NATO is, in fact, a "defensive alliance," in that NATO Powers are only obliged to come to the aid of another NATO Power which is under unprovked attack. NATO members can, of course, choose to intervene under other circumstances, but they are not obliged to do so.
In the case of Serbia, the cause was humanitarian: NATO intervened to stop the Serbs from killing the Bosnians and Croats. In the case of Libya, several NATO Powers were attacked -- Gaddafi attacked America, Britain, Germany and Italy at various points in the mid-1980's. Admittedly, it would have been better had NATO explicitly acted on that basis, but those who have been following the history of the last few decades well-remember the bombing of the German disco, the bombardment of Pantallera, and the Lockerbie atrocity.
If Turkey sends forces to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza, and Israel resists this attempt by force, then Turkey has started a war with Israel -- Turkey would be the aggressor state in that instance. NATO members are not obliged to support the aggressor. As for America, since both Israel and Turkey are our allies, we would probably remain netural in that eventuality.
no subject
In the case of Serbia, the cause was humanitarian: NATO intervened to stop the Serbs from killing the Bosnians and Croats. In the case of Libya, several NATO Powers were attacked -- Gaddafi attacked America, Britain, Germany and Italy at various points in the mid-1980's. Admittedly, it would have been better had NATO explicitly acted on that basis, but those who have been following the history of the last few decades well-remember the bombing of the German disco, the bombardment of Pantallera, and the Lockerbie atrocity.
If Turkey sends forces to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza, and Israel resists this attempt by force, then Turkey has started a war with Israel -- Turkey would be the aggressor state in that instance. NATO members are not obliged to support the aggressor. As for America, since both Israel and Turkey are our allies, we would probably remain netural in that eventuality.