How NATO Weakens the West Author:Melvyn Krauss Should the United States withdraw from NATO? In How NATO Weakens the West, Melvyn Krauss, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and professor of economics at New York University, examines how and why our allies have failed us—and what we can do about it. — In recent years, Europe has repeatedly let us down, in incidents ranging f... more »rom Italy's release of the leader of the Achille Lauro hijacking to France's failure to help us retaliate against the Libyan terrorists. Paradoxically, according to Krauss, it is our financing of Europe's defense that undermines the NATO nations' desire to support us and protect themselves.
In How NATO Weakens the West, Krauss also makes the case that NATO, which was tailored to post-World War II realities, is not only obsolete but counterproductive today in combating Soviet expansionism. Strategic parity between the United States and the U.S.S.R. has invalidated the American "nuclear umbrella:' Krauss contends, while Western Europe, unwilling to build an adequate conventional defense of its own, has adopted "detente as defense". Meanwhile, U.S. acceptance of Atlantic unity as a preeminent objective has given the Europeans considerable leverage over American foreign policy. Krauss concludes that a strong commitment to resisting Soviet aggression and terrorism can come about only when Western Europe takes responsibility for its own defense.
This provocative and incisive analysis of current history and foreign policy issues argues in favor of a new form of American toughness toward our allies. A phased withdrawal of U.S. troops from Europe will strengthen rather than weaken our allies' resolve and lead to a reinvigorated Western Europe and a healthier alliance.« less