After the last election every American knows about NATO….at one point if elected Trump was going to pull our support for the organization….but that was jusr an idle threat.
What is the mission of NATO?
Originally NATO was started to counter the moves of the USSR into Western Europe…..but after the collapse its mission was expanded.
NATO’s mission is to protect the freedom of its members. For example, on July 8, 2016, NATO announced it would send up to 4,000 troops to the Baltic states and eastern Poland. It will increase air and sea patrols to shore up its eastern front after Russia’s attack on Ukraine. (Source: “NATO Agrees to Reinforce the Baltic States,” Reuters, July 8, 2016.)
Its targets include weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and cyber attacks. On November 16, 2015, NATO responded to the terrorist attacks in Paris.
It called for a unified approach with the European Union, France and NATO. That’s because France did not invoke NATO’s Article 5. That would be a formal declaration of war upon the Islamic state group. France preferred to launch air strikes on its own. Article 5 states, “an armed attack upon one…
shall be considered an attack upon them all.” (Sources: “NATO Addresses European Defense Agency,” NATO, November 16, 2015. “Will NATO Respond to the Paris Attacks?” The Atlantic, November 15, 2015.)
I point out this because there seems to be a move to form some sort of Middle East NATO…it stated purpose is to confront terrorism in the region and head it off at the pass…..basically it is to confront Iran’s ambitions in the region…..
President Trump will reportedly unveil plans for an “Arab NATO” during his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia this weekend. While possessing an innate appeal to many, Trump’s security team will need to develop answers to some basic questions about the role and functions of this organization and should carefully weigh the potential downside risks associated with this proposal.
An announcement to create an “Arab NATO” would represent the culmination of a project that the Trump administration has been pursuing since coming to office in January 2017. Initial plans apparently envision an alliance centered around traditional U.S. allies including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Egypt, although others could presumably join. The United States itself would not be an official member of the pact but would contribute substantial military, intelligence, and diplomatic support to the alliance. It would not directly involve Israel.
Source: So What’s Wrong With an Arab NATO? | RealClearDefense
This is not a bad idea but there is already a mechanism in place to deal with this through the Arab League……all they would have to do is expand the part of the League’s charter to deal with the rise in terrorism……I wrote about it awhile back…..I pointed out the wording of the League’s charter…..
According to its charter, the founding members of the Arab League (Egypt, Syria, Transjordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Yemen) agreed to seek “close cooperation” on matters of economics, communication, culture, nationality, social welfare, and health. They renounced violence for the settlement of conflicts between members and empowered League offices to mediate in such disputes, as well as in those with non-members. Signatories agreed to collaborate in military affairs; this accord was strengthened with a 1950 pact committing members to treat acts of aggression on any member state as an act against all.
This appears just a cover for a massive arms deal…..as noble it may sound….it is a wealth generation scheme…..not a confrontation of terrorism in all its forms.
Why would we trust the Saudis with this organization?
The Saudis export an extremist interpretation of Islam, Wahhabism, around the globe. Over the past three decades, Saudi Arabia has spent about $4 billion per year on mosques, madrassas, preachers, students, and textbooks to spread Wahhabism and anti-Western sentiment. Let’s not forget that 15 of the 19 fanatical hijackers who carried out the 9/11 attacks were Saudis, as was Osama bin Laden himself.
The Saudis fund terrorism worldwide. A Wikileaks-revealed 2009 cable quotes then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton saying, “Donors in Saudi Arabia constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide … More needs to be done since Saudi Arabia remains a critical financial support base for al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Lashkar e-Tayyiba and other terrorist groups.” In Syria the Saudis are supporting the most extreme sectarian forces. And while the Saudi government condemns ISIS, many experts, including 9/11 Commission Report lead author Senator Bob Graham, believe that ISIS is a product of Saudi ideals, Saudi money and Saudi organizational support.
This scheme by Trump and his Saudi buddies does not pass the smell test….what is Trump’s deal with this proposal?
I believe that this is more about building an armed bloc against Iran….give it a cute name and sell it to the Americans.
To me this is the appearance of doing something while doing nothing.
Only a crook or a bonehead would fall for this con.
More on Trump’s big speech in a later post…..stay tuned….
