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NATO was created to short-circuit the delays the United States endured from domestic non-interventionists in entering two world wars on behalf of Great Britain.  Should Britain perceive an attack again in the future, either from Germany or the Soviet Union, America would immediately be involved without any Congressional debate or public opinion polling.  This is where the concept of "an attack against one is an attack against all" originated.  Some critics quipped it effectively made Great Britain the 51st state.

NATO was created to short-circuit the delays the United States endured from domestic non-interventionists in entering two world wars on behalf of Great Britain.  Should Britain perceive an attack again in the future, either from Germany or the Soviet Union, America would immediately be involved without any Congressional debate or public opinion polling.  This is where the concept of "an attack against one is an attack against all" originated.  Some critics quipped it effectively made Great Britain the 51st state.

In 1952 NATO began its first round of enlargement of the early alliance's history, letting in [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]]. By 1968, those two members were at war with each other.

In 1952 NATO began its first round of enlargement of the early alliance's history, letting in [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]]. However, this was the first time NATO had admitted two bitter rivals to the Alliance, who almost went to war with each other in 1974 over a failed Greek-backed coup in [[Cyprus]].

In 1982 the [[Falklands War]] presented a special problem for NATO.  When the United Kingdom perceived an attack against the [[Falkland Islands]], it did not invoke Article 5.  The Falkland Islands fell under the rubric of the [[Monroe Doctrine]] and other defensive alliances the United States has through the [[Organization of American States]].  Argentina claimed the Falklands as their own, and the United Kingdom sent an invasion fleet to "liberate" the English-speaking colony.

In 1982 the [[Falklands War]] presented a special problem for NATO.  When the United Kingdom perceived an attack against the [[Falkland Islands]], it did not invoke Article 5.  The Falkland Islands fell under the rubric of the [[Monroe Doctrine]] and other defensive alliances the United States has through the [[Organization of American States]].  Argentina claimed the Falklands as their own, and the United Kingdom sent an invasion fleet to "liberate" the English-speaking colony.