Musk didn’t just wreck USAID—he sabotaged Israel’s future.

Miriam Adelson must summon GOP congressional leaders and make them explain it to her—face to face.

Not for hours. Not for days.

For weeks, Jordanians took to the streets—angry, relentless.

They raged against their king for aiding Israel in repelling Iran’s missile barrages. Protests swelled, fueled by fury over Jordan’s role in the coalition that helped shield Israel from Tehran’s assault.

On April 13, 2024, Iran unleashed an unprecedented direct attack—170 drones, 120 ballistic missiles and 30 cruise missiles. Some breached Jordanian airspace. The Royal Jordanian Air Force responded decisively, intercepting and destroying plenty of Iranian drones and missiles. Jordan softened Iran’s attack before it reached Isreal.

The King of Jordan knew his people stood firmly against aiding Israel. He had seen them flood the streets in April, protesting Jordan’s role in defending its neighbor. And yet, when Iran struck again on October 1, 2024—launching 200 ballistic missiles—Jordanian air defenses once more sprang into action, intercepting multiple projectiles that violated its airspace. Once again, Jordan stood with the United States, helping to blunt the blow against Israel.

But Jordan’s cooperation is an exception, not the rule. Elsewhere in the region, the airspace Israel needs is firmly off-limits.

Turkey, for one, has made its position unmistakable: Israeli warplanes are not welcome.

So if war erupts, how exactly do Israel or Western forces plan to reach Iran? Fly to Greece, then circle around Bulgaria? Then cross Georgia—who will, of course, call Putin first to see what the Kremlin prefers—before moving into Azerbaijan and finally entering Iranian airspace? A logistical nightmare, riddled with political tripwires. Why not just call Iran and tell them you're coming while you take the scenic route around the world to strike their military assets?

The airspace over Syria and Jordan is Israel’s shield—vital, indispensable. This was proven in April and October 2024, when most of Iran’s incoming missiles and drones were intercepted before they could reach Israeli airspace. If these corridors are denied, Israel is in serious trouble.

The Kingdom of Jordan, despite public fury over its role in defending Israel, keeps intercepting Iranian missiles. Not out of fear of the United States, but because Washington has kept Jordan afloat for decades. That support has a name: USAID.

You might be able to ignore Syria in Israel’s defensive equation—though I wouldn’t recommend it—but without Jordan, Israel is exposed. Jordan’s hostility toward Iran won’t save Israel; what matters is that Amman still depends on U.S. support.

But what happens when that support disappears?

The U.S. Withdrawal: Iran’s Opportunity

With the U.S. pulling back from global aid, Iran suddenly has a small but real opening to pry Jordan away from the Western orbit. In 2023 alone, the U.S. directly transferred over $800 million to Jordan through the Economic Support Fund, helping stabilize internal unrest.

That same year, USAID funneled an additional $55 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) to support 460,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan. This funding kept Jordan from collapsing under the weight of its refugee crisis.

Now? It’s all gone.

With Jordan still struggling under the strain of Syrian refugees, Iran could step in—not as an adversary, but as a lifeline. A chance to reshape alliances.

Would it work? Unlikely. The King of Jordan is too shrewd to fall into Tehran’s orbit. But after decades of being on the defensive, Iran finally has a crack in the foundation—a rare chance to drive a wedge between Israel and its reluctant Arab protector. I will not rule this option out.

And then, there’s Syria.

In 2023, USAID and its partners pumped over $750 million into the war-torn country. Wait—wasn't Syria run by Bashar al-Assad? Yes. But that’s where USAID’s structure mattered.

Rather than funneling aid through the regime, USAID worked around Assad, partnering with the UN, NGOs, and local organizations to deliver food, medical supplies, and humanitarian relief directly to affected communities. Agencies like the World Food Programme (WFP) operated through cross-border corridors, bypassing the Syrian government entirely.

