The situation in Europe also began to worsen in the early years of NATO. The Berlin crisis, in which the United States was the main actor of the Alliance, gave the Soviet threat even more credibility, contributing to the controversial rearmament and admission of West Germany. In response, the Warsaw Pact (Ismay) was formed. Subsequently, although the Cuban Missile Crisis passed and détente progressed slowly, NATO faced a major internal crisis when France withdrew, citing American hegemony and perceived lack of French power. Nuclear weapons were a hot topic; Despite arms control attempts by the NPT and SALT I, NATO has maintained or recognized controversial policies such as nuclear sharing, massive retaliation, and the Double Track Decision (Burr, “Double Track Decision”). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay NATO was born out of the Atlanticist need to defend itself from the communist threat. Even before its formation, future members were exploring new methods of international peacetime cooperation and mutually beneficial exchanges. In the early years, the members grew closer as the Alliance strengthened its structure, united old enemies, and helped each other recover in ways the West had never encountered before. Before the creation of NATO, the American government authorized a large package of financial aid to Turkey and Greece, ostensibly to prevent “totalitarian regimes” from taking hold and threatening not only the Middle East but, by extension, the United States as well (Edwards 131-132). As part of his Doctrine, Truman asked Congress to authorize financial aid to Turkey and Greece, stating that “totalitarian regimes imposed on free peoples… undermine the foundations of international peace and therefore the security of the United States” (Edwards 131) . Congressman Judd expressed a sense of emergency against the impending communist expansion and stated that “if we do not pass this bill…Greece as a free nation will fall tomorrow…and if Greece falls, Turkey will be flanked without hope” (Edwards 140). With almost all traces of isolationism overwhelmed by the fear of communism, the bill passed easily through both Houses. The relief bill represented several firsts and set new precedents in the exploration of the post-World War II new world order. The United States moved completely away from isolationism and exercised the Truman Doctrine for the first time, assuming leadership in the global struggle to contain communism. Atlanticist cooperation was also evident; the United Kingdom, the original custodian of Greece, passed the baton to the United States due to economic difficulties (Binder 98). International cooperation against the rapidly forming Eastern Bloc became a serious possibility, resulting in NATO. The aid bill also served as a precedent for the Marshall Plan, a similar aid program for Europe.