George Kennan opposed NATO expansion after the end of the Cold War. ...what did he know ?OCanada wrote: ↑Fri Apr 05, 2019 7:30 pm Well it would be helpful if you were familiar with how NATO cane about.
If the question is why NATO in the first place my response is WWl and WWll and the rebuilding of Europe. It has been a spectacular success. Russia tried very hard to prevent NATO in the first place. Breaking up NATO or at least driving wedges in it and creating divisions has been one of Russian Foreign Policy prioritize fur more than six decades. Since trump took office NATO has been been weakened and divisions created. It has had the support of every administration since it was founded in the 1950s.
I can’t speak to the tactical movement of one unit or another. I do know as Russia has become much more aggressive in projecting power since Putin assumed office the need is as great as it ever was.
NATO since inception would not have prevented the USSR from rolling over Europe. It gave us skin in the game, helped drive economic growth, helped drive integration and develop a consensus and rule set thatchas worked for decades. It serves our interests and would hurt our interests if it weakens. It is far more important than tactical movements
I do not share your assessment that the USSR would have rolled over Europe.
If tactical movements don't matter, why bother deploying US forces to Poland ?