Changes

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established shortly after [[World War II]] in 1949. The original members consisted of ten Western European countries, the [[United States]], and [[Canada]]. These countries formed the alliance to further the goal of security in the North Atlantic region, they did this by ingraining the principal that an attack against one member would be considered an attack against all, and thus, all would respond with support to the attacked nation. In 1952 NATO began its first round of enlargement of the early alliances history, letting in [[Turkey]].  

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established shortly after [[World War II]] in 1949. The original members consisted of ten Western European countries, the [[United States]], and [[Canada]]. These countries formed the alliance to further the goal of security in the North Atlantic region, they did this by ingraining the principal that an attack against one member would be considered an attack against all, and thus, all would respond with support to the attacked nation. In 1952 NATO began its first round of enlargement of the early alliances history, letting in [[Turkey]].  

=== Cold War ===

=== Cold War ===

NATO acceptance of Western European countries in 1995 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 a interlinking of United States and European policies, which still remains to this day.

NATO acceptance of Western [[Europe]]an countries in 1995 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 a interlinking of United States and European policies, which still remains to this day.

=== Kosovo ===

=== Kosovo ===

After the fall of the [[Soviet Union]] and the end of the [[Cold War]]. NATO had seemed to lose it purpose as it no longer had the threat of USSR. NATO began to shift its focus to from its original defense alliance to a more offensive mode. In 1999 the [[United States]] led its NATO allies on a bombing campaign to stop [[Yugoslav]] President Slobodan Milošević's ethic cleansing of the Albanians inside of [[Kosovo]]. The mission in [[Kosovo]] did not go as well as planned. After the air strikes, havoc reigned over [[Kosovo]], abuses continued and human rights organizations listed abuses committed by the Alliance members during the campaign. In an attempt to solve the violence NATO countries and the [[United Nations]] took on a mission to stabilize and reconstruct the country. A mission which is currently ongoing.

After the fall of the [[Soviet Union]] and the end of the [[Cold War]]. NATO had seemed to lose it purpose as it no longer had the threat of USSR. NATO began to shift its focus to from its original defense alliance to a more offensive mode. In 1999 the [[United States]] led its NATO allies on a bombing campaign to stop [[Yugoslav]] President Slobodan Milošević's ethic cleansing of the Albanians inside of [[Kosovo]]. The mission in [[Kosovo]] did not go as well as planned. After the air strikes, havoc reigned over [[Kosovo]], abuses continued and human rights organizations listed abuses committed by the Alliance members during the campaign. In an attempt to solve the violence NATO countries and the [[United Nations]] took on a mission to stabilize and reconstruct the country. A mission which is currently ongoing.

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

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

After Kosovo, NATO’s ability to be an offensive organization was in 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 in 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. Then on September 11, 2001, its goal was defined. After the attacks on the [[World Trade Centers]] and [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] by terrorist, NATO countries quickly responded to come to the [[United States]] aid as they had promise in Article Five of their founding treating. AWACS airplanes were sent on surveillance and NATO began its first and only article five mission to this day, [[Operation Active Endeavo]]r, which was a Maritime mission to protect the Mediterranean from terrorist operations and drug and WMD trafficking. After the end of the [[Cold War]], European defense spending had weakened and its military lacked technology and modernization.  In 2002, NATO met for its annual summit, which was held in [[Prague]]. The 19 country alliance made a list of improvements that its members needed to make in order to effectively fight the war on terror, these improvements called for, among other thing, a NATO Military Concept for Defense against Terrorism.  NATO members also took steps to modernize there forces, all 19 countries agreed to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense. NATO also agreed on its new focus, terrorism. As  Spain’s former prime minster [[José María Aznar]], said, “Jihadism has replaced Communism, as Communism replaced Nazism, as an existential threat to the liberal democracies.”

NATO began to look for its new goal in the 21 century. Then on September 11, 2001, its goal was defined. After the attacks on the [[World Trade Centers]] and [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] by terrorist, NATO countries quickly responded to come to the [[United States]] aid as they had promise in Article Five of their founding treating. AWACS airplanes were sent on surveillance and NATO began its first and only article five mission to this day, [[Operation Active Endeavo]]r, which was a Maritime mission to protect the Mediterranean from terrorist operations and drug and WMD trafficking. After the end of the [[Cold War]], European defense spending had weakened and its military lacked technology and modernization.  In 2002, NATO met for its annual summit, which was held in [[Prague]]. The 19 country alliance made a list of improvements that its members needed to make in order to effectively fight the war on terror, these improvements called for, among other thing, a NATO Military Concept for Defense against Terrorism.  NATO members also took steps to modernize there forces, all 19 countries agreed to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense. NATO also agreed on its new focus, terrorism. As  Spain’s former prime minster [[José María Aznar]], said, “[[Jihad]]ism has replaced Communism, as Communism replaced [[Nazi]]sm, as an existential threat to the liberal democracies.”

=== Further Expansion and Russian Relations ===

=== Further Expansion and Russian Relations ===