Understanding the U.S.-NATO Relationship in the Post-Cold War
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UNDERSTANDING THE U.S. – NATO RELATIONSHIP IN THE POST-COLD WAR ERA A dissertation presented by Julie Marie Garey to The Department of Political Science In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Political Science Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts April 2015 1 UNDERSTANDING THE U.S.-NATO RELATIONSHIP IN THE POST-COLD WAR ERA by Julie Marie Garey ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities of Northeastern University 2 April 2015 ABSTRACT This project traces the evolution of the relationship between the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) through the events of the two decades following the collapse of the Soviet Union. It addresses four engagements: the 1999 Kosovo intervention, the 2001 U.S. war in Afghanistan, the 2003 Iraq War, and the 2011 intervention in Libya. The purpose of this research is to understand the causes for NATO’s persistence in the post-Cold War era. I posit the most overlooked explanation for the alliance’s evolution and persistence is the continued de facto leadership of the United States. Examination of each of the aforementioned cases, as well as the intra-conflict periods, reveals the reasons for continued U.S.-NATO relations. The U.S. pursues NATO in conflict for both military utility and political value – namely, the effect of NATO on perceptions of legitimacy. Finally, this research demonstrates from both a theoretical and policy perspective the implications of this relationship for future conflict engagement. 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am deeply indebted to many people for their support in completing this dissertation, some (but not all) of whom are mentioned here. Firstly, my outstanding committee members, Professor David Schmitt (chair), Professor Mai’a Davis-Cross, and Professor Stephen Flynn ensured the successful completion of this dissertation. Professor Schmitt provided critical feedback and insight for this project and was always willing to debate ideas. His kind words of encouragement were critical to my success. Professor Mai’a Davis-Cross was incredibly supportive and her expertise was invaluable to my research. Professor Stephen Flynn brought his extensive experience and professional insights to help design my research in such a way that it had both a theoretical and practical application. In addition to my committee, I am grateful to many of the faculty at Northeastern University, especially Professor John Portz, PhD Chair, who is one of the most patient and thoughtful advocates for both graduate students and the department as a whole. Many thanks also to Barbara Chin. I am also indebted to Logan Wangsgard. It is still unclear to me whether Logan truly knew what a handful the graduate students could be when he took the position as the academic coordinator, but he has been a constant source of information and moral support. Unfortunately for him, he also had to endure being my Meserve Hall neighbor. Logan, I am grateful for your professional support, but also sincerely appreciative of your friendship. I am also tremendously appreciative of those who provided their insights for my dissertation, including Lawrence Chalmer and the officers who agreed to be interviewed as a part of my research – former commander of U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Admiral James Stavridis (United States Navy – Ret.); former commander of the NATO training mission in Iraq, Lieutenant General Michael Barbero (United States Army – 4 Ret.); and former commander of U.S. Africa Command and Commander, Operation Odyssey Dawn, General Carter Ham (United States Army – Ret.). My pursuit of a PhD would not have occurred were it not for the support of my first academic relationships at Ohio University and I am grateful for the continued mentorship of Dr. Barry Tadlock and Dr. Michelle Frasher, as well as the many former MA classmates who have remained a part of my professional family. Sincerest thanks also to my extended Ohio family, and a special thank you to Molly Colopy for her friendship and guidance on all matters professional and personal. When I moved to Boston, I knew only a few people – even the women I lived with were complete strangers. The friendships I have made during my time in Boston are an embarrassment of riches. My greatest thanks to my first Boston friends, Tolstoy Reader – Diane Bulpett, Christopher Cunningham, Adam Mosher, and Alison Uzdella. You all saved me more times than you know, I am so appreciative you welcomed me into your family. Lacey Bradley-Storey, I miss you everyday. Kristen Hudak Rosero was also tremendously supportive and gave me excellent career guidance. I am also lucky to count Veronica Czastkiewicz, Jennapher Lunde- Seefeldt, Ben Larsen, James Sutherland, and Mladen Mrdalj among my wonderful group of political science friends. And I cannot forget my partner in crime, Claudia Larson, who endured long commutes, fits of giggles and anger, the joys and pains of academia, passing friendships, relationships, and everything in between. I lack the proper words to express my gratitude for my wonderful roommates Courtney Grimm, who read countless chapter drafts and spent an untold number weekends working out of my tiny office, and Amy Mullen, whose hidden notes in my lunchbox, early morning runs, patio drinks, and long chats kept me sane. And I would most definitely not have survived the last few 5 months without the love, patience, and support of my partner Brandon. You are one of the most kind-hearted, supportive, brilliant people I have ever met and my life is infinitely better because of you. None of my academic and professional endeavors would have been possible without my family – my mother Sharon, father Jerry, and grandparents Charlie and Shirley Evans. And to my sister Katie, you are the perfect balance of mellow to my uptightness, and though we are miles apart – literally and figuratively – I am very proud of you and the wonderful life you have built. And to Martin – go Red Sox! I am also grateful to my sister and her husband for providing me with three of the most beautiful, wonderful, hilarious, sweetest little creatures I have ever known. Ella Grace, Garrett, and baby Liam, you are the lights of my life. Finally, I want to acknowledge my first mentor, Dr. Patricia Weitsman, who made a profound impact on me as a scholar, a student, and a person. Were it not for Dr. Weitsman, I am absolutely certain none of this would have been possible. She guided me down this path and made me realize the impacts I am capable of making. My research was inspired by her scholarship, and my professional career endeavors by her support. She inspired me to be a better scholar, but also to make the greatest impact I am capable of making as a human being. Patty, I cannot believe you have been gone for a year now, but I continue to find comfort in your words and am eternally grateful to have known you. Thank you. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract 2 Acknowledgments 4 Table of Contents 7 PART I – ALLIANCE BEHAVIOR AND THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION Chapter 1: Introduction 8 Chapter 2: Alliances, NATO, and the Post-Cold War Era 32 PART II – CASE STUDIES Chapter 3: The 1999 Kosovo Intervention 69 Chapter 4: September 11, 2001 and the War in Afghanistan 121 Chapter 5: The 2003 Iraq War 162 Chapter 6: The 2011 Libya Intervention 203 PART III – U.S.-NATO RELATIONS Chapter 7: The Evolution and Persistence of NATO 239 Chapter 8: The United States and Multilateralism 258 References 274 7 Chapter 1: Introduction Military alliances are one of the most perplexing, least understood phenomena in international relations. Scholars have tirelessly sought explanations for the formation, cohesion, and continued development of these arrangements, as well as the role alliances play in conflict. Much is understood about the conditions under which states ally, and better explanations for alliance cohesion have emerged in recent decades. To date, there is no complete explanation for the persistence of military alliances in peacetime. Both realist and liberal theories have long asserted the improbable possibility of these arrangements lasting outside of war. Only recently have theorists developed better explanations for the reasons and conditions under which alliances persist. Still, theoretical explanations for alliances in peacetime are lacking. The post-Cold War period is one of the first to have a military alliance persist in the absence of an imminent threat. In many ways, the persistence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is inconsistent with the frameworks for understanding military alliances. NATO is one of the longest-standing alliances of the contemporary period, with a “high degree of institutionalization unprecedented in military pacts.” 1 Authorized under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and established by the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty), the alliance embodied the fundamental principles of collective defense: NATO membership required a commitment to support and defend other member states in the event of an attack. 2 At best, previous explanations of NATO persistence are pieces to the larger puzzle – none of the existing theories of alliances are wholly satisfactory in explaining the 1 Kristen Rafferty, “An Institutionalist Reinterpretation of Cold War Alliance Systems: Insights for Alliance Theory," Canadian Journal of Political Science 36, no. 2 (June 2003). 2 “Washington Treaty,” North Atlantic Treaty Organization, last modified April 18, 2011, accessed October 20, 2014, http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/topics_67656.htm. 8 alliance’s continuation. Thus, the case of NATO in the post-war period merits further investigation.