Part of it is still classified, but INTERPOL already knows the nuclear issues, so I expect some of your international law enforcement types would already know as well. We approached you at the begining of my term about trying to get spare parts for some of air force's aircraft, which had become dangerous to fly. You were unable to accomodate our request. Since our old aircraft are of American manufacture, this left us no choice if we wanted to return a minimum necessary portion of our air force to operational status, which was necessary for the defense of our nation. Its atrocious state was what led Cuba to be willing to back the terrorists that struck here last term. I couldn't allow us to remain supine for a repeat performance.
This is the classified part. Therefore, we bought some spare parts in the secondary market. My former MDIS, the late Frans Truman, handled the details of the negotiations. He cleared the amount to be spent with me, but nothing else. I would ask you not to disclose this publicly.
Back to the main story. When the freighter sunk off our coast, I learned of his signing of the blank end-use certificate. Given that we were not at that time signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it is not entirely clear why the German exporter considered his signature sufficient, but INTERPOL seems to have cleared that firm from any wrong-doing. We are now signatories, as I signed the treaty very rapidly after learning of the matter. The leak and its publishing were of course illegal, and the subject of on-going negotiations.
The air force's least old fighters were thereby quickly returned to operational status, as was needed at the time, and we have since considerably supplemented our fighter strength by the purchase of the new