USAID - Possible Violations of US FTO Laws?

"Since 1993,Palestinians have received more than $1.7 billion in U.S. economic assistance via USAID projects - more than from any other donor country."

Wow - that's a whole lot of US dollars going into a region filled with people who see the USA as The Great Infidel, practically Satan incarnate. My fellow US taxpayers - what have we reaped from this huge committment of cash into the PA (Palestinian Authority but also think of it as the Palestinian Adventure)?

"Since September 2000, the beginning of the current Intifada, the Palestinian economy has deteriorated sharply. Real GDP per capita has fallen by almost 40% and unemployment has almost tripled, reaching 29% in mid-2004. Nearly 26% of the unemployed come from the public sector." ref

The more money we tossed into the great PA, the worse things got?

Say it ain't so, boss - say it ain't so! Aren't large sums of money supposed to fix nearly any problem? Some may think so - and will work very hard to convince you its true - but it ain't true folks, sorry - it just ain't true.

Growing Bean Counters leads to Backing Loans

What's one of USAID's achievements, one it personally ranks as a 'mentionable' result in its expenditure of these funds, in its efforts to "Expand Private Sector Enterprise"?

"Published first ever Arabic language edition of international standards on auditing and ethics for CPAs. More than 50% of the Palestinian accountants now use international
standards, compared to 10% when USAID initiated its Accounting and Auditing program." ref

WOW - more than 50% of Palestinian accountants NOW know how to book their USAID dollars (and Eurodollars) into their General Ledger! Why this is a superb success story - isn't it? Fully more than 50% (which could be 50.001%) now know how to book their assets, liabilities, equity and... But why is accounting to international standards important?

"The West Bank and Gaza received its first ever US government non-sovereign country risk assessment, which should enable USAID to develop a loan guarantee program to benefit the private sector." ref

Aha! Now USAID is hoping to develop a LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM to BENEFIT the PALESTINIAN PRIVATE SECTOR! Now that's quite an achievement, don't you agree? It isn't enough to give $1.7 BILLION dollars of US tax dollars since 1993; NOW we're preparing to create a program whereby we (or more accurately, the goverment of) the US of A will GUARANTEE loans to the 'Palestinian' Private Sector!

Isn't it the purpose (and possibly the role) of The World Bank to guarantee loans to the Palestinian Private Sector? Sounds like it to me:

"Our mission is to help developing countries and their people reach the goals by working with our partners to alleviate poverty. To do that we concentrate on building the climate for investment, jobs and sustainable growth, so that economies will grow, and by investing in and empowering poor people to participate in development. ref

As a citizen of the US, how do you feel about $1.7 BILLION dollars of YOUR tax money (since 1993 - and unadjusted for inflation afaik) POURING into the coffers of the PA?

Fellow US citizens - wouldn't those dollars be better spent INSIDE the US of A, as seed money for US taxpayers in need of loans to start businesses, buy homes, perhaps even to reduce the burdeon of Medicare? Or perhaps - dare I suggest - for Homeland Defense, maybe guarding the US BORDERS?

But wait - just like a bad movie - there's more! Argh!

USAID - Possible Violation of US Law by Funding Terrorist Organizations?

By now I'm sure you are aware that Hamas (ranked number 12 in the Current List of Designated Foreign Terroist Organizations by the US State Department) heads up the new 'Palestinian' goverment with 74 seats. But did you know:

"It is unlawful for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide "material support or resources" to a designated FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organization)." ref

Hmm.

Read the Fact Sheet linked to by the above reference, then read it again. You may possibly find yourself asking the following question: "How does USAID slip by; how do they get around US law and statutes?"

Let's read through the legalese (following emphasis mine) from the reference page to see if there is a loophole:

"The term 'material support or resources' is defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2339A(b)(1)as any property, tangible or intangible, or service, including currency or monetary instruments or financial securities, financial services, lodging, training, expert advice or assistance, safehouses, false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances, explosives, personnel (1 or more individuals who may be or include oneself) and transportation, except medicine or religious materials." ref

My - that is a very broad sword of legalese, isn't it? Yup - it sure is - and as it should be; we ARE talking about FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organizations) here. But what is important to us I marked up in bold.

By the simplest of readings, it is quite possible USAID is in violations of 18 U.S.C. § 2339A(b)(1). I don't see any exceptions there, do you? Let's read on - to further clarify the legal issue at hand!

"18 U.S.C. § 2339A(b)(2) provides that for these purposes the term 'training' means instruction or teaching designed to impart a specific skill, as opposed to general knowledge."ref

"Instruction or teaching designed to impart a specific skill" - you mean teaching them how to be accountants, using International Standards, so they can become astute at moving their money around and 'cooking' their books? But just so we're all clear about this:

"18 U.S.C. § 2339A(b)(3) further provides that for these purposes the term 'expert advice or assistance' means advice or assistance derived from scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge." ref

My, my... If we dug into everything USAID has done/taught/provided for Palestinians would we find their actions violated these laws/statutes/definitions? Surely there is a Senator, Representative or Subcomittee who can dig into this - right?

My Humble Opinion: The flow of ALL money FROM ANY US government agency OR ANY agency outside the US government which receives US government dollars in ANY method or manner TO ANY Palestinian destination must STOP - and stop NOW. The process violates US law.

My Second Humble Opinion: Investigative actions by agencies outside the control and domain of USAID or any involved government parties MUST determine if agents (employees/representatives/staff/etc) of, or within USAID violated US law/statutes KNOWINGLY.

Folks - this really needs to see the light of day. Why?

"PALESTINIAN gunmen attacked offices with ties to the US and Britain in protest today over an Israeli raid at a West Bank prison." And "...We don't want to see any Americans here," one of the (Palestinian) gunmen shouted when Palestinian police arrived... ref

No Americans here - just American Dollars.

And finally - there is this...

"Researchers to Report That Arab Population Figures in West Bank and Gaza Are Dramatically Overestimated as House International Relations Subcommittee Reconsiders US Aid to Palestinian Authority" ref

Whoo-hoo! It keeps getting better, doesn't it? Why would the Palestine Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) (is it coincidental they chose CBS as part of their moniker?) overestimate their population numbers?

"US tax dollars and other international humanitarian aid have been based on inflated population numbers which have been accepted without question by government and aid agencies. The researchers pointed out that money has been spent to help Palestinians who were double-counted, never born, or not present in the West Bank and Gaza." ref

Apparently - the Palestinians already know how to account better than those handing out the money.

What a great return on our $1.7 BILLION DOLLAR investment.