In 1998, the organization admitted the former Warsaw Pact nations of Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic as members, and may do so again in 2002. Nations being considered for membership include Ukraine and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, all former Soviet Republics. With relations with Russia still problematic, expanding NATO right into that country's backyard is simply asking for ongoing diplomatic trouble. This ridiculous expansion is taking place against the backdrop of the European Union's initial move toward establishing its own military alliance for collective security. This makes sense because as a unit, the European Union has a bigger economy and a larger population than the U.S., and should be able to provide for its own defense needs once its member states figure out how best to cooperate.
Institutions have a way of trying to perpetuate themselves by finding new reasons to exist.
But for NATO, the time has come to raise the flag in victory and head home. Maybe rather than pine to preserve a bloated and outdated alliance that serves no clear purpose, the U.S. should take the lead in weaning Europe off its reliance on American military might and help smooth the transition to a new Eurocentric military organization that frees up American forces and American money. European security should be a European military mission. Fill in this form for your free trial issue. U.S. indexes are real-time.