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Dwight Eisenhower knew a thing or two about defending Europe. He commanded the D-Day invasion and became NATO's first Supreme Allied Commander.In 1951, he warned that if American troops were still stationed in Europe 10 years later, the whole project would have failed.That was 75 years ago. Our troops are still there.By Ike's own standard, NATO has failed.The plan was to protect Europe while it got back on its feet, then let Europe defend itself. Instead, Europe got comfortable letting American taxpayers carry the load.Decades of neglect hollowed out their militaries. In the decade before Russia invaded Ukraine, European NATO members spent an average of about 1.5% of GDP on defense. Even after their recent spending spree, the U.S. still covered roughly 60% of all NATO defense spending last year.And the money hasn't bought readiness. This year, the International Institute for Strategic Studies found European forces have a capability shortfall that leaves them ill-prepared for the kind of attacks Ukraine is facing. EU auditors admitted last month that Europe still depends on the United States.Then there's the attitude.When America went to war with Iran this year, Spain barred us from using jointly operated bases on its own soil. When Washington slapped visa bans on five Europeans accused of pressuring American platforms to censor speech, France and Germany rushed to defend them. And British police arrest more than 30 people a day over online posts.Too many of Europe's leaders sneer at our freedoms while expecting our sons and daughters to defend theirs.So it's long past time to ask the hard questions. What exactly is NATO for in 2026, and why are American taxpayers still paying the biggest share of it?Eisenhower was right in 1951. He's still right today.Should American taxpayers keep footing the bill for Europe's defense, or is it time to bring our troops home like Ike wanted?