thunderchicken
Grandmaster
I've never understood why we never leverage other countries for something in return for our protection. Giving aid and protection to an ally, is fine with me. But, like any relationship there has to be some mutual give and take.Our greatest mistake was not charging allies, either in currency or manufacturing, for the military protection that allows them to have their socialist utopias.
Israel, for example, would simply not be allowed to exist without the power projection capabilities of the US making everyone wary of encouraging our wrath. Instead of them paying us for this, we pay them.
I for one am just not sure I can see where we ever receive from all of our giving.
Now, as far as aid to countries who absolutely hate us, well that just doesn't make sense. If they are in humanitarian crisis and in need of support, I can maybe see sending a couple train cars of food and water etc. But, we should never be giving them cash or any resources that can be used against us. Money never gets used for it's intended purpose and always bites us in the ass.