From Iron Curtain to NATO shield

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Seven former Soviet Bloc countries made a leap in history this week by coming under NATO's protective fold. The expansion allows Western powers to settle a post-World War II score, by giving the new members the guarantee they will never again face domination or other foreign threats alone.

Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Slovenia joined NATO on Monday in a ceremony hosted by President Bush. The expansion gives NATO allies in Europe a direct land link with Turkey, which would permit the deployment of troops and supplies to the Middle East and Central Asia. The enlargement does not, however, settle questions regarding the coherence, mission and capabilities of the alliance in the wake of the Cold War.

The terrorist attacks of September 11 gave allies the impulse to unite on political and cultural grounds and a new impetus to expand NATO. But it must remain a disciplined strategic alliance, not merely a collection of democratic nations.

The combined defense budget of new members is about $4 billion a year, about equal to that of Poland (which joined the alliance in 1999), and less than 1 percent of total defense spending by older NATO members. The new member countries have stated their resolve to bolster their arsenals. The prospect of admitting Croatia, Macedonia and Albania, however, adds to concerns regarding the capabilities of new members.

NATO's plan to create an operational rapid-reaction force by October 2006 will allow it to more effectively counter today's asymmetrical threats. The force of up to 20,000 troops will be deployable anywhere in the world in as little as a week. Still, NATO must soberly acknowledge its limitations. The failure of NATO peacekeepers to control ethnic violence in Kosovo last month reflects poorly on the alliance. If NATO forces are to be taken seriously, they must at least be able to control murderous mobs.

NATO should also try to address Russia's nervousness about its enlargement at the April 2 meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. The council, created in 2002, is geared to identify mutual interests and forge plans for joint action. This week's terrorist attacks in Uzbekistan, in Russia's backyard, highlight how NATO and Russian interests continue to converge.

The will of sovereign nations to join NATO must ultimately prevail over Russian sensitivities. This week's enlargement helps redeem a dark chapter in history.