To keep aid flowing, Turkey temporarily opened key border crossings—Bab al-Salam, Al Ra'ee—allowing aid to reach opposition-held areas. Meanwhile, USAID leveraged its presence in Jordan and Turkey, using those networks to coordinate relief efforts.

But now? Those networks are gone. USAID’s expertise, its offices, staff, logistical contacts—obliterated.

And how exactly is Mr. Musk planning to replace that in 2025? He’s probably going to shrug and say, ‘They can go f* themselves’—because USAID has been fed to the woodchipper.

For over a decade, fully utlizing the instablity in Syria and with the support of Syria’s now exiled dictator, Bashar-Al-Assad, Iran painstakingly built multiple land corridors—routes snaking through Iraq and Syria, forming an uninterrupted supply line to Lebanon and Gaza. Weapons, fighters, and influence flowed freely. A direct route to the Mediterranean, with Israel surrounded by Iranian-backed forces in destabilized states—Syria, Lebanon, Gaza.

The land corridors: How Iran exports terror to the middle east. Credit: FDD

Without assistance, Syria’s new government teeters on the edge of collapse. And if it falls back into chaos, Iran will seize the moment, wasting no time in reopening its land bridge to Gaza.

But there’s another problem.

On January 23, 2025, while covering Russia’s withdrawal from Syrian bases, I wrote something that feels even more relevant today.

I feared that the new administration might try to balance the interests of the West, Turkey, and Russia by giving something to everyone. At first glance, if the HTS had asked Russia to evacuate its ground forces, exit the Khmeimim Air Base, but retain the Tartus naval base for an exorbitant annual fee, it seemed like a reasonable calculus.

Why would I even write that?

That the new Syrian government, led by Jolani, would strike a deal with the very power that had bombed their hospitals, buried their children under rubble, and enabled Bashar al-Assad to gas his own people?

Because they need money.

Syria has been shattered by war. To have any chance at stability, the new administration needs cash to function. And if that means cutting deals with old enemies? So be it.

Why not ask Russia to pay $1 billion per year for its naval base and another billion for its airbase? That’s $2 billion right there. Balance their presence by bringing Turkey in to support the new Syrian military—hell, even ask the U.S. to establish another base in the country.

Just balance it out. It’s insane. But it’s not impossible.

And I was right to think that way on January 23, 2025. Because last week, Syria’s defense minister confirmed that talks are underway with Russia—discussing exactly that.

I don’t blame them. I get what they’re trying to do.

But for a second, do I want this to happen? Absolutely not.

The moment Russia regains its foothold in Syria, the entire region will slide back into destabilization. Moscow will weaponize chaos—fomenting conflicts in Africa, undermining U.S. energy investments, and driving migration waves into Europe. Then, as always, they’ll back right-wing parties across the continent, fueling anti-migrant hysteria to shift political power.

But no one suffers more than Israel when Syria is in turmoil.

And here’s the real question: How does the U.S. plan to maintain regional stability and protect Israel without USAID and without foreign assistance?

The GOP will easily approve tens of billions the moment Israel is under attack. But why wait? Why react to wars instead of preventing them? Deterrence is always the smarter, cheaper option. This can still be stopped, even after Musk gutted USAID.

Miriam Adelson has one job right now: Call Trump. Call Rubio. Make them understand.

If Russia entrenches itself in Syria and Jordan is left behind, Israel will pay the price. The consequences won’t be theoretical. A destabilized Syria means an open highway for Iranian weapons flowing to Hezbollah and Gaza. A weakened Jordan means Israel loses a critical buffer and its eastern defenses become vulnerable.

There’s no room for hesitation. USAID is gone. U.S. influence is fading. The MAGA administration can pretend foreign aid doesn’t matter, but when Iran strengthens its foothold and Russia fuels chaos across the region, the cost of inaction will be far greater than the cost of deterrence.

If the GOP megadonors who claim to support Israel don’t act now, the Middle East will shift—and not in Israel’s favor. They need to force this administration to have a real plan for Syria and Jordan. Russia and Iran cannot be let back in.

Miriam Adelson can make that happen. And she has to.

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