Posted on Mar 25, 2016
LTC Management Analyst
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An attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all. If we are to uphold our end as a member of NATO, it means support of France and Belgium and in the end, going to war for or with them.

ISIS represents a challenge to traditional NATO doctrine as they are not a military tied to a specific country. They control entire regions, but are not bound to said regions.

We are already fighting them in limited strikes. Should we go all in? Or is NATO meaningless at this point?

I understand this is a loaded question, but I want people to think further about what it means to be apart of NATO. Also, think about the current strategy and war on ISIS. This is two-fold. Are we holding up to our NATO obligations, and is what we (and the world) are doing against ISIS enough?

I understand POTUS has said that ISIS does not represent an existential threat to the U.S. I respectfully disagree. I can do that right?

At any rate, with word that there are 400 possible terrorists prepared to work independently in individual cells, is it time we up the ante? What support should we provide to Europe and NATO Members?

We are weary of war, but we are still very much at war against an enemy that is not bounded by time.
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 11
LTC FAO - Eurasia
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They need to declare Article V first. I'm wondering how many more attacks it's going to take before someone does.
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Capt Tom Brown
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Edited >1 y ago
Good question. IMO, NATO was formed years ago to counter the Red Threat and did not envision a threat from World Terrorism(WT) which would be worse and greater than the USSR ever was or is. European countries and the US are treating WT largely like a law enforcement issue and not a full blown military threat, except on a limited nature in Syria and elsewhere full scale military assault from WT is in process. European countries are still as parochial as they used to be as tiny kingdoms each viewing the other as a potential threat to take them over. Much of this lingers today in the absence of a 'coordinated' plan of attack against WT or a reluctance to share intelligence, accept intelligence from each other or even publicaly ask for or seek help from each other.
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SFC Stephen Carden
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I'd like to answer your question with a question: After 9/11, or any of the other terrorist attacks in this country since, what did France and Belgium do for us? We are not NATO. NATO is comprised of 28 member countries. Did any of them do anything for us except send condolences? If so, please enlighten me because if I am wrong, then I am wrong. Let them learn to take care of themselves. We can support them with intel and such, but let them handle it.
As to your question about ISIS, yes, we should go in and remove the threat. We need to stabilize the middle east again so that all of these refugees can go home and we can get back to properly clearing people before they come to our country.
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SSG Martin Reyna
SSG Martin Reyna
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Well said SFC Carden, We seem to help everyone in NATO but no ones is willing to help here.
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