Originally Posted by
Courtney Mil
Regarding the idea that the US - or the UK for that matter - should only take military action if there is a direct threat or action against said countries doesn't chime with Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty:
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I may be wrong here so please correct me if I am; didn't we use Article 5 as justification for standing with the US when they went into Afghanistan post 9/11? Again I stand by to be corrected but. I think it was the only time article 5 has been invoked in NATOs history. If so, then intervention only if we are directly threatened, does not appear to be immutable - not on our past record. Without question, as others have said the ghosts of our involvement in Iraq are having a heavy influence here.