For all the politcally savy out there answer this, What is NATO doing now?

Question

NATO was setup at the time of the cold war, for the nations against communism, it was supposed to be an allied force in the cold war for the Brits, US and other European states against communism. Why are they still around, and poking into the Iraq, Middle East situation? Let me know what you think about this

Answer 1

Your statement of NATO poking into Iraq is wrong. Please recall the US/Brits went into Iraq without UN or NATO approval.

NATO, however, has a key role in Afghanistan. 30,000 troops from 36 NATO countries -- this is a wide base of support compared to operations over the last three years in Iraq.

NATO's was not involved in Iraq other than to provide support to Turkey's defense and some logistic support of Poland's role in Iraq.

In answer to your question NATO can provide a world "police" function with a multi-country support rather than have the US/Brits do all the heavy lifting around the world. Poles here in the US indicate that this would be a better approach as well.

Answer 2

NATO was the US protecting Europe with no benefit to ourselves. It did not serve to directly protect the US.

If the USSR was ever going to attack the US it would have been with a nuclear assault ( made more likely due to NATO - Warsaw Pact friction ) or through Alaska, in which case its unlikely many other NATO countries would involve themselves.

So we had huge number of troops in a place where they could not defend the country.

Answer 3

Perhaps it is time to consider disbanding NATO. The west is really united in the war on terror, which isn't even at the scope of the Cold War...yet.

Answer 4

NATO is far more effectual than the UN. If we are going to get rid of something it should be the UN.

Answer 5

NATO forces are in Afgan I think. But NATO forces are puny and weak.

Answer 6

Lebanon the last I heard, the Israelis destroyed it a few month ago remember.

Answer 7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWBk61PdphE