If I recall NATO was strictly in response to the red menace of the USSR.
Probably should have been disbanded in 1990 and we probably would not have this war today (well maybe might be a better word).
Not just the USSR but the entire Warswa Pact. After 1990 it was very unlikely that there would be 2000 tanks going through the Fulda gap (roughly seperating East and West Germany) and on to Paris or London.
And if I am wrong please correct me, but I understand that American troops in Germany were expected to slow down the Warsaw pact troops and tanks until reinforcements could arrive from the US.