Republican Senator Paul Delays Vote on Iron Dome Spending – Offers Alternative Financial Approach

The senator did not reject assisting the Jewish State inasmuch as he wanted to make an effort to pull funding from a different area; Paul: I think the American taxpayer dollars that pay for it should come from money that could go to the Taliban.

Within weeks of the US House of Representatives almost unanimously approving funding for foreign aid to be directed towards Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, final approval for the funding came to a pause on Monday after Senator Rand Paul (R – KY) delayed his vote. However, while Paul has long been a critic of how taxpayer money is spent outside of the US, his decision to pause the process was not a rejection of the Jewish State, as has been the case with many Democrat representatives.

As one of Paul’s primary arguing points, he suggested that money traditionally sent to the Afghan government on an annual basis (approx. $6 billion), which would now go to the Taliban if the US doesn’t change course, should be used to fund Iron Dome. Paul stated, “I think the American taxpayer dollars that pay for it should come from money that could go to the Taliban. That money, I think, could be spent on the Taliban, if we do not rescind that money.”

He further added, “Only an economically strong United States can be a militarily strong ally of Israel. I support Israel; I’ve voted for hundreds of millions of dollars to support Iron Dome. I’m glad the United States has a strong bond with Israel, but the United States cannot give money it does not have no matter how strong our relationship is. The United States is approaching $30 trillion in debt. Our out-of-control spending added 3 trillion to the debt just in this fiscal year.”

Israel is the most critical Middle East ally to the US and it relies heavily on its Iron Dome missile defense system, which reports a 95% success rate when it comes to intercepting missiles, rockets, and other projectiles.

Paul’s rejection was only on the expedited vote to provide the funding. However, and official vote could very well happen later this week.