I paid to take a guided Tour of the Building back in early July of 1989. I KNOW that it was early…read moreJuly because I had just arrived in Belgium to meet my Flemish friends so we could spend the Bicentennial of Bastille Day (July 14th) in Paris. But I arrived early, and I had some time to killed, so I decided to 'kill it' by touring the Headquarters of NATO. And it ended up having a Bigger Effect on me than I ever imagined.
For being such an important Political & Military Center of Power, I was surprised both my how small it was (small is not the perfect word though, so let's try "Unassuming"), and how 'Basic' it appeared. I had expected a Tank on display in the Foyer, and Armor covering the walls. I mean, this was the Heart & Liver of NATO for God's sake - and it felt like the headquarters of an insurance firm. But, to be honest, I felt the same way when I took a tour of The United Nations. I think that I've just spent too much time in Europe, seeking out old vestiges of 3rd Reich Monumental Architecture, like Mussolini's Epic Train Terminal in Milan. Now unlike NATO in Brussels, Milano Centrale was truly humbling. But my tour NATO did achieve one significant thing: it made a a believer in, and a lover of... NATO, as a concept that could save the modern world from destroying itself.
"NATO", the ("North Atlantic Treaty Organization") is most FAMOUS for being a centralized organization, with it's main office location being in Brussels Belgium, in Western Europe, where all of it's Member States can house their official representatives, making them accessible to any official who may need them, for any foreseeable reason, including the start of WW3.
NATO's Doors are Open, day or night, from Sunday to Sunday, every hour, for any reason imaginable by modern societies. It is the largest Social and/or Military Alliance EVER Conceived of in ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY, implementing a full 24/7 access to the "Halls of Power" regarding ANY European Defensive Strategy concerns. Otherwise the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and every other Nation in the Alliance, would be Constantly on the telephone, or on a train or a plane, just trying to keep their National Military Interests and Essential Communications regarding European politically-strategic developments 'Up-to-Date, from 'Moment to Moment'.
According to "The Official website of the United States Government: U.S. Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization" Page, the following is written...
- "Formed in 1949 with the signing of the "Washington Treaty", NATO is a security alliance of 30 countries from North America and Europe. NATO's fundamental goal is to safeguard the Allies' freedom and security by political and military means. NATO remains the principal security instrument of the transatlantic community and expression of its common democratic values. It is the practical means through which the security of North America and Europe are permanently tied together. NATO enlargement has furthered the U.S. goal of a Europe whole, free, and at peace. - Article 5 of the Washington Treaty -- that an attack against one Ally is an attack against all -- is at the core of the Alliance, a promise of collective defense. Article 4 of the treaty ensures consultations among Allies on security matters of common interest, which have expanded from a narrowly defined Soviet threat to the critical mission in Afghanistan, as well as peacekeeping in Kosovo and new threats to security such as cyber attacks, and global threats such as terrorism and piracy that affect the Alliance and its global network of partners. - In addition to its traditional role in the territorial defense of Allied nations, NATO leads the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan and has ongoing missions in the Balkans and the Mediterranean; it also conducts extensive training exercises and offers security support to partners around the globe, including the European Union in particular but also the United Nations and the African Union."
For Me - NATO is the Most Significant Alliance EVER MADE, in ALL of Human History. And I Truly Believe, that within many of our Lifetimes, NATO will prove to be the Savior of Our World.
