Why Does Nato Still Exist?

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Why-Does-Nato-Still-Exist-by-Eric-Zuesse-Banksters_Bilderberger_Corruption_International-Monetary-Fund--IMF-140617-849.html



Why Does Nato Still Exist?
By Eric Zuesse
OpEdNews Op Eds 6/17/2014 at 07:44:12

NATO was formed in 1949 because of the threat from the communist bloc, especially the Soviet Union. All of that is ended now. Why, then, has NATO not also ended? The true answer is ugly. Here it is:

All Americans owe a debt of deep gratitude to George Washington, our first leader, who said, in his 1796 Farewell Address as our first President:

"Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor or caprice? It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it; for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let those engagements be observed in their genuine sense. But, in my opinion, it is unnecessary and would be unwise to extend them. Taking care always to keep ourselves by suitable establishments on a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies. Harmony, liberal intercourse with all nations, are recommended by policy, humanity, and interest. But even our commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand; neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors or preferences."

We violate that now in so many ways, all to our harm (though to the great benefit of our aristocracy, who own and control our international corporations). "Granting exclusive favors or preferences" is what our existing international-trade treaties, such as NAFTA, are all about (other than about increasing the profits of U.S. corporations by lowering the wages of U.S. workers by shipping those jobs to lower-wage countries or "hollowing out" the U.S. class-structure into an aristocracy versus impoverished workers who are then further insulted by being forced to pay the taxes to support their own food stamps since the taxes on the aristocrats are going down not up, and the aristocracy thus gets the best of both worlds: lower taxes, and higher profits).