[whatshisface]

NATO is and was a defensive alliance. The idea that NATO is the military of the western world was briefly useful for American, err, propaganda ("look, the whole world supports these bombings, it's not just us"), and is now being used to serve Russian propaganda ("help help the belligerent gang of nations wants to set up bases within driving distance of Moscow.") but was never really true.

If NATO confers any offensive power, it's to let member states push harder on nonmilitary avenues because it gives them less to fear in terms of military reprisals. Otherwise, there's article 4 which allows member states which are independently deciding to act to do so with some association with the NATO flag. When nations send delegates to sit in a big room and vote they are expressing their policies, not deciding them.

>You can't have it both ways, make the us hide behind the NATO skirt and say not everyone has participated.

I'm trying to have it the second way. The US was only able to cover its action with the flag of NATO insofar as people haven't read what Article 4 says countries can do (basically, talk to each other).