NATO: An Inadequate Strategic Concept?

NATO leaders met in Lisbon on Nov. 19-20 to draft a new Strategic Concept — essentially a new mission statement for the alliance. The alliance is divided, however, particularly over the issue of how to handle Russia's renewed strength. This division has made it difficult for NATO to craft a Strategic Concept that effectively addresses all the issues the alliance currently faces, including the ongoing military operation in Afghanistan and what some NATO members see as a renewed threat from Russia.