Is NATO now replacing the United Nations?

 MOVING FROM WORLD COOPERATION TO WORLD INTIMIDATION

EVERYONE MUST NOW CHOOSE SIDES

While NATO is often touted as a "defensive alliance" its mere existence is also a source of intimidation for those who are not members of this ever expanding alliance. 

Originally formed after WW2 as a counter to offset the Warsaw Pact, its membership was just 12 members when the Soviet Union disbanded in 1991. Today, we see it is now 30 nations and is likely to be expanding even further with the formerly neutral nations of Sweden and Finland being the latest to be scheduled to be included. Now there is talk that even nations in Asia may become members of this North Atlantic Treaty Organization. I would assume this will require a name change. 

It is now becoming a world situation were nations must decide to choose sides. There is no provision for neutrality. There is considerable pressure both economically and often politically to choose sides in an increasingly polarized world, just as is the case within most nations. There are a vast array of sticks and carrots to cooperate. Money is often the carrot mostly offered from the coffers of the United States, then there is economic benefits. Be one of the club or risk being excluded from the world economic system. Or, there is political stress internally from those who would like the economic benefits and less interested in national sovereignty.  Has anyone ever considered departing this alliance? Never. 

So, in effect, it appears this enhanced alliance is becoming the enforcement arm of this new world system. The U.N. never had any actual military power to enforce its will, but a system of persuasion that was far less intimidating, some thought it was ineffective because it could not force its will upon those who disagreed with its policy.

It is no secret that the power behind NATO is the United States. All members have the ability to purchase top of the line and the latest weapons produced by U.S. arms producers and are required to pledge 2% of their GDP toward mutual defense. A number that is staggering compared to other expenditures.

Does the existence of an ever expanding NATO force other nations to increase its weapons production and create an ever increasing division that inevitably will end in a distrasous confrontation? What if all nations would opt to join NATO, would there then be no need for such an alliance? Or would the focus then be on submission of even the members to be compliant with a long list of internal objectives, economic, social and whatever the alliance should embrace?

It just seems the world is rushing headlong into a similar situation of alliances that resulted in WW1 and its sequel WW2. It is evident the western world is in void of any statesmen that could offer a change of direction. With the economies of the western alliance in an increasing precarious situation due to high debt, ever increasing social costs and much divided populace, one wonders if there is the domestic support in any of these nations for large extended conflict.

Originally published 7/5/2022

4/25/23

Yesterday was the opening of the UN security council meetings in New York. Russia has now taken its scheduled turn as the chair of this body. Russia's chief diplomat Lavrov gave a lengthy speech, comparing international law agreed on by the UN members and the now "Rules Based Order"  that seems to be made up of  rules as the need arises and what is in the best interest of the NATO countries.

The United Nations can be expected to be castigated whenever it disagrees with the powerful global interests and if necessary it will be disbanded or at least an effort will be made to have certain members expelled. I am sure Lavrov's speech will be censured by most of the western media. The United States, the cradle of free speech and democracy refused to issue visa's to any reporters it deemed to not toe the U.S. narrative. It was a clear message sent to the members of this body and we will see if it will gain the United States any new allies as much of the world is increasingly distancing it self from our country. 

It is all a natural result of what happens when anyone or any state departs from true moral objectivity.

6/27/23

This is all as relevant today as when it was originally published.