Commentator Glenn Beck has attacked the International Fund for Ireland funding for the Irish peace process as a boondoggle and a waste of time.
The Fox host stated that "In 1986 an earmark for Ireland was created for something called the International Fund for Ireland, created by the Irish and British to promote peace in Northern Ireland."
"Since 1996, U.S. taxpayers have contributed $280 million to the fund. It was raised to $17 million in 2010 — that's up $ 2 million from 2009. The original concerns of violence and poverty have long been gone, yet the money still flows in."
Beck's focus on the fund comes at a very bad time for the British and Irish governments who are seeking to prolong the funding for the fund which they believe plays a key role in helping reconciliation projects in Ireland at this critical time. Funding has run out after 2010.
On March 17th the Irish government sought to preserve the funding, which is due to expire, in meetings with White House officials and President Obama.
The European Union, Australia and New Zealand have also put funding into the International Fund believing that the Irish peace process is an example to the world how ethnic hatreds can be overcome and international funding can help.
Beck's call to defund however, is a setback for the continuation of the International Fund. He carries huge weight with a congress that is increasingly under pressure to end all earmarks.
The International Fund is separate from the American Ireland Fund which is an American based charity that also raises funds privately for worthy projects in Ireland.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seanomelbourne | Apr 23, 2010, 12:16 AM EDT
The only weight Beck deserves to carry is an anvil as he jumps overboard.
seanomelbourne | Apr 22, 2010, 10:32 PM EDT
It would be interesting to breakdown military and non-military aid,One should also remember cash aid(military)is not given to any country it's given in military hardware, a reverse method of propping up arms manufacturers with government subsidies.
CullenAbroad | Apr 22, 2010, 07:52 PM EDT
Waw, I've been 'promoting' this peace all me life, and haven't seen a penny for it, much less understand ethnic hatred - which I believe is a personal mental state really.... sin é.
IrishAndProud | Apr 21, 2010, 03:37 PM EDT
odonnell, when you say 'anti-immigrant' crowd...I'm not sure who you're referring to. There's a lopsided majority of Americans who oppose the presence of ILLEGAL ALIENS (who of course are different from legal immigrants)...and many of whom oppose giving such large financial assistance to Israel...but I wasn't aware of any such 'anti-immigrant' crowd. Could you be more specific?
Derrylass627 | Apr 21, 2010, 03:00 PM EDT
Glen Beck carries huge weight in congress? What are you smoking, Naill? At a time when the economy is slack, it makes some sense to cut back on hand-outs to other nations, but at what cost to our way of life?
odonnell521 | Apr 21, 2010, 06:25 AM EDT
"70% of U.S. foreign aid goes to Mexico" - you better check your "Fox facts" - the bulk of our aid has historically gone to Israel ($3 billion per year) with Mexico getting chump change (about $600 million per year) and most of that to fight drugs - another inconvenient fact for the anti-immigrant crowd.
FastEddy | Apr 19, 2010, 01:31 PM EDT
Mr. O'Dowd, you have a narrow mind re: the Beck/Hannady/O'Reilly Triumvirate Complex. ... Considering that 70% of all US "foreign aid" goes to Mexico, and only about 3% goes to Ireland, as one taxpayer to another ... where should we make the first cuts foreign aid? Do you want the Irish people to become another enslaved nation to US handouts? One would hope that Ireland could clean up your own messes without welfare from the states.
jdi2269 | Apr 19, 2010, 01:18 PM EDT
HEY NIALL, WE KNOW YOU ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY! CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT OUR TAX SITUATION WOULD BE IF THE US CANCELLED ALL OUTSIDE AID WORLD-WIDE? (MOST OF IT IS SWALLOWED UP AND UNAPPRECIATED)!
beachline | Apr 19, 2010, 10:42 AM EDT
How does Glenn Beck carry ""huge weight"" with Congress??? The only connection I can see is that he is a mouthpiece for ultra conservative politicians who need a public figure to air their beliefs. Ask yourself-Why is Beck suddenly picking out the International Fund now??? The Fund has been in existance for many years but nary a word from Beck et-al about the fund.
