The US NATO Debate

In this important book, Magnus Petersson examines whether the reemergence of Europe as a primary security concern for the United States represents a return to the normal state of affairs, or whether it is more transitory, destined to fade away after the crisis in eastern Ukraine abates.This is a vitally important question for the transatlantic community, with significant practical implications for Europes foreign, defense, and fiscal policies. Petersson brings a particularly clear-eyed perspective to bear, adeptly assessing the political, policy, and scholarly levels of debate, and providing a thorough examination and critique of the discussion within the United States on the purpose, relevance, and importance of NATO. * John R. Deni, Research Professor of Security Studies, Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, USA * Magnus Peterssons The US NATO Debate is a compelling and first-rate analysis of how the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is viewed across the American political spectrum. By focusing on major events in NATOs life, including its recent summits in Chicago and Wales, its bombings in Libya, and the crisis in Ukraine, Petersson provides original insights on how American foreign policy makers view this alliance, making this book a must read for students and scholars of NATO. * Ryan C. Hendrickson, Professor, Department of Political Science, Eastern Illinois University, USA * The U.S. NATO Debate by Magnus Petersson could not come at a better time. How America's relationship with Europe evolves is an essential element of its efforts to realign its global position to make it durable for this still young 21st century. Magnus Petersson has written a lucid detailing of the range of debate in the United States over NATO that is a must read for scholars, students, and practitioners alike. * Sean Kay, Professor, Department of Politics and Government, Ohio Wesleyan University, USA * An exhaustively researched analysis of constantly evolving and diverse U.S. perspectives regarding both NATO's mission and its role in U.S. national security policy. The U.S. NATO Debate is important reading for anyone who cares about the future of the transatlantic relationship. * Rebecca Moore, Professor, Department of Political Science, Concordia College, Moorhead, USA *

Magnus Petersson is Professor of Modern History at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, Oslo, Norway.

Contents Foreword 1. Where is the US going with NATO? 1.1 NATOs changed role in US security policy 1.2 Analyzing the US NATO debate 1.3 The actors in the US NATO debate 1.4 Limitations and the structure of the book 2. 2011: The Libya War 2.1 The political debate in Congress 2.2 The political debate in the Administration 2.3 The policy debate in the think tank and elite media environment 2.4 Summary and reflections 3. 20122013: The Chicago Summit and the Syria Conflict 3.1 The political debate in Congress 3.2 The political debate in the Administration 3.3 The policy debate in the think tank and elite media environment 3.4 Summary and reflections 4. 2014: The Ukraine Crisis and the Wales Summit 4.1 The political debate in Congress 4.2 The political debate in the Administration 4.3 The policy debate in the think tank and elite media environment 4.4 Summary and reflections 5. Conclusions 5.1 The results of the analysis 5.2 The wider implications of the results Name Index of Actors List of Abbreviations Bibliography Index