Don't Do It

Placing Ukraine and Georgia on the NATO Membership Action Plan was already a bad idea. Now, choosing not to do so can reap affirmative geopolitical rewards instead of simply avoiding utter foolishness. Europe is badly disorganized. These are uncertain times on the Continent. But the tools are at hand to change that. Further NATO expansion inward is among them, but expansion eastward is not. It is of grave importance that the US recognize that this line of thought reflects not only fundamental European but American interests as well. The aim is not what John Ikenberry and others would praise as 'strategic restraint' -- pointed acts of superpower self-effacement designed to illustrate benign intentions. We should not have to 'restrain' ourselves from counterproductive and useless policies, especially when productive and useful policies are present. Europe as an independent world power is in the national interest of the United States. NATO's proper role is in helping bring that condition about, not falling prey to the same hubris that has ruined Europe every time it has pushed eastward of Poland and Romania.