NATO may invoke defence clause after attack on U.S.

Reuters ^ | 9/12

[oxi-nato]

BRUSSELS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - NATO may invoke for the first time an article of its founding treaty that calls for mutual defence measures following Tuesday's terror attacks on the United States, a senior NATO official said on Wednesday.

Diplomats said the NATO council would meet for the third time in 24 hours later on Wednesday in response to the attacks -- the most serious assault on the United States since the 1941 Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbour.

The official told reporters the council had discussed whether the attacks were covered by Article V of the North Atlantic treaty, which declares that "an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack on all".

They had reached no conclusion but "it's very much on the minds of member states that this is an issue which might be considered", the official said.

Article V requires each ally to assist the country attacked "by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with other parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area".

[oxi-nato]

OH NOW THEY FOLLOW THEIR ARTICLE AFTER IGNORING IT WITH YUGOSLAVIA "ILLEGAL" ACTION!!!

[Diogenesis]

MAY? Nice to know we covered their A*&es.

[Henchster]

"-- the most serious assault on the United States since the 1941 Japanese air raid on Pearl Harbour. "

The most serious assault on the United States....EVER!

[headsonpikes]

Well, that'll be good. Don't you agree?

[Milosevic2]

Not against the the Taliban
So against who ?

[The_Republican]

Bust to Nato: We don't need no stinking clauses.

[big'ol_freeper]

I worry about people who's loyalites lie with another nation before our country. Its bad enuf we have to put up with "hyphenated" americans on the left, but its apparent we have many others who have misplaced loyalties.

[CatoRenasci]

No, the most serious assault since secession in 1861. (and I'm an unreconstructed Southern sympathizer). More Americans died yesterday in war than on any day since the end of the War of Northern Aggression.

[Lent]

Hahaha. BTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. But if ever was the time to invoke this Article the time is now. Of course do you think they want to hurt the feelings of Islam around the world by clocking Afghanistan, especially since the West has coddled the Islamics in Kosovo, Bosnia, and Macedonia?

[KC_Conspirator]

I think NATO understands that we are dead serious about this and that they are giving us an official green light. Not that we would wait around for them anyway.

[uncbob]

Screw NATO .
The USA is NATO for all practical purposes

[uncbob]

The most serious assault on the United States....EVER!

British invaded and burned Washington during the war of 1812

[Polybius]

The most serious assault on the United States....EVER!

British invaded and burned Washington during the war of 1812

True. But 10,000 plus Americans did not die at the burning of Washington, D.C., which, at the time, was a newly created, backwater, little town.

[A Vast RightWing Conspirator]

Check his profile.

He's from Greece.

[A+Bert (Outta here)]

We don't need no help from NATO or the UN. It always comes with strings attached. It is our problem and we should solve it or hang up the gloves.

[Dahoser]

Last thing we need is those cackling hens getting involved and screwing it up. We must do this alone and unencumbered.

[A+Bert (Outta here)]

We don't need no help from NATO or the UN. It always comes with strings attached. It is our problem and we should solve it or hang up the gloves.

[freefly]

NATO and the UN can take their selective enforcement posturing and stick it in an appropriate place.
The meddling that the people in charge of these orgs (and those like them) do is about 80%
of the real cause of this mess in the first place.
We will do what we need to do and they can KOA.

[oxi-nato]

bush may try to get the entire nato alliance backing a joint u.s./nato strike forces against the islamic thugs in a show to the world that the west will not tolerate terrorism no more!!!

it all depends where sec. of state heads to next!!!

i just hope nato and the u.s. will look upon the kla albanian terrorists from a different perspective now!!!

WOULD A NATO ALLIANCE STRIKE FORCE BE BETTER THAN JUST U.S.???

OR WILL BUSH JUST USE NATO ASSETS AND BASES TO LAUCH STRIKES WITH???