The founding fathers of the US were against foreign entanglements. Be friend with all but ally to none (good old Jefferson!). They saw how alliances and wars had caused so much destruction in europe and figured that it was best to just stay out of everyone elses problems. Also wars in europe carried over to the rest of the world. The French and Indian War (Washintong's first military experience as a Virgina colonial officer) was really an extension of the Seven Years War between England and France. In a sense this was the first 'world war' because French and English colonies around the world got involved.
Nato is pretty much the opposite of avoiding entangling alliances. Nato didn't even work well back in the heyday of the cold war. France and to a lesser degree other European nations were uneven allies and made America foot the bill for defending them. Yes my American perspective.
ya I know its not really the strongest arguement; its just an idea that popped into my head. I thought it would be fun in my previous comment to take something most ppl hold as a truth and say it might not be so.
As a related train of thought, why does Nato even exist anymore? What is its purpose? What does it accomplish? From an American perspecitve, why are we still in it?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-11-16 05:58 pm (UTC)The founding fathers of the US were against foreign entanglements. Be friend with all but ally to none (good old Jefferson!). They saw how alliances and wars had caused so much destruction in europe and figured that it was best to just stay out of everyone elses problems. Also wars in europe carried over to the rest of the world. The French and Indian War (Washintong's first military experience as a Virgina colonial officer) was really an extension of the Seven Years War between England and France. In a sense this was the first 'world war' because French and English colonies around the world got involved.
Nato is pretty much the opposite of avoiding entangling alliances. Nato didn't even work well back in the heyday of the cold war. France and to a lesser degree other European nations were uneven allies and made America foot the bill for defending them. Yes my American perspective.
ya I know its not really the strongest arguement; its just an idea that popped into my head. I thought it would be fun in my previous comment to take something most ppl hold as a truth and say it might not be so.
As a related train of thought, why does Nato even exist anymore? What is its purpose? What does it accomplish? From an American perspecitve, why are we still in it?