For Use by Chapters and Affiliates of Students for a Democratic Society
NATO Teach-In Outline
What is NATO?
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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949 by the United
States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Iceland,
Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
Stated purpose was to curb Soviet military presence in Europe and standardize military
operations between allied Western countries. Real purpose was to launch the Cold War
and repress popular change in Europe after the defeat of Fascism. Forming NATO
marked the supremacy and domination of the U.S. over Western Europe.
Actual formation of NATO was motivated by the Berlin Blockade, in which the Soviet
Union sought to provide food, aid, and medical assistance to the Eastern Zone of
postwar Germany via road and rail. The US - wanting control of Berlin - began airlifting
cargo into Berlin themselves to curb Soviet influence.
NATO enumerated that an attack on any member countries was tantamount to an attack
on all members, which allowed other NATO countries to respond to attacks with military
force.
NATO was not formed in response to any discernible Soviet aggression or the formation
of the Warsaw Pact - a military alliance between Eastern European socialist countries
formed in 1955.
NATO’s changing role after the Cold War
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After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, NATO began dropping any defensive
pretense for its existence and expanding its role as an active agent of imperialism.
Germany armed and trained separatist movements and instigated war in Yugoslavia in
1989. The U.S. used NATO to stir up tensions between various ethnic groups and
nationalities previously united in peace with one another under the Socialist Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia. Germany and the U.S. using NATO dismantle Yugoslavia’s
robust public sector and social programs for corporate privatization of Eastern Europe.
“In November 1990, the Bush administration pressured Congress into passing the 1991
Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, which provided that any part of Yugoslavia failing
to declare independence within six months would lose U.S. financial support.”
(http://bit.ly/fhR6rV)
From 1991 to 1995, NATO intervened in the former Yugoslav Republic to support Franjo
Tudjman, a fascist Croatian nationalist, and Alija Izetbegovic, a Bosnia ex-Nazi religious
extremist, and deployed 60,000 troops to aid in the breakup of Yugoslavia as a part of
Operation Joint Endeavor. Tens of thousands of people were murdered, raped, and
forced to relocate in these separatist wars supported by NATO. (http://bit.ly/fhR6rV)
In 1999, NATO intervened in the former Yugoslav Republic once again with Operation
Allied Force, which led to the bombing of Kosovo and left hundreds of civilians dead.
Kosovo remains a colony of NATO today with 5,500 troops present.
For Use by Chapters and Affiliates of Students for a Democratic Society
What does NATO do?
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After 9/11, the U.S. led NATO in the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, going on 11 years of
continued war and occupation. In 2011 alone, 3021 civilians were killed in the conflict
according to the UN. (http://bit.ly/weXcoN) The war in Afghanistan has cost US
taxpayers more than $500 billion, which has contributed heavily to the current economic
crisis and the widening public debt. (http://costofwar.com/en/) NATO forces continue to
use drones to lead strikes on suspected enemy combatants, which results in
catastrophic collateral damage to civilians. (http://to.pbs.org/ohYg02) In 2011, the UN
Assistence Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the Afghanistan Independent Human
Rights Commission (AIHRC) estimated the number of civilian deaths related to the war
to range between 14,411 - 17,208. (http://bit.ly/luUjQU)
Most recently in March 2011, the U.S. used NATO to enforce a UN Security Council
resolution calling for a no-fly zone over Libya in support of the rebellion against
Muammar Qaddafi’s government. This led to a nearly seven-month bombing campaign,
which left towns like Sirte completely annihilated. The no-fly zone was simpy NATO’s
cover to wage a war and install pro-U.S. Libyans in power. A low estimate of 2,000
civilians were killed in NATO’s bombing campaign, and a multitude of targets selected by
NATO aircrafts were non-military, including a hospital for children with Down-syndrome
(http://bit.ly/j6E1at).
NATO currently has ongoing operations in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia, and
maintains a missile defense system in countries neighboring Russia, including the Czech
Republic, which contribute to growing tensions in these regions.
Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda
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On August 28 2011, the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda (CANG8)
was formed to protest the NATO/G8 summits being held in Chicago on May 19-21 2012.
Over 80 organizations participated in this founding meeting.
Since that time, the G8 was moved to Camp David, in large part because of the robust
protest movement drawn to Chicago by both entities.
CANG8 is still marching in Chicago on May 20 to protest NATO and their imperialist
actions abroad. The march hopes to draw anti-war, labor, student, and other activist
groups from across the country.
Why protest NATO in Chicago?
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The NATO summit in Chicago, IL gives US activists a unique opportunity to decry our
government’s participation in horrific imperialist actions in front of the world.
The war in Afghanistan continues into its 11th year with no peace for the region in sight
and with citizen support for the war rapidly declining. The destruction of Libya at the
hands of NATO, along with increased aggression towards Iran and Syria, demand an
enthusiastic condemnation from all activists in the US opposed to imperialism.
For Use by Chapters and Affiliates of Students for a Democratic Society
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While the war-mongering of both political parties continues, our country claims that there
is no money to be found for social services, like: education, housing and healthcare.
Ending the wars would mean hundreds of billions of dollars of savings annually (683.7
billion dollars spent in FY 2010 - Ok, i know it is wikipedia, but whatevs) that could be
spent on human needs here in the United States! We want money for EDUCATION not
for war and bloodshed!
Building a strong movement to protest NATO in Chicago allows activists to unite against
the US’s multiple wars of aggression once again, and will provide opportunities for
groups to network with like-minded activists across the country in coordinating future
actions.
These protests in Chicago will surely be of an international character both in the streets
and we’ll have the support from the international community - this will be one of the most
historical and impressive protests of our time. We have the opportunity to stand with the
rest of the world to resist imperialism when it comes to our backyard - we have the
responsibility to disallow NATO to peacefully extend their war & poverty agenda. NO
PEACE FOR THE WARMAKERS!
As we approach the Republican National Convention in August 2012, the protest against
NATO in Chicago provides an opportunity to gain traction for an even larger protest later
this year in Tampa, FL.
Building a Student Contingent for the May 21 March on NATO
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Outreach to student, labor, and anti-war organizations in your area and encouraging
them to sign on to the Coalition Against NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda.
(http://cang8.wordpress.com/)
Visiting your area’s Central Labor Council and other activist networks to fundraise for the
trip. If your area can garner enough interest in making the trip, CLC’s and other central
hubs for activists can provide resources for vans and/or buses that will make travel to
the event easier.
Participation in SDS National Working Committee conference calls. Every other Sunday,
SDS holds national conference calls on which we hammer out details for building
campaigns like this nationally. More local participation by SDS chapters and affiliates
allows us to build stronger national student actions.
Hold NATO-related events on campus, like teach-ins or informational pickets, which
raise the issue to students and faculty.