Permanent NATO

Congress dictating foreign policy

Something happened the other day that I think should get more attention than it has. As part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act, Congress has approved a measure that would bar any US President from withdrawing from the NATO alliance without Congressional approval. Basically, this would ensure that the US can never withdraw from the alliance because Congress can just say no. One can only draw the conclusion that this is a preemptive strike against an incoming Trump Presidency, who has signaled many times that he may just pull us out of the alliance if he wins.

Of course, this is blatantly unconstitutional. In America, the Executive Branch has the power to set foreign policy, not the legislature. The only things that Congress has the power to do in regards to foreign policy is the power to declare war and regulate interstate along with foreign commerce. Given that NATO is a military alliance and not a commercial agreement, Congress should have no jurisdiction here. The Senate also has an advise and consent role when it comes to the President entering into treaties but it does not say anything about withdrawing from them.

So now if Biden signs the NDAA, which he most definitely will, we are tied into this alliance forever. We have screwed ourselves over thanks to House Republicans wanting to shoot the incoming administration in the foot. We will have to bankroll weak European member states forever so they can continue to have those nice welfare states that they look down on us for not being able to replicate. We can’t spend money on things like healthcare and infrastructure while we are busy defending your territorial integrity. America has become a military colony for defending foreign interests.

If any military conflict breaks out that involves NATO it will be paid for with the blood of American servicemen. Given how far away we are from the world’s hot spots it is silly to expect us to take on the entire workload while there are those closer who can do the same. The entire point of NATO, which was to contain communism, doesn’t even exist anymore. Why can’t Europe create their own military alliance with their own military force to stand against the Russians? Why is America expected to empty our entire military coffers to fund an army which is hardly making any form of progress in winning?

Our geographic position gives us an advantage in defense. Nobody with a horrible Navy is going to be able to cross oceans on two sides and land on our shores without us knowing about it and obliterating them with our superior Navy as they try. Even if they got past that, they still have to deal with our mountains and deserts along with our millions of well armed citizens (despite the liberals trying so hard to take that away). We are also surrounded by allies in Canada and Mexico. Long story short, no other nation is taking us without a fight. Yet here comes Europe taking us out of our fortress time and time again to fight their wars for them while we could be sitting back at home. I wouldn’t have this much gripe with Europe if they at least put in the effort to become militarily self-sufficient.

Now, that policy will be set in stone by our own traitorous politicians. Hopefully when Trump enters office next year he can figure out a way to just exit NATO and dare Congress to do anything about it. Be the dictator they think he is. This is a clear encroachment on Presidential power. Once again, if our conservative Supreme Court had any kind of balls they would immediately be stepping in and striking down this clear overstep by the legislature.

People may call me unpatriotic for writing this but I disagree. In my view, being unpatriotic is when you put the NATO alliance over the American people. The slogan should be America First, not NATO First. Congress has showed itself to be NATO First.

Oceanus