I’m don’t have a link to the exact clause in the NATO treaty. But I think it is common knowledge that the NATO treaty clearly states an attack against one NATO member is an attack against all (correct?). So why didn’t all of NATO come to our aid after 9-11? (As I recall, only Britain came to our aid in the military campaign [against Afganistan] that followed.)
NATO invoked article 5 right after 9/11. NATO planes helped cover NA airspace and Canada, Germany and the UK have worked in Afghanistan.
No, no, no. Don’t you remember that Canda sent soldiers? Sadly, some were killed by US friendly fire. The French, too, sent soldiers to Afghanistan, as did many other nations (Nato and non-Nato).
I think you are confusing Afghanistan with Iraq. Go the the “Nature of the Coalition” section of that link.
It’s 9/12/01. You’re in command of NATO troops. Where do you send them?
You are wrong about only Britain coming to our aid in Afghanistan (you are even wrong about ‘only’ Britain supporting us in Iraq come to that, though it has little to do with 9-11), and you are wrong about NATO coming to our aid right after 9-11.
-XT
Germany sent troops to Afghanistan… and NATO invoked that article thingy… so OP wrong…
Ditto what everyone else said. What’s more, there are reports that the Bush Administration had a “thanks but no thanks” message to NATO after it invoked Article V. We didn’t want a bunch of Europeans mucking around in “our” war in Afghanistan, apparently.
…or in Iraq, which was target #1 immediately after 9/11
I clearly remember the tinfoil hat brigade getting their tinfoil panties in a wad because we had “foreign forces occupying the US,” meaning, of course, the NATO fighters patrolling the skies. It was one of the primary reasons for the early birth of the “internal conspiracy to overthrow the US government” theories.
I find this legitimately depressing. Canada was the **only country on earth that actually did anything of significance to help on 9/11 itself, ** for which we were snubbed in the President’s speech to Congress. Then we sent men to fight in Afghanistan to help defend the United States, had men die there - most of them killed by an American pilot on drugs, which I guess didn’t make the news much down there - and other of our men won decorations for bravery in combat. Now later, it’s “Only the UK helped us!”
You’re so frickin’ welcome.
Canada did more than that. They helped the US in very tangible ways on 9/11/01 itself, especially by accepting planes that were diverted after the US shut down air traffic in the US. I think the world ought to thank Canada for that, for I am sure citizens of many countries were guests to Canada’s hospitality.
WRS
Oy… Not even 4 whole years and already forgot?
No, most likely never even heard of it. I blame dumbed-down keep-it-simple 10-second-soundbite American mass media.
9/11 itself: Canada
Aftermath, air cover of North America: Canada, of course; and the NATO Joint Command planes, with crews from Germany, Canada, Belgium and Italy. Invoking Article 5 of the Charter.
Afghanistan: US, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway.
But no, of course, it was “just us and the Brits” :mad:
Fighting ignorance since ‘73 – one little victory, I guess. :rolleyes:
But here is the operation name, copyright me, as the frosting on the cake:
EAGLE ASSIST (NATO 01) The deployment of five NATO E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft to the United States to supplement American aircraft after the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks. Ended on 16 may 2002 after the two aircraft had flown a total of 360 missions. Part of NOBLE EAGLE.
I am curious how the OP arrived at their view.
No, really.
Has the OP been piled on enough yet…or is the consensus to torture him a bit more? 
I don’t think he’s coming back guys…
-XT
cite, please?
I honestly thought the UK was the only one who helped us (or one of the few countries that helped us in any event). But as others have pointed out, our media may have made it seem that way a little too. (My apologies to Canada .)
My understanding was that had more to do with the fact that the US military had the coolest “toys” to bring to the war, while the rest of NATO’s equipment hadn’t advanced much since GWI, and not any particular snobbishness on our part. German, French, and British forces were said to be totally stunned by what our military was capable of doing, and have been pressuring their government’s for increased funding in order to catch up.
Hey, y’all didn’t support our little Iraq (mis)adventure, of course the Ministry of Truth will make sure you’re marginalized like the rest of the unAmerican do-nothing nonsupporters…