Norstad

"Lauris Norstad was NATO's most influential general during the 'High Cold War' of the late 195Os and early 196Os. After a brilliant career as a planner and commander in World War II, he succeeded equally brilliantly in the inter-Service politics of postwar Washington. Rising rapidly to high rank at a very young age, the youthful Norstad was one of Eisenhower's 'rising stars' by the time Ike picked him to help create a NATO and American 'sword and shield' to defend Western Europe. He became the dominant personality in NATO while Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR), during the protracted…