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The '''North Atlantic Treaty Organization''' (NATO) is a military alliance of 28 nations, founded in 1949 to combat the spread of [[communism]] from [[Central Europe]] and the [[Soviet Union]].  Its current secretary is [[Jens Stoltenberg]] of [[Norway]].  

The '''North Atlantic Treaty Organization''' (NATO) is a military alliance of 28 nations, founded in 1949 to combat the spread of [[communism]] from [[Central Europe]] and the [[Soviet Union]].  Its current secretary is [[Jens Stoltenberg]] of [[Norway]].  

==21st century==

==21st century==

[[Image:FormerSoDDRNATO.JPG‎ |thumb|320px|Former United States [[Secretary of Defense]], [[Donald Rumsfeld]] addressing NATO]]

[[File:20180710 NATO Expenditure-3.jpg|right|250px|thumb|NATO spending in 2018.]]

After Kosovo, NATO's ability to be an offensive organization was called into question. Some called for the abolishment of the organization, stating that it had lost it original purpose.  

After Kosovo, NATO's ability to be an offensive organization was called into question. Some called for the abolishment of the organization, stating that it had lost it original purpose.  

NATO began to look for its new goal in the 21 century. After the attacks on the [[World Trade Centers]] and [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] on September 11, 2001, NATO countries quickly responded by aiding the [[United States]], as they had promised in Article Five of their founding treaty. AWACS airplanes were sent on surveillance, and NATO began its first and only article five mission to this day, [[Operation Active Endeavor]], which was a Maritime mission to protect the Mediterranean from terrorist operations and drug and WMD trafficking.  

NATO began to look for its new goal in the 21 century. After the attacks on the [[World Trade Centers]] and [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] on September 11, 2001, NATO countries quickly responded by aiding the [[United States]], as they had promised in Article Five of their founding treaty. AWACS airplanes were sent on surveillance, and NATO began its first and only article five mission to this day, [[Operation Active Endeavor]], which was a Maritime mission to protect the Mediterranean from terrorist operations and drug and WMD trafficking.  

=== [[Libyan uprising 2011]] ===

=== [[Libyan uprising 2011]] ===

{{See also|Libyan war|Obama war crimes}}

{{See also|Libyan war|Obama war crimes}}

 

In 2011 NATO lent its name to [[Western]] [[globalist]]s to wage a war of aggression in [[Libya]] totally outside NATO's purview and mission.<ref>https://libertarianinstitute.org/articles/really-know-libyan-slave-trade/</ref>  As a direct consequence of NATO's illegal intervention, the black African slave trade was reborn in Africa.<ref>https://fair.org/home/media-nato-regime-change-war-libya-slave-markets/</ref>

In 2011 NATO lent its name to [[Western]] [[globalist]]s to wage a war of aggression in [[Libya]] totally outside NATO's purview and mission.<ref>https://libertarianinstitute.org/articles/really-know-libyan-slave-trade/</ref>  As a direct consequence of NATO's illegal intervention, the black African slave trade was reborn in Africa.<ref>https://fair.org/home/media-nato-regime-change-war-libya-slave-markets/</ref>

UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973 of March 17, 2011 followed on the heels of Gaddafi's public threat on March 2, 2011 to throw western oil companies out of Libya, and his invitation on March 14 to Chinese, Russian, and Indian firms to produce Libyan oil in their place.<ref>''[http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/7661/Business/Economy/Gaddafi-offers-Libyan-oil-production-to-India,-Rus.aspx Gaddafi offers Libyan oil production to India, Russia, China,] Agence France-Presse, March 14, 2011.</ref> China, Russia, India and Brazil all abstained on UNSC Resolution 1973.

UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1973 of March 17, 2011 followed on the heels of Gaddafi's public threat on March 2, 2011 to throw western oil companies out of Libya, and his invitation on March 14 to Chinese, Russian, and Indian firms to produce Libyan oil in their place.<ref>''[http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/7661/Business/Economy/Gaddafi-offers-Libyan-oil-production-to-India,-Rus.aspx Gaddafi offers Libyan oil production to India, Russia, China,] Agence France-Presse, March 14, 2011.</ref> China, Russia, India and Brazil all abstained on UNSC Resolution 1973.

 

Resolution 1973 authorized strict limitations, according to international law, on NATO as the organization with responsibility for the implementation of the resolution. Particularly, it provides only for a naval blockade enforcing the arms embargo, and enforcement of a no-fly zone. On March 29, 2011, Russian envoy Dmitry Rogozin commented after a meeting with NATO officials in [[Brussels, Belgium]], that Russia expressed deep concern over the interpretation of the Security Council's resolution, as some countries have effectively turned it into an approval for ground operations.

Resolution 1973 authorized strict limitations, according to international law, on NATO as the organization with responsibility for the implementation of the resolution. Particularly, it provides only for a naval blockade enforcing the arms embargo, and enforcement of a no-fly zone. On March 29, 2011, Russian envoy Dmitry Rogozin commented after a meeting with NATO officials in [[Brussels, Belgium]], that Russia expressed deep concern over the interpretation of the Security Council's resolution, as some countries have effectively turned it into an approval for ground operations.

{{Cquote|[[Moscow]] has many questions about how the UN Security Council’s resolution is being carried out...First of all, there are reports that civilians have been killed in the air strikes. This is odd if you consider the message of the resolution, which says that the foreign forces’ actions should protect civilians. So it’s hard to comprehend how you can protect civilians by killing them....we demanded that the UN Security Council be fully informed about the actions of the alliance in Libya at all times...  We have reports of air strikes against convoys far from the front line. This is a far cry from the UN Security Council resolution.<ref>http://rt.com/news/coalition-libya-nato-russian-envoy/</ref>}}

{{Cquote|[[Moscow]] has many questions about how the UN Security Council’s resolution is being carried out...First of all, there are reports that civilians have been killed in the air strikes. This is odd if you consider the message of the resolution, which says that the foreign forces’ actions should protect civilians. So it’s hard to comprehend how you can protect civilians by killing them....we demanded that the UN Security Council be fully informed about the actions of the alliance in Libya at all times...  We have reports of air strikes against convoys far from the front line. This is a far cry from the UN Security Council resolution.<ref>http://rt.com/news/coalition-libya-nato-russian-envoy/</ref>}}

Despite France taking the lead role in the intervention, the Congressional Research Service reports, "Only the United States and NATO possess the command and control capabilities necessary for coalition operations enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya." France only recently rejoined the NATO alliance, in 2008, after a 40-year absence. The Congressional Research Service, which analyzes information and prepares reports for members of Congress, also states,

Despite France taking the lead role in the intervention, the Congressional Research Service reports, "Only the United States and NATO possess the command and control capabilities necessary for coalition operations enforcing the no-fly zone over Libya." France only recently rejoined the NATO alliance, in 2008, after a 40-year absence. The Congressional Research Service, which analyzes information and prepares reports for members of Congress, also states,

{{Cquote|In spite of statements underscoring NATO unity on steps announced to date, the initial planning and operational phases were also marked by significant levels of discord within Europe and [[NATO]] on the aims and future direction of the mission. A key point of contention was reportedly the amount of flexibility that NATO forces would be granted to protect civilians and civilian areas, as called for in paragraph 4 of UNSCR 1973. Reports indicate that French officials insisted on maintaining the ability to strike ground forces that threatened civilian areas, while their [[Turkish]] counterparts vocally opposed any targeting of ground forces. Adding to the strain within NATO, NATO ally [[Germany]] abstained from UNSCR 1973 and, opposed to any potential [[combat]] operation, on March 23, withdrew its naval assets in the [[Mediterranean]] from NATO command. Throughout the first week of operations, other European allies contributing to the mission, including Italy and Norway, expressed increasing frustration with the lack of agreement within NATO, with Norway refusing to deploy its fighter jets unless under they were under NATO command and control.<ref>Operation Odyssey Dawn (Libya):

{{Cquote|In spite of statements underscoring NATO unity on steps announced to date, the initial planning and operational phases were also marked by significant levels of discord within Europe and [[NATO]] on the aims and future direction of the mission. A key point of contention was reportedly the amount of flexibility that NATO forces would be granted to protect civilians and civilian areas, as called for in paragraph 4 of UNSCR 1973. Reports indicate that French officials insisted on maintaining the ability to strike ground forces that threatened civilian areas, while their [[Turkish]] counterparts vocally opposed any targeting of ground forces. Adding to the strain within NATO, NATO ally [[Germany]] abstained from UNSCR 1973 and, opposed to any potential [[combat]] operation, on March 23, withdrew its naval assets in the [[Mediterranean]] from NATO command. Throughout the first week of operations, other European allies contributing to the mission, including Italy and Norway, expressed increasing frustration with the lack of agreement within NATO, with Norway refusing to deploy its fighter jets unless under they were under NATO command and control.<ref>Operation Odyssey Dawn (Libya):

Background and Issues for Congress, ''Congressional Research Service,'' March 30, 2011, p. 20 pdf.</ref>}}

Background and Issues for Congress, ''Congressional Research Service,'' March 30, 2011, p. 20 pdf.</ref>}}

 

Of Nato's 28 members, 14 are said to be "actively participating," but only 6 have provided military support. Of the 22-country [[Arab League]], whose appeal prompted the United Nations to vote on intervention, only [[Qatar]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]] are involved. Of the 192 members of the [[UN General Assembly]], who all have a legal "responsibility to protect" civilians attacked by their own governments, only [[Sweden]] has responded.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/19/libya-mission-military-advisory-team</ref>

Of Nato's 28 members, 14 are said to be "actively participating," but only 6 have provided military support. Of the 22-country [[Arab League]], whose appeal prompted the United Nations to vote on intervention, only [[Qatar]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]] are involved. Of the 192 members of the [[UN General Assembly]], who all have a legal "responsibility to protect" civilians attacked by their own governments, only [[Sweden]] has responded.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/19/libya-mission-military-advisory-team</ref>

==History==

==History==

[[File:20180710 NATO Expenditure-3.jpg|right|250px|thumb|NATO spending in 2018.]]

[[Image:FormerSoDDRNATO.JPG‎ |thumb|320px|Former United States [[Secretary of Defense]], [[Donald Rumsfeld]] addressing NATO]]

NATO originally was not part of President [[Franklin Roosevelt]]'s 'Grand Design' for the post-[[World War II]] era, which included the [[United Nations]] and the [[International Monetary Fund]]. Roosevelt's original intention was to institutionalize the military alliance of the Big Three - the United States, the [[British Empire]], and [[Russia]] - to keep the peace after the defeat of the [[Axis Powers]]. The failure of Soviet-communist occupied countries to adhere to the right of [[self-determination]] and hold elections caused the Angelo-American alliance to dust off the 1941 [[Atlantic Charter]] and formalize it into a treaty organization. By 1950, the United Nations was at war with itself, where the UN [[Security Council]] voted to send "UN troops" to combat the Soviet-backed [[North Korean]] regime, a Resolution the Soviet Union could have easily [[vetoed]].

NATO originally was not part of President [[Franklin Roosevelt]]'s 'Grand Design' for the post-[[World War II]] era, which included the [[United Nations]] and the [[International Monetary Fund]]. Roosevelt's original intention was to institutionalize the military alliance of the Big Three - the United States, the [[British Empire]], and [[Russia]] - to keep the peace after the defeat of the [[Axis Powers]]. The failure of Soviet-communist occupied countries to adhere to the right of [[self-determination]] and hold elections caused the Angelo-American alliance to dust off the 1941 [[Atlantic Charter]] and formalize it into a treaty organization. By 1950, the United Nations was at war with itself, where the UN [[Security Council]] voted to send "UN troops" to combat the Soviet-backed [[North Korean]] regime, a Resolution the Soviet Union could have easily [[vetoed]].

=== Cold War ===

=== Cold War ===

NATO acceptance of [[Europe]]an countries in 1955 led Soviet Russia to set up a counter organization, The [[Warsaw Treaty Organization]] (or Warsaw Pact). Common defense, the ongoing MAD strategy, and economic crisis led the [[Soviet Union]] and the Warsaw Pact to its demise. NATO's transatlantic relations and prevention were key to the end of the [[Cold War]], and the beginning of an interlinking of United States and European policies, which still remains to this day.

NATO acceptance of [[Europe]]an countries in 1955 led Soviet Russia to set up a counter organization, The [[Warsaw Treaty Organization]] (or Warsaw Pact). Common defense, the ongoing MAD strategy, and economic crisis led the [[Soviet Union]] and the Warsaw Pact to its demise. NATO's transatlantic relations and prevention were key to the end of the [[Cold War]], and the beginning of an interlinking of United States and European policies, which still remains to this day.

NATO deliberately bombed the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) embassy in Belgrade,<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/oct/17/balkans</ref> which provoked a militarization of the PRC in subsequent decades.<ref>https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202103/1219579.shtml</ref>

NATO deliberately bombed the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) embassy in Belgrade,<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/oct/17/balkans</ref> which provoked a militarization of the PRC in subsequent decades.<ref>https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202103/1219579.shtml</ref>

==== NATO War Crimes ====

===NATO War Crimes===

According to Professor Robert Hayden from the University of Pittsburgh:

According to Professor Robert Hayden from the University of Pittsburgh: