The US, a Wise Investor

This isn’t very precise, but it gives an idea of our “investments” in the world outside our borders.

~$3.9 billion a month to operate in Iraq, not including reconstruction costs.

$10-20 billion, in very round numbers, for the entire US non-military aid budget

1/3 of US non-military aid to israel
egyptian aid pegged to 2/3 of israel’s US aid grant

Even if you cynically view foreign aid as a bribe, it looks like we could still afford to pay more such bribes if it means we avoid just one exercise in regime change.