Well as long as he doesn't use half of it to start a bunch of wars in the middle east, we'll probably end up ahead of what would have happened if it would have

Well as long as he doesn't use half of it to start a bunch of wars in the middle east, we'll probably end up ahead of what would have happened if it would have gone to taxes. As you said, if Gates' leadership is followed, I think we'll end up wayyyy ahead of what would happen if it goes to taxes (especially if you consider that ironically enough many of the people that actually need the help might get it - like poor in other countries benefiting from malaria cures, vs whatever domestic interests would do with the money here)