NATO's inventory of combat aircraft and helicopters is already below the treaty ceiling by a wide margin. By 1995, US deployments in Europe will consist of two Army divisions three air wings, and a maritime presence in the Mediterranean. The Europeans are organizing a Rapid Reaction Corps, perhaps four divisions to be led by the British. It would be backed up by in- place defense forces composed of active and reserve troops for whom readiness standards would be relaxed. The ultimate backup is mobilization, relying heavily on reinforcements from the United States.
Some schemers are more ambitious in what they seek to achieve from the restructuring.
The prevailing view, so far at least, is that the security of Europe should be entrusted to NATO, and that for its own benefit and the good of the alliance, the United States must be involved. No proposal heard so far provides for a credible defense of Europe without America participation. Geography and circumstance make Europe a crossroads of world events. Both world wars began there, The superpower confrontation played out most intensely there. The world's worst fears and greatest hopes still hang on what happens in Europe.