NATO - A Relic

NATO is a bit of history whose time has come for a material reevaluation.  The validity and justification for its existence has been overwhelmed by the rush of world events.  The question which we face is whether to put the disordered relic on a display shelf or to let it exist as a collectible with minimal shelf life based on whether there is a realization of change resulting from the Prague Summit?

   NATO was created as a military alliance to confront the possibility of a Soviet Union Aggression in Europe.  The Soviet Union no longer exists and now many of the former Soviet Bloc nations are rushing to be placed under the NATO umbrella with Russia being made a NATO observer….sort of a junior edition of a European United Nations.

   There is no question that the United States, as the world’s superpower, cannot and must not divorce itself or reject its obligation to itself and to universal peace and stability.  Yet, with the call up of National Guard and Reserve Units now taking place, its dictates that drastic American force and asset reduction in NATO should immediately take place with the United States ultimately joining Russia as one of the observers. The possible creation of a proposed 21,000 member NATO Rapid Response Force does not justify continuance of the status quo.

   The rationale for NATO’s existence, either militarily or politically no longer has a relevance especially when Lithuania has lied about the sale of radar equipment to Iraq and is admitted as a NATO member with rights of veto. Consensus in NATO is pure illusion.

   The European Union which seeks to freeze America out of economic parity in Europe has become the real political entity.  We don’t put bananas in the refrigerator and they don’t put American bananas in Europe.

   The German government was just returned to power by America bashing and equating the actions of America’s President to Adolph Hitler.  American bases should be removed from Germany to  downsized prepositioned asset relocations of more favorable allies.  Phony and envious friends are not truly friends at all.

   Europe’s primary rationale for the continuance of NATO is that  we provide American personnel and assets on the ground for their use while they reduce their defense budgets and we increase ours.  The primary responsibility for the defense of Europe is and must be theirs.  Yet, they reduce defense budgets contemporaneously with the increase in the intensity and fervor of their America bashing.  America bashing is more than a playful game and we must not put our trust in those nations which have engaged in it as a regular ego trip.  We should not be held hostage to the whim and caprice of those who claim loyalty while imposing conditions for their cooperation.

   Even with the vague general support statement obtained in Prague, the Iraq issue is another prime example of America bashing.  NATO did not seek UN Security Council approval in Kosovo; yet, in a blatant display of arrogance, they condemned us for considering acting without such consent subject to their approval.  The consequences of such an imposition are reminiscent of the demise of the League of Nations resulting from its failure to responsibly act on the Italian/Ethiopian issue.  Once more, it becomes pervasive in the irrelevancy of both NATO and the United Nations in the fight against terrorism, except for their functional role as meeting places for contact and discussion.

   The United States cannot continue to stretch itself thin in fighting the war against global terrorism.    NATO antiquity no longer strategically fits into the redefinition of terrorism as a concept which makes it a world theatre with many different fire spots including our own nation.

            Thus, we can no longer accept the role as whipping boy for the political stand economic needs or desires of our NATO “friends” while funding and providing them with their defense requirements.  The fight is global, so their backsides are being held to the same fire as is ours and probably more so. The fight to be successful must be a mutual and cooperative venture or no more nice guy.  America’s financial and materiel support for NATO’s overgrown infrastructure can better be served for use elsewhere in the fight against terror.