Aid to North Korea

[legion]

Why are we still sending aid to North Korea?

Why is anyone still sending aid to North Korea?

It seems to me, the simplest solution to the North Korean problem is to starve them out. They would collapse if we weren't sending them aid.

Whose idea was it to send them aid anyway?

[Joeaksa]

Why are we still sending aid to a lot of the world is a good question. Supposedly everyone hates us but they still want our money or food.

I would not feel bad if we cut it back, and a lot!

[jkarolyi]

China is the main supporter of NK...from what I understand good ol' Kim gets a blank check from them.

[Joeaksa]

Then why do so many of their rank and file keep starving from lack of food each year? The chinks have their own billions to feed and N. Korea have been begging to the UN for years for food and assistance.

[Nathans_Dad]

I can't understand why we send aid to 80% of the countries we send aid to.

It ticks me off that these countries talk about how horrible we are in the same breath that they accept a check from us for millions.

I say we cut all aid to all countries that are not our staunch allies. Boom, instant deficit reduction.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by Nathans_Dad
I can't understand why we send aid to 80% of the countries we send aid to.

It ticks me off that these countries talk about how horrible we are in the same breath that they accept a check from us for millions.

I say we cut all aid to all countries that are not our staunch allies. Boom, instant deficit reduction.

Totally agree. So much of the aid is being stolen then sold on the black market that its not reaching those who need it anyway.

Why are we supporting countries who do not support us? Why?

[Par911]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Totally agree. So much of the aid is being stolen then sold on the black market that its not reaching those who need it anyway.

Why are we supporting countries who do not support us? Why?

Its all for political gains and ally appeasement...

When is the US going to start sending the US aid??

[widebody911]

Originally posted by Nathans_Dad
I say we cut all aid to all countries that are not our staunch allies. Boom, instant deficit reduction.

I concur, but I suspect a lot of this 'aid' is really just subsidies for US companies. For example, a $10M check for 'food' subsidies to Elbonia would really really go to General Mills to buy grain products. Or a $100M 'infrastructure' aid package goes to Halliburton to develop oil production.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by Par911
Its all for political gains and ally appeasement...

When is the US going to start sending the US aid??

Send it where? We are already giving N. Korea aid as it is!

[Nathans_Dad]

Thom, if that's the case then it's just subsidizing certain companies outside of the usual channels and shouldn't be occurring.

So, I would say cut those too and if the politicians want to send money to Halliburton or General Mills they can pass it in a bill just like all the other subsidies. At least that way the voters can tell how much is really going where.

[Joeaksa]

Let Halliburton build a wall between Mexico and the states and GM will find a market somewhere for its product.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Let's send them AIDS instead...

[Rick Lee]

NK is totally dependent on aid from the US, Japan, SK and China. That country produces nothing but methamphetamine, counterfeit US dollars and missile techonology. Of course, the UN and Europe would howl if we were to cut off food aid, even though not a single bag of that food makes it to the starving population. It goes to the military, so Kim Jong-Il can spend his money on Hennesy and sushi, jet skis, fast cars, etc.

In Aquariums of Pyongyang there was an interesting passage about how well guarded rabbits were in the Yodok labor camp. They are raised for their pelts which are used for the soldiers' winter clothes. Of course, the starving prisoners want to eat the rabbits. But it's a death sentence if any rabbits are missing when they do the count each day. None of the donated food makes it to where it's supposed to go and the Kim regime does not allow foreign aid workers to distribute the food. It's pretty much "drop it off here and shut up, we'll take care of it."

[Nathans_Dad]

Agreed Rick, I think a very effective solution to the NK issue would be to stop all aid to North Korea immediately. Why in the hell are we sending food aid to a nation that was named in the "Axis of Evil" anyhow? Let's be consistent for cripes sake.

[Moneyguy1]

The administration may be part of the axis of evil, but what about the general population? Even some ME countries differentiate beween Americans and their government.

That being said, the problem is and will contiue to be getting the aid where it is most urgently needed. South Korea is currently concerned about a potential influx of refugees from the North.

[jkarolyi]

Just saw this today from Associated Press...

For a country that is North Korea's stalwart diplomatic protector and economic lifeline, providing the North with trade, lots of aid and all of its oil, China seemingly has little pull with its neighbor and ally of 55 years.

"China sends oil, grain and other assistance to North Korea. But aid isn't a weapon if it's not used as a weapon," said Zhang Liangui, a North Korea watcher at China's Central Party School, a training academy for the communist elite. "And China doesn't contemplate using aid as a weapon, so its influence is very poor."

Why the hell not!!! This is a VERY lame excuse...why are you giving NK money, out of the kindness of your hearts? When 3/4 of your own population doesn't have indoor plumbing? What BS.

[Nathans_Dad]

Moneyguy I understand that the population of NK would suffer from sanctions against their government but...that's life.

You cannot continue to send money and/or goods to a corrupt government which uses the money/goods against you and then proceeds to fire long range missiles to rattle the cages.

The Soviet people suffered under the USSR too, but we didn't keep sending the Kremlin cash.

[ronin]

Originally posted by jkarolyi
China is the main supporter of NK...from what I understand good ol' Kim gets a blank check from them.

not hardly. China has been cutting back quite severely on funding North Korea in recent years