Blowing Things Up

Hastings Lionel Ismay, also known as First Baron Ismay,  was a diplomat and general in the British Indian Army, as well as the first Secretary General of NATO. While in that position, he is credited having said the purpose of NATO was "to keep the Soviet Union out, the Americans in, and the Germans down." At the time, this made sense given that the war was fresh in everyone's mind and the Cold War had just started.