Fifty-years ago the Soviet Union loomed over Europe and the world as a threat to democracy. To safeguard themselves against Communist Russia the leaders of Western Europe, the United States, and Canada established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. When the Warsaw Pact dissolved and Russia's unified Socialist government was dismantled, NATO claimed victory. In a war it is commonplace for the victors to divide the plunder and go back to their homes, but the Cold War, was a different kind of war and NATO is a different kind of military alliance. …
