How much trust must have in NATO?

We are certainly in agreement that the purpose of NATO has changed. I remember the debates about its future as the Cold War came to an end. Certainly there were some who took the position you mentioned: that it had been formed to confront Soviet/Russian expansionism, and that its purpose went away when that threat went away (or at least lessened). An international army? Sure it is -- in many ways the most effective peacetime international army the world has known. A world police? Hardly.

I would say that NATO continued for the same reason that any alliance exists: because the members felt it was in their best interests. That's close to your words, "[because they] realized... the potential that this organization can achieve", but I don't agree that the purpose is so sinister. NATO hardly represents "American domination of Europe." One of the reasons the alliance was formed was because the European members saw value for themselves in keeping a visible US commitment to European security. I am not saying US alliance commitments would prevented World War I or World War II -- personally I think they would not. Also, isolationist feeling in the US was too strong to allow the US to agree to those commitments. But they certainly would have been valuable stabilizing factors. NATO countries don't mindlessly fall in line behind the US... disagreement with the US-led invasion of Iraq is only the most recent example. There have been many other large and small examples (e.g. Suez, 1956).

As for Kosovo, I would have preferred if the Europeans had managed the breakup of Yugoslavia by themselves. I never saw any vital US interest there, but eventually the brutality of the conflict became too great to ignore. I don't think any of the sides were angels, but I would say the US role was constuctive in the end (and not because it was good for the US... or did the US go into Kosovo for its oil?).

How would I like to see foreign troops in my country? I do see some, but I would welcome more. I have criticized American's ignorance of Europe in this forum before. US bases in Europe are the single largest creator of Americans who have lived in Europe and worked with Europeans. Is it true that for many, their vision of "Europe" is the bar outside the gate of the base? Yes it is (sad, but true). But many soldiers and their families have seen much more than that, and they do not forget these experiences when they return home.

I saw plenty of anti-French jokes in my email when the US attacked Iraq. But I did not get one from any of my American friends who had worked with the French military. (Yes, in my replies I pointed out that France had been the infant USA's first ally, and that the US owed its existence as an independent nation to the French).

I would agree -- there were similiarities to World War II. Once, again, the US (this time in NATO) was bombing an aggressive state settling old historical grudges and unconcerned about the human cost. But I find your appeal to European unity ("European peoples") quite ironic, especially considering that the Kosovar Albanians are Europeans too -- just like the Bosnian Muslims, Macedonians, Croats, Serbs and a large majority of NATO members. Europeans (especially the EU or its members individually) had every opportunity to settle that conflict before and after it started, or to soften its effects. To their credit, some countries tried, but they were not effective. The NATO bombing was. I'm sorry that's what it took, but I am not sorry it succeeded.

Drugs..

Opening up the Drug trade.. that was the American interest in Kosovo.
Kosovo is the Drugs heaven in Europe. Afghanistan is the drugs heaven in Asia.
I see a pattern Emerging..

Why Drugs? Very simple.. because drug money supports the US Economy.

Read all you can find published by this man: Michael C. Ruppert (an ex L.A Cop, worked for security services)
He has exposed in the past his country's involvement (CIA) in drugs and 'dirty' operations overseas.
I really think you should read a bit what he says and then, - having read that,..can tell me if you think Kosovo and afghanistan were truly liberated becasue minorities were opressed or that some sheapherds living in caves were a danger to american Democracy.
====================================================

" ...in the course of investigations in the mid 70's he came across information that the CIA was trading drugs in order to fund covert operations in the Middle East...Perot called him back to offer encouragement...Ruppert says that his main objective is to see that the country gets a leader worthy of its people. Even for Ross Perot those will be tough shoes to fill." - PEOPLE MAGAZINE 6/22/92

"Mike Ruppert is a one man crusade trying to expose America's bogus war on drugs. From the time we met on the campaign trail in 1992 while filming THE LAST PARTY, through his challenge to John Deutch, Mike Ruppert has been on the front line trying to get the story out." - Marc Levin, - Emmy award winning Director of PBS's The Secret Government, THE LAST PARTY and Producer of Bill Moyers' 1998 series on Addiction.

remeber, this is an ex-cop, and a professional in the security and intelligence field
He knows very well what he is saying, and has put his life more then once at risk by revealing "things" that others don't want peoples to know...

http://www.copvcia.com/about.shtml

This post has been edited by Der Maresal on February 04, 2005 03:13 am

Also read this: http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/economy/dontblink.html
CIA, Drugs, and Wall Street

http://www.copvcia.com/free/ww3/121103_afghan_poppy.html

This post has been edited by Der Maresal on February 04, 2005 02:46 am