bronxjames | Apr 19, 2010, 10:37 AM EDT
Well if that african in the 'white' house gets involved then its all over. If it was muslim nation there would be no question. DUMP THE DEMS IN 2012!
ripley838 | Apr 19, 2010, 08:56 AM EDT
Beck has little or no influence in a Congress with Congress people who can walk and chew gum at the same time.
miltonedunn | Apr 19, 2010, 08:45 AM EDT
I feel that with the conditions in the U,S.A. we should finaly let other countries who most could care less about us take care of their own problems for a change.This country has carried the world to long now. Get off your butts and help yourself.
seanomelbourne | Apr 19, 2010, 06:34 AM EDT
Monsoonman I have tried shortening my responses to no avail. It would appear Mr. O Dowd will not allow a contra view on IS[[RAEL, SO MUCH FOR THE LAND OF FREE AND THE HOME OF THE MUZZLE.
pacmanisback | Apr 19, 2010, 12:47 AM EDT
free speech is not possible on the site. So sad considering how Niall came up in the business...If you dont agree you are out... did you forget where you came from NO...you should know better.
pacmanisback | Apr 19, 2010, 12:43 AM EDT
peace is free-stop the fund.
seanomelbourne | Apr 19, 2010, 12:39 AM EDT
Free Speech is unobtainable here I am done
Monsoonman | Apr 19, 2010, 12:31 AM EDT
Sean: You are not being censored. You need to shorten your posts, make them pithy me boy. The only censoring around here is to the conservative view. There are no conservative columnists.
seanomelbourne | Apr 18, 2010, 10:13 PM EDT
I do not think you are a Zombie. We are discussing a belief which we both differ on. Regrettably my views are censored and not allowed. Any how I'll try again shortly.
Monsoonman | Apr 18, 2010, 09:27 PM EDT
I don't get it Sean and the rest of you of liberal bent. First I am supposed to be a Fox zombie, my head filled with hate propaganda put there by Murdoch and the /Saudi Sheikh. Yet I am defending Israel against your anti Israeli arguments....What gives? Shouldn't I be on your side on this? Sum ting wong with your preconceived ideas? Jes sayin'
IrishAndProud | Apr 18, 2010, 09:25 PM EDT
icansee...firstly the Jews who've regathered in Israel came from all over the world...but where were they, prior to that? Answer: Israel! And most curious...where, exactly, do you find that G-d told the Jews to leave the land that he commanded them to be in...complete with a 'And don't ever come back?' Where do you find that?
icanseetrees | Apr 18, 2010, 09:11 PM EDT
It was Palestinian lands which was forcibly taken. The 'Israelites' who took that land came from all over the world, they took money from Jewish businesses all over the world to fund their war. They claim to be 'coming home' after 2000 years - 2000 years after God kicked them out and told them NEVER to return. We should NOT be allies with them. They DON'T care about us, or our laws and recent events prove that.
Monsoonman | Apr 18, 2010, 08:55 PM EDT
The only land the Israelis "took" was after they had been attacked by their neighbors, repeatedly. After that Israel kept land as a safety buffer. Sorry if you don't like it, but that's what happens when you wage war and you lose.
icanseetrees | Apr 18, 2010, 08:47 PM EDT
Monsoonman - It has 'given up land' that it forcibly took in the first place...
IrishAndProud | Apr 18, 2010, 08:46 PM EDT
sean...I know we don't agree on this issue but it may be that your comments are a bit too lengthy and that's why they're not posting (if you're getting a 'comment has been sent' notice, that's probably the case). Just copy it before you send it and then try breaking it down if you get that message; that should do it.
seanomelbourne | Apr 18, 2010, 07:51 PM EDT
Well Monsoonman I have tried to answer your comments several time,it appears this site refuses to print any negative comments about I-srael so much for free speech.
IrishAndProud | Apr 18, 2010, 06:05 PM EDT
Actually, Israeli Arabs have as many (if not more) rights in Israel as they do in ARAB lands. Arab women were given the right to vote in Israel before any Arab nation followed suite, and Israel even exempts its Arab citizens from compulsory military service (which it requires of nearly all its Jewish residents). When its terrorist enemies are portrayed as the 'victims' and ISRAEL as the aggressor, something's wrong.
Monsoonman | Apr 18, 2010, 04:00 PM EDT
Israel has for a long time been very liberal and have given up so much land in an effort to appease the PALS. But it is of no avail, the only way you and many other anti semites will be happy is when Israel is wiped off the map. Fortunately for Israel, there is still a hard core base who have as their motto: never again. This time they will go out fighting and take others with them to the promised land. I guarantee you that.
plasticpaddy | Apr 18, 2010, 02:43 PM EDT
"Israel has such a liberal stance " ha ha ha, I love how you ignore the systematic and organised destruction of the Palestinian people and the humanitarian abuses perpetrated against them. You sir are a disgrace!
Monsoonman | Apr 18, 2010, 01:31 PM EDT
Actually Sean I have spent time in Israel and have many friends that live there. I also have spent time in Palestinian controlled areas and Egypt. My favorite resort was destroyed by a suicide bomber, the Taba Hilton on the shores of the Red Sea. If you are an Israeli citizen you can vote in their elections. That is why Israel has such a liberal stance on many issues. Where do you think the suicide bombers come from? Israel? LOL!!
seanomelbourne | Apr 18, 2010, 09:49 AM EDT
Sharia law is not practiced by Palestinians.In fact most countries who practice Sharia are non-Arab,Iran Pakistan,Malaysia for instance so lets cut to the chase Monsoonman and stop the silly rhetoric.To call Is-rael a democracy is almost an oxymoron.Arabs living there do not have equal rights as you well know.
Celtica43 | Apr 17, 2010, 11:59 PM EDT
I think he is correct. We do not have the money, plain and simple.
Southernpride | Apr 17, 2010, 07:58 PM EDT
Glenn Beck comes from the mid-west where people are honest and have a strong work ethic.
pat52rk | Apr 17, 2010, 05:06 PM EDT
well said buffalo, how much have we spent in iraq up to now ? that would fund a lot of health care ..
Monsoonman | Apr 17, 2010, 04:53 PM EDT
Come on sean, you must be one of the jihadist boys Australia wants to kick out of the country. Why don't you move to palestine and start lobbing rockets into Israel? What's the difference between sharia law and democracy in Israel? In Israel you get to vote, whether you are a jew or an arab or a Christian. If you are a non muslim in any of the mideast countries, you get no rights and are a second class citizen....sean, you really want to see the entire mideast and world become islamic?
seanomelbourne | Apr 17, 2010, 04:25 PM EDT
I have watched Beck's comedy show on Fox he's a sad excuse of a man. What's the difference between democracy and Israel? apartheid,vote rigging, land stealing, robbing water rights,oppression,etc,etc,etc.
Monsoonman | Apr 17, 2010, 12:57 PM EDT
Israel/Ireland parity: Should we arm Ireland with the same sophisticated weaponry that we arm Israel with as well? These countries are not in the same league when it comes to strategic location and perilous situations. Israel is the only democracy and real ally of the free world in the middle east.
Devlino | Apr 17, 2010, 10:44 AM EDT
It is such a pity that Beck does not speak out on funding for Israel which gets a lot more in U.S. taxpayer dollars than Ireland ever did.
MickCummins | Apr 17, 2010, 08:10 AM EDT
He's absolutely right. It lost it's way as soon as the British took control of the Fund and amounts to little more than the SDLP slush fund it was to be.
Buffalobrave | Apr 17, 2010, 07:32 AM EDT
GeorgeDavis; We have to many Americans interfering in many countries affairs. Lets get out of the countries we're interfering with and use the money for the best socialized medical system in the world. Everyone has a right to first class medical care with no strings attached. We should be spending money to keep Americans alive not spending money on weapons that kill not only other citizens, but American citizens as well.
GeorgeDavis | Apr 17, 2010, 03:38 AM EDT
I agree with Beck. We have too many Americans inrfering in Irish affairs. The most egregious is Chuck Feeney's outfit, which pumps vast quantities of money into pro-immigration pressure groups in Ireland. What other country would accept a foreign billionaire promoting his pet causes like that?
heybuldog69 | Apr 17, 2010, 12:35 AM EDT
Becks wants the money for the planet he expects to rule. Maroni has stopped cutting him checks since he does not tell the truth very often.