Originally Posted by VRPdommy

Yes you are correct in the 'present' time frame.
I have been referring to it as it was when Russia was planting it's seeds in Ukraine and later smudged it's way over to Crimea. And don't forget they were considering becoming part of the EU. So, I am understanding of putin's fears. Just not his actions.
There is a history lesson there that is not being told for a better understanding of how we ended up in that mess.

I'm all for NATO but it is true that we seem to use it outside of the boundaries created and often complain about it until it fits our need/wishes. That is something 'we' need to fix, but not change the foundation of purpose.
When you take opioids for a headache, sooner or later something bad is going to happen.... ie Iraq, now Syria, Iran etc / power vacuum and struggle for influence.
When we went into Iraq the first time, that had fit the principles of what NATO stands for defending the nation they invaded.
The second time (our invasion) was dead wrong under any terms. You can't have principles only when you want them if they are to mean anything.
There is a lot of criteria to be met for membership, including spending a certain percentage of GDP on defense, making resources available to the group, etc, and many don't want to pay that price, they just want defended by membership.
Kinda like buying into a McDonalds Franchise.... you can't just do a one time buy-in LOL, there are continuous terms to meet.
The current thinking that is outside of intent is to use NATO to prevent Russian expansion.
That is OK by me as long as you don't change the rules for membership.
Not a lot of progress will likely be made for as long as trump remains.