NATO Commander Sees Proactive Missions

[Khephra]

BERLIN -- NATO's military commander said Tuesday he sees the alliance taking on more stabilization missions, even pre-emptive missions in troubled regions to prevent them from becoming breeding grounds for terrorism.

U.S. Marine Corps General James L. Jones, who became NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe in January, said the alliance has to transform itself from a 20th century "reactive" force to one willing to deploy its troops to hotspots.

The idea would be to use forces to help stabilize areas and train local troops "in Western values and in Western ways of doing things" so governments gain the confidence of their people.

"You can either do nothing and wait for the threat to come to you or you can choose to be proactive and go and find them where they are, and I think the family of nations have decided to be more proactive and go where the threat is."

more.............

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-germany-nato-commander,0,4972003.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[ithacan]

1. Ummm, I think this guy should read the NATO charter...

My understanding is that NATO is a DEFENSIVE alliance.

The attack on Serbia was just a first step to breaking the NATO charter in the name of "helping others." But it was a dangerous precedent.

nevertheless, unless the NATO charter is changed, this cannot happen legally.

Then to the substance. This guy is talking about an aggressive, offensive, expansionist and imperialist policy. And he's the new military head of NATO???? This is outrageous!

[goforit]

3. Yes this is the first step to take!!!

But we all know how well they follow rules!!!

[Wwagsthedog]

2. Am I being paranoid?

Or does this story and the one on the link have anything to do with each other?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=116&topic_id=2237

[goforit]

4. WOW!!!!!!!!!.............What is happenning here?........very interesting!

:tinfoilhat: