NATO: Alphabet Soup

In the beginning was the word, and the word was NATO.

But NATO was without form, and void; so was created SACEUR. Alone in the darkness, SACEUR was joined by SUSREP-NADPB, CINCNELM and EB. Soon the firmament radiated JAMAG, MAPAG, MAAG and CPUBINFO and there was Light.

In the seventh month after its creation, restless NATO, through CPUBINFO (Chief of Public Information), named 80 sub-agencies and offices to be officially designated by top secret anagrams—their initials. By last week the number had increased to 125. Most everybody knew SACEUR (pronounced "Sack your" meaning the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, i.e., Dwight Eisenhower)....

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