US provided $121 billion in mostly military aid to Israel and $25 billion to train and arm Iraq and over $26 billion to train and arm Afghan forces

Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II. To date, the United States has provided Israel $121 billion (current, or non-inflation-adjusted, dollars) in bilateral assistance. Almost all U.S. bilateral aid to Israel is in the form of military assistance, although in the past Israel also received significant economic assistance. Strong congressional support for Israel has resulted in Israel receiving benefits not available to any other countries; for example, Israel can use some U.S. military assistance both for research and development in the United States and for military purchases from Israeli manufacturers. In addition, U.S. assistance earmarked for Israel is generally delivered in the first 30 days of the fiscal year, while most other recipients normally receive aid in installments, and Israel (as is also the case with Egypt) is permitted to use cash flow financing for its U.S. arms purchases. In addition to receiving U.S. State Department-administered foreign assistance, Israel also receives funds from annual defense appropriations bills for rocket and missile defense programs.

Israel has a strong military that has defeated the combined armies of the Arab countries.

Iraqi Army that was trained and equipped by the United States at a cost of more than $25 billion, but which experienced a drop-off in training after the American withdrawal in 2011 and has been greatly handicapped by Mr. Maliki’s push to appoint commanders based more on political loyalty than military skill. A military assessment of Iaq forces had several conclusions

* Iraqi forces had the ability to defend Baghdad, but not necessary hold all of it, especially against a major attack. Already, the capital has been targeted by ISIS car bombs.

* General Dempsey noted the while Iraqi security forces had stiffened and were capable of defending Baghdad, they were not capable on their own of launching a counteroffensive and reversing the ISIS gains.

* only approximately half of Iraq’s military units are capable of being advised by American commandos, and many units have been infiltrated by either Sunni insurgent informants or Shiite militia members backed by Iran. Iraqi forces loyal to embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki are so dependent on the Shiite militias, as well as advisers from Iran’s paramilitary Quds Force that American advisers could face safety risks if they are assigned to train certain units.

James M. Dubik, a retired Army lieutenant general who oversaw the training of the Iraqi Army in 2007 and 2008, said that Iraq’s security forces could make gains against ISIS even if only half its divisions were effective, but that an advisory effort was very important.

Other countries have also received a lot of cumulative US aid.

Annual funding to Egypt has averaged about $2 billion since 1979 and until the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan it was the second-largest recipient.

Afghanistan has received almost $52 billion in total foreign assistance. The aid is used to rebuild the country, stabilize and strengthen the economic, social, political and security structure, and for anti-terrorism measures. More than half (over $26 billion) of U.S. assistance has been used to recruit, equip and train Afghan forces. The rest has gone for development and humanitarian needs. A congressional study has urged the Obama administration to make more effective use of this aid, to focus more on sustainability and long-term development. The general view is if the US pulls out then the Afghan forces would collapse. Afghan forces might control Kabul.

Since 1948 America has pledged over $30 billion in direct aid to Pakistan, half of it (over $15 billion) for military assistance. Two-thirds of the aid was allocated between 2002 and 2010.

The US gives out about 52 billion per year in foreign aid. This is down from $57 billion in 2010.

Saudi Arabia is the fourth largest defense budget in the world with spending in the $59-67 billion range in 2013 The figures for Saudi Arabia include expenditure for public order and safety and might be slightly overestimated.

From 1950 through 2006, Saudi Arabia bought or was granted from the United States weapons, military equipment and services worth $79.8 billion. Almost a fifth of all American arms sales during that period went to Saudi Arabia—or 19% of all U.S. arms sales during the period. Saudi Arabia still depends on the United States to guarantee its security. Saudi power has been exercised almost exclusively on domestic soil, countering terrorism, suppressing dissidents and, as in most authoritarian Arab regimes, maintaining an iron grip on Saudi society. Saudi Arabia has never fought in a modern war. Its ability to repulse an Iraqi attack in 1990, for example, was virtually nil.

Israel’s military budget is about $18 billion. (14th in 2013)

Iran’s military budget is about $17 billion (15th in 2013, but $6.3 billion in 2012 for 31st).

Global fire power ranks Israel as the 11th most powerful military and Saudia Arabia as 26th.

There is a Dec 1999 assessment by Norvell De Atkine, a U.S. Army retired colonel in the Middle East Quarterly about why Arabs lose wars. There is a lot of information hording and there are problems working together in larger units.

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