ABSTRACT
On 7 June 2001 a headline in The New York Times read 'Armies of Europe Failing to Meet Goals, Sapping North Atlantic Treaty Organization' (NATO). The September attacks and unified NATO response came at a time when NATO's role and usefulness were being questioned. Prior to 11 September, NATO was facing serious questions about its relevance as a collective defense alliance. The NATO policy-making process, too, brought with it certain challenges that were affected by domestic as well as Alliance politics. In March 1999, as NATO was grappling with the situation in Kosovo, the failure of the taiks at Rambouillet and discussing what actions to take next, it was also preparing for a summit in celebration of its 50th anniversary as well as the admission of three new members. The decision to admit new members was the result of six years of discussion within the Alliance tied, in part, to questions about NATO after the Cold War.
