrictions are there on the goods and services it purchases, what mechanism exists to monitor its flow, and what are the reporting requirements? Or is O just going to cut HAMAS a check?"
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/024727.php#respond


This is an article from January 30th.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090130/...s_palestinians
Also found it on the White House Blog: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog_post/relief_for_gaza/

WHY???

I know he is sending 20.3 million of replacement munitions to Israel so they can resupply Hamas with their shortage of fresh Hot Steel.

[Gypsy]

Originally Posted by Saoirse

Do redheads have blond moments?

No.




Well yet another bad move from POTUS. I don't want my tax dollars going to Hamas because you damn well know it's not going to the "refugees".

[alelks]

Sure, what can go wrong when we allow hundreds of thousands of people who have been, as Mark Steyn memorably described, "marinated" in a "sick death cult," who voted for Hamas, and 55% of whom support suicide bombings live here and at the American taxpayers' expense:

[alelks]

Well it's getting interesting. Here's an update that says the two news reports were incorrect:

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?f...w&pageId=89032

[Defender968]

I just heard on Fox that the President has pledged nearly $1 B to help rebuild Gaza, but that it won't go to Hamas, did a search on here and Google and came up with it, who are these idiots kidding, that money will end up buying arms to kill innocent people. On top of the naivety of trying to rebuild Gaza without unintentionally funding Hamas we should be spending US tax dollars to clean up our own house not worrying about Gaza.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,499068,00.html

U.S. to Give $900 Million for Gaza Reconstruction
Monday , February 23, 2009

JERUSALEM —

The United States is preparing to donate more than $900 million for the reconstruction of Gaza, a U.S. official said Monday, as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton prepared to attend a donors conference for the war-ravaged territory next week.

Israeli and Palestinian officials said earlier Monday that Clinton will visit Israel and the West Bank during the first week of March for her first trip to the region as America's top diplomat.

Clinton said during her Asia trip this month that she would attend an international donors conference in Egypt on March 2 to discuss reconstruction in Gaza.

She provided no other details, but a U.S. official in the United States said Monday that the Obama administration's donation will likely top $900 million in humanitarian and rebuilding aid to the Palestinian Authority to help Gaza recover from Israel's offensive against Hamas last month.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the donation had not received final approval, said the exact amount was still to be determined.

The official added that the aid would not go to Hamas. U.S. officials have no formal contacts with the Islamic militant group Hamas, which runs a separate Palestinian administration in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli officials, meanwhile, said Clinton will arrive in Israel on March 2 for meetings with the country's top leaders. Israel is currently ruled by a caretaker government as Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu cobbles together a new coalition.

The Israeli officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the visit had not been announced by the State Department, which has not released Clinton's schedule for next week.

Yasser Abed Rabbo, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Clinton also would visit the West Bank during her stay.

U.S. officials have no formal contacts with the Islamic militant group Hamas, which runs a separate Palestinian administration in the Gaza Strip.