What Abelow doesn't address is the fact that in all NATO's history, not once has one of its members gone to war against another of its members. Can you point to a similar stretch of time wherein the European powers did not go to war with each other? I can't.

That in and of itself proves that while it has not always been correct in its actions, NATO is not aggressive by nature. Add to that the fact that in addition to Putin's demonstrated expansionism towards its immediate neighbors, Putin admitted in so many words that he was trying to bring the old USSR back into being, and the real causes become much clearer.

Yes, Abelow has a PhD. and much experience. Those facts make it more likely that he knows better than I...but they are certainly no guarantee of such. Classical scholarship is crucial and no mistake...but even recent history is littered with scholars whose claims border on the nonsensical. In other words, one should never dismiss a scholar's claims out-of-hand, but neither should one accept them as the Gospel truth.