Why Did the Us. S R Want to Join Nato?

Nato has never had a plan to attack anyone anywhere until nine 11. It seems pretty clear that the us would like for russia to invade ukraine, then use the ensuing crisis as a pretext to delay opening of new pipe line into germany and other european countries. So my question is, do us. Rulers actually believe that they can goad puten into invading ukraine? And what mechanisms do they have, or think they have, to do this? I can't think of any. it seems to me like an exercise in futility part of the us. The corollary is the key here to understanding what was going on. Why