Nato's anniversary is a chance for fresh thinking - - The Independent »
Posted By gamahuche 9 months ago in Political News
The 60th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation - unchallenged as the most successful military alliance ever - is being celebrated today on both sides of the French-German border. The symbolism has many layers. It marks not only more than six decades of peace between France and Germany, but also the restoration of a Europe "whole and free" after the end of the Cold War, and the return of France to Nato's military command after an absence of 43 years.
Nato's major anniversaries, however, have a habit of falling at times when celebration seems least in order. The 20th came just a year after Soviet troops had invaded Czechoslovakia. The 40th coincided with the turmoil that attended the collapse of communism; it preceded the fall of the Berlin Wall by only a few months, but could not foresee either that event or its consequences. And the 50th birthday party took place in Washington when transatlantic disputes about Kosovo were at their height, and two years before the attacks of 9/11 brought the alliance back together in the face of a hitherto unimagined threat.
At 60, Nato finds itself at another awkward juncture. Its forces risk becoming bogged down in Afghanistan and serious questions are being raised about the purpose of its mission there. As the alliance welcomes another two new members, Croatia and Albania, some established members ask how far expansion can go without diluting capability. And the question first raised after the Soviet collapse has never really been answered: if Nato's purpose is no longer to defend the West against Russia, what is the alliance for? Defused for the time being by France's return is the need to reconcile Nato obligations with those of European defence.
The immediate priority, though, is Afghanistan, and what happens there will determine much else. The timetable President Obama has set for the US withdrawal from Iraq makes a redirection of US resources possible. But he has also made clear that he sees Afghanistan as a Nato endeavour that must be properly shared; as such, it constitutes a supreme test of the alliance.
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gamahuche
"I would rather be a square peg than fit in a pigeon hole" -
an essay which won me the "Lamb Essay Prize" at the Religious ...
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gamahuche9 months ago
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NATO has always seemed an odd organisation - one whose character, not surprisingly, considering the Cold War period out of which it grew - was more about entrenchment, protection, fear, opposition and of course about troops, munitions and confrontational politics.
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Definitely NOT a social club for the free world.
At 60 it looks old, outdated, judging by the current world situation not at all excited in joining in to any serious extent in policing the trouble-spots of the planet. A rethink seems in order, yet what is being offered by Obama looks too much like more of the same - and its a pity that these are old shoes that he's stepping into. At least they're not the Iraqi ones that were hurled at Bush - but they're the ones that the Russians wore and retreated in..
I don't want to be right about this but I do believe that Afghanistan is an impossible project for Europeans and Americans to see through to any viable conclusion. Thinking completely outside the envelope is required but the chips are already on the table and the wheel is spinning in this lottery. -
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Goppy9 months ago
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Well ... I gotta say ... I agree with you gamahoochie.
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Afghanistan IS an impossible project. But we Americans believe we can do ANYTHING if we spend enough money on it.
Thats the answer ... just keep throwin money at Afghanistan ... millions upon millions ... upon billions upon billions ... the skys the limit.
And BILLIONS more for Iraq.
Because this is the solid truth that the Right Wing in America agree on ... that throwing vast amounts of money on any prolbem is bound ta solve it.
Of course, we dont apply that same thinking to OUR poeple.
We want OUR AMERICAN citizens to think that we ... as a naiton ... caint boil water.
Thats why we on the Right whine and squeal when someone mentions any kind of Health Care solution ... or investing in edjamacation.
No ... we Christian Cosnervatives only believe in investing in WAR ... ... ... well ... .. .. and welfare for the wealthy.
We dont much care bout helpin our own Middle Classe poeple.
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Amen.
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inchirieri5 months ago
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Do you happen to know if the profile on NATO anniversary is official?
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