Old habits die hard.
Recent political developments in Asia and in Europe prove that the Cold War mentality still flourishes, despite the collapse of international communism. Some analysts have even suggested that the collapse of North Korea would put US troops directly on China's eastern border, filling a missing link in the global containment scheme. Proponents of expansion hailed the admission of NATO's new members as insurance against a revitalized imperialistic Russia. These analysts argue that a Russia firmly committed to democracy and the rule of law may one day be invited join the alliance against a possible Asian threat. Critics of expansion, on the other hand, argue that adding new members would weaken an already shaky coalition.