If earlier dates are not identified for the final impotence of NATO, then this summit may be the one. The United States was unable to forge a consensus amongst NATO to suspend relations with Russia and expedite Georgia's membership. Was this a testament to a lack of diplomatic preparation or a willingness by the Bush administration to tarnish NATO's reputation and embarrass European pretentions. The Russians decided that the result, a NATO-Georgia Council, was a pathetic end to the summit and have proceeded to dig in, pissing upon further diplomatic efforts.
By avoiding a divided result, NATO was europeanised with a bland unity that reinforced the perception of impotence. The continentals were unwilling to take a firm stand against Russia for its atrocities, especially when the less democratic states are pro-Putin. The vague platitude sat well at a European Union summit and may have finally persuaded the United States that NATO is no longer a suitable vehicle for strategic defence.
Brown was so unwilling to countance a stand, that he dithered both ways: voted with the EU at the summit and sent Miliband to ape Cameron in Tbilisi and display backbone, after refusing to take any concrete steps to defend the stricken republic. Another shop soiled PR stunt, joining the 'Sarkozy ceasefire' and the profound silences.
If NATO's paper is no longer worth the mutual defence, then its devalued membership can be extended, safe in the knowledge that no member will leap to help those who border Russia. The Baltic states must ponder how secure they are, when certain powers in Europe are willing to accept Russia's influence over proxy states that could become stalking horses within the very houses of the West.
It is time that Britain weighed the alternatives to an alliance that no longer guarantees our safety and compromises our freedom of action.