In the 16 years of its existence on European soil, no soldier has ever fired a gun in anger under the command of SHAPESupreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe. SHAPE has never even had to put its troops on general alert. Though its enemies have failed to make it retreat, however, an ally has succeeded. Last week, obeying the wishes of Charles de Gaulle, SHAPE officially left France, ending the saga of NATO on French soil. While the flags of NATO's 15-member nations were lowered and a military band played a Napoleonic march, it bade adieu to its sprawling prefabricated...
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