NATO vs. Soviet Aggression: Eisenhowers Leadership as First SACEUR

Abstract

Core Signature Assignment "Eisenhower: The First NATO SACEUR," Alexander M. Bielakowski Article Analysis Introduction World Wars have a great history coined around differences amongst nations in the name of power acquisition. In his article (“Eisenhower: The First NATO SACEUR”), Bielakowiski aims at analyzing the reasons behind the formation of NATO during the harsh times of war. However, the author further explained the reasons behind the appointment of Eisenhower as the leader of NATO and his influence as the first NATO SACEUR. It is an article that highlights how the international military, diplomacy, intelligence, and power played a significant role in shaping any organization that the society formed. To this effect, this essay will dig deeper in analyzing Bielakowiski arguments relating to Eisenhower's influences on NATO to confirm whether NATO achieved its core purpose of rearming its followers from military aggression that the Soviet Union dictated. It will also be imperative to highlight an important limitation of Bielakowiski’s article and how his arguments connect to the issue of war history topic under consideration. According to Bielakowiski, the National Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) formation did not come as a by the way. On the contrary, the formation of NATO came in response to hostility and the inhabitable environment that the Soviet Union ensured to most European nations attributed to selfishness and misuse of power (Bielakowiski, 95-100). The Soviet Union proved a severe communist state that dictated the way of life amongst the free nation to take full control of all the European nations, with the United States not being an exemption. Soviet Union practiced a highly centralized government and economy, which made life unbearable for many thus sought remedy which came through NATO formation. Due to the Hostility that the Soviet Union defined to its followers, NATO aimed at rearming these nations from the military aggression of the Soviet Union and enhancing a free and fair habitable environment for all (Bielakowiski, 95 and 98). The body looked forward to the downfall and termination of the Soviet Union for the safety and peace of all European nations. To confirm the hostility that the Soviet Union expressed to the European nations, Bielakowiski (97) cites that “By 1947, the Soviet Union had consolidated its control over Eastern Europe and had begun to turn its attention toward the free nations of Europe and the first target of overt Communist aggression was Greece”. The author provides a detailed overview of how the communist aggression to Greece led to a guerilla war against the armed forces of the Greek regency government (Bielakowiski, 97). Unfortunately, though nations like the United States, United Kingdom, China, and France pleaded with the United Nations to take action against such communist aggressions, their plea fell on deaf ears, deteriorating Greece's state. The Soviet Union continued to use its veto power to hinder the success of United Nations assistance to Greece worsening the war state. During this era following the Second World...