Rob Andrews: “I rise today to call for the creation of a new organization very much like the NATO organization to help us in the…”

“I rise today to call for the creation of a new organization very much like the NATO organization to help us in the global fight against terrorism. NATO was the most successful organization in the modern history of the world for creating a cooperative defense structure. In fewer than 50 years, its principal enemy imploded without NATO ever having to declare war or engage in serious hostilities against that enemy, the former Soviet Union. Why did NATO succeed? I believe it succeeded for three reasons. First, there was a clear and obvious threat and enemy, the former Soviet Union. Second, defense against that threat was larger than any one country could handle. It required cooperation among Nations. Third, it was much more intelligent and efficient to have that cooperation so that costs, both economic and military, could be shared. The synergy that was created by the integration of the NATO countries permitted those NATO countries to forcefully make the argument to the rest of the world that the way of life that is based upon the rule of law, tolerance and freedom and the free enterprise system was far superior to the world view that NATO was opposed to. Today we are faced with a very different threat. It is the threat of an international network of terrorists who seek to destroy anyone who does not share their view of life and the world. That threat is not manageable by any one country.”