The Slow Demise Of Nato -- A Commentary

Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussesaid the Lisbon summit could see Nato and Russia deepening cooperation on Afghanistan. Photo by Reuters

NATO Death Watch -- J. E. Dyer, Commentary Magazine

Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, in an interview with the New York Times this week, declined to name Iran as a missile threat to the NATO alliance. He spoke instead of “more than 30 countries in the world” having missile technology, with some of them able to hit targets in allied territory. This strange formulation implicates Britain, France, the United States, Russia, India, China, and Israel — if Rasmussen is talking about the countries that can already hit NATO targets with medium-range or longer missiles. (Pakistan can probably also hit Turkey with its newest Ghauri-class missile.)

But the Turkish press, writing up the Times interview, was clear on Rasmussen’s meaning. Undeceived by the politically absurd reference to “30 countries,” Today’s Zaman put it bluntly: “Rasmussen declines to name Iran as threat in missile shield plans.”

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My Comment: Politics aside (a situation that has always been the case for Nato) .... the one factor that will determine Nato's future .... and probable demise to a minor alliance .... is this one.