Christopher (seadragontampa) -
At this point in time the book has become somewhat dated but it does still raise a lot of valid points as to why NATO has run its course and its time for the US to move on. The biggest point being that the other members are wholly dependent on this country to defend them. Other than the big three (Germany, France, Britain) none of the others are even remotely capable of any sort of military action worth mentioning let alone a protracted military operation. Case in point the Libyan air campaign. The US started it turned it over to NATO who quickly had to come back to the US for logistical support because they ran out of bombs and fuel within week.
Europe needs the US militarily far more than the US needs Europe. NATO needs the US to spend the lion's share of defense spending so they can have all their social programs which they then chastise the US for not having.
Another classic example of NATO in search of mission that is foreshadowed in this book was Afghanistan which the US pressured NATO into participating to give it relevance. Afghanistan should have never been a NATO mission, it should have been a UN mission but then again given the level of corruption and anti-US sentiment there its not surprising the US turned to NATO.
The Balklans in the 1990's was a great example of how the US got dragged into a problem that was not our's but Europe's to begin with. NATO members sat on their hands until the US agreed to become involved and again provided the bulk of the cost and support. We gained absolutely nothing but more debt and animosity in that part of the world.
Its time for the US to seriously reconsider our role in NATO. I'm not advocating complete withdrawal but maybe its time for Europe to defend Europe.
Europe needs the US militarily far more than the US needs Europe. NATO needs the US to spend the lion's share of defense spending so they can have all their social programs which they then chastise the US for not having.
Another classic example of NATO in search of mission that is foreshadowed in this book was Afghanistan which the US pressured NATO into participating to give it relevance. Afghanistan should have never been a NATO mission, it should have been a UN mission but then again given the level of corruption and anti-US sentiment there its not surprising the US turned to NATO.
The Balklans in the 1990's was a great example of how the US got dragged into a problem that was not our's but Europe's to begin with. NATO members sat on their hands until the US agreed to become involved and again provided the bulk of the cost and support. We gained absolutely nothing but more debt and animosity in that part of the world.
Its time for the US to seriously reconsider our role in NATO. I'm not advocating complete withdrawal but maybe its time for Europe to defend Europe.
