posted on May 28, 2002 03:54:31 PM new
NATO, founded in 1949 to fight Communism and the Soviet Union specifically, today accepted Russia as a limited member. The move is intended to strengthen the fight against terrorism.
Europe's armies fall short in several areas, and Washington wants a commitment to boost spending in such areas as transport planes to move soldiers and equipment quickly, precision weapons, more special forces, better intelligence and secure communications.
Even NATO's staunchest supporters warn that unless gap is narrowed, the alliance will fade into obscurity.
``If the U.S. and its allies could no longer act as a meaningful military coalition, it would not matter how many countries joined the alliance. NATO would be marginalized as a serious organization,'' NATO Secretary General George Robertson said last week.
posted on May 28, 2002 07:01:13 PM new
Perhaps it says something GOOD about the European powers that they don't want to spend the money on exotic technologies and smart weapons. Maybe they don't see themselves waging that sort of war. If they don't see the need for them perhaps they should leave it to the US and work to avoid the situations that will demand those weapons.
posted on May 29, 2002 12:24:56 PM new
If anything serious happens, the Europeans will look to Uncle Sap. If anything less serious happens, it will just be another 1938 Munich.
Hey, I'd take a free ride too if someone would offer. But I certainly wouldn't call it "good".
We should just come out and say "choose a side". Either you are a friend or not, and act accordingly.
