Whats the current U.S. policy regarding sales to the former Eastern Bloc nations?
As you know, last week we announced the policy of considering sales to a number of foreign Eastern European countries, and what this means is that discussions can begin. It doesn’t necessarily mean that sales will be made. This is actually something that’s in step with a whole variety of changes that have taken place with our relationship with countries like Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, et cetera. These countries are now working with us in the Partnership for Peace. Some of them are aspiring to NATO membership. Before they can be firmly considered for NATO membership, they have to meet a number of requirements. One is they have to be democracies; two, they have to be free market economies; three, they have to have civilian control of the military; four, they have to have adequate and compatible command and control structures that would fit into the NATO model. Trying to find ways to harmonize their armed forces with ours will make it easier for them to become members
