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The oil-hungry United States has for decades played enforcer in the Middle East — trying to get what it wants with cold hard cash while ignoring the sins of its friends in the region. As troops amass against Afghanistan, its latest military target, here’s the rundown on how Uncle Sam is playing his hand.
LEBANON
WHAT U.S. GIVES: Economic funding: $35 million
Military funding: $575,000
WHAT U.S. GETS: Not much. Syrian satellite.
THE FALLOUT: Untold thousands dead from civil war.
JORDAN
WHAT U.S. GIVES: Military funding: $77 million
Economic funding: $149 million
WHAT U.S GETS: Linchpin in Arab-Israel peace process. Important ally in the region.
THE FALLOUT: Terrorist target of Islamic fundamentalists.
WEST BANK AND GAZA
WHAT THE U.S. GIVES: Economic funding: $85 million (for infrastructure)
WHAT THE U.S. GETS: A hard time for not doing more to help Palestinians.
THE FALLOUT: No peace. Rise of the intifada. Thousands dead and injured because of Israeli aggression.
SYRIA
WHAT THE U.S GIVES: Nil.
WHY THE U.S. IS A FOE: Deep hostility toward Israel.
THE FALLOUT: State sponsor of terrorism. Major stumbling block to Mideast peace.
IRAN
WHAT U.S. GIVES: Nil. Considered a rogue state.
WHY U.S. IS A FOE: Taking of American hostages in 79. Sponsor of terrorism.
THE FALLOUT: Warming relations. Dangerous wedge against Iraq.
UZBEKISTAN
WHAT THE U.S. GIVES: $23.5 million (for infrastructure).
WHAT U.S GETS:
Close ally in the region. Produces gold, uranium and natural gas.
THE FALLOUT: U.S. troops amassing for Afghanistan strike reportedly already on the ground here.
AFGHANISTAN
WHAT U.S. GIVES: Humanitarian aid: $177 million ($1.5 million for opium poppy eradication).
WHY U.S. IS A FOE: Rejecting U.S. demands to turn over Osama bin Laden.
THE FALLOUT: More than 1 million Afghani refugees trying to flee to Pakistan. More than 1 million dead from CIA-backed war with former Soviet Union.
ISRAEL
WHAT U.S. GIVES: Military funding: $1.98 billion
Economic funding: $950 million
WHAT U.S. GETS: Nuclear-powered foothold in the Middle East.
THE FALLOUT: Thousands of dead in Occupied Territories. Israeli civilian carnage. Deep-rooted Arab hostility toward the West.
EGYPT
WHAT U.S. GIVES: Military funding: $1.3 billion
Economic funding: $700 million
WHAT U.S. GETS:
Bulwark against Islamic fundamentalism.
THE FALLOUT: Uneasy peace between secular and fundamentalist strands. Dozens of deaths due to terrorist attacks.
IRAQ
WHAT U.S. GIVES: $10 million to Iraqi opposition.
WHY U.S. IS A FOE: Gulf War. Iraqi opposition to Israel. Murder of thousands of Kurds.
THE FALLOUT: Death of more than 1 million Iraqi civilians from malnutrition and disease resulting from U.S.-led economic sanctions.
SAUDI ARABIA
WHAT U.S. GIVES: Access to military arsenal, including Patriot and Hawk missiles, F-15 fighter jets, Blackhawk helicopters and Abrams tanks.
WHAT U.S. GETS: Military base. Access to large oil reserves.
THE FALLOUT: The rise of Osama bin Laden and the new jihad.
YEMEN
WHAT U.S. GIVES: $4 million (infrastructure projects).
WHAT U.S. GETS: Expanding influence.
THE FALLOUT: U.S. warship Cole bombed in Yemeni harbour in October 2000.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
WHAT U.S. GIVES:
No direct economic or military aid.
WHAT U.S. GETS: Not much. One of first to recognize the Taliban.
THE FALLOUT:
Dubai banks target of U.S. attempts to freeze assets of terrorists.
KUWAIT
WHAT THE U.S. GIVES: No direct economic or military aid. U.S.-led forces thwarted Iraqi invasion.
WHAT THE U.S. GETS: Access to strategically placed oil-rich nation.
THE FALLOUT: Continued threat of Iraqi invasion.
PAKISTAN
WHAT U.S. GIVES: $4.5 million (support for basic education and NGOs).
WHAT U.S. GETS: Uneasy partner in Southeast Asia. Among the first to recognize Taliban. Hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. military aid cut off over nuclear testing program.
THE FALLOUT: Potential nuclear powder keg.
All U.S. foreign aid numbers are for 2001 only (all figures are in U.S. dollars)
SOURCES: U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. State Department, Embassy of Israel, Embassy of Egypt, Palestine office (Washington)