Abstract
According to the conventional wisdom gaining currency during the crises in the Balkans in the 1990s, NATO is a “force-subtractor” fighting wars by committee rather than a “force-multiplier” with respect to high-intensity operations because the member states’ divergent national interests invariably produce ineffective lowest common denominator policies.1 NATO’s subsequent operations in Afghanistan and Libya reinforced this view leading many to conclude that NATO is becoming a multitiered alliance in which an increasing number of European members are incapable or unwilling to contribute effectively to conflict management operations involving major use of force.2 Concern is growing that this could eventually induce the United States to abandon the alliance, and commentators interpret the American redeployment of forces from Europe to Asia initiated in 2012 as a first step in this direction.