That dovetailed with the second problem, which was, I think, a focus on what NATO causes to be in terms of military preparedness (thus Preble's focus on smaller, unprepared countries weakening the alliance); but the real value of NATO is in what it causes *not* to be. 4/20
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...and binding their interests (to continue to prosper without undue conflict or security burdens) to our interests (to continue to manage the broad sweep of global affairs), we inhibit balancing, and ideally close the door to increased peer-competition. 15/20
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NATO, which essentially takes a fifth of the global GDP 'off the table' in this way, obviously serves a purpose within that framework, even if it did nothing else (and it can, in fact, do other things for all its members)... 16/20
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None of which is to say that the USA, NATO and the USA's other security partners shouldn't be having a hard rethink about what the relationship is for and how it should best be structured for that new reality. Of course we should.... 17/20
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But I'd say that NATO provides value worth the cost even when it does *nothing at all.* Now that's a hard sell for the American voter, to be sure. But I don't think it is an impossible sell - should someone want to sell it, and I'd like to see it tried... 18/20
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Alternately, we can stick with the current plan, which is 'under/mis-inform the American public, conduct security policy in obscurity wherever possible, and act surprised when we get a fool-isolationist who objects to policies we never bothered to build public support for.' 19/20
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...a plan on vivid display with the recent Afghanistan papers. Or, maybe we can try coming up with a overall strategy, explaining it *clearly* to the voters and congress, getting approval for it, so that regular folks understand what something like NATO is for. end/20
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I come off harsher than I mean to sound to the Net Assessment podcast folks - their discussion is, I think, well informed and very useful - I am heartbroken that
@ConsWahoo is leaving the podcast. Do give it a listen, link at the top of the thread. end+1/20.Näytä tämä ketju
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One other response, a separate thought, related to this particular point. What was Rome willing to do to keep its allies and protectorates in line? And what is the US prepared to do? One of the great conceits of American primacy is that it isn’t coercive like other empires. 1/
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@PatPorter76 among others has pretty much demolished this notion, pointing out that there has always been resistance, and that the US has dealt with this resistance in pretty ruthless ways (though not as ruthless as Rome, to be sure) 2/
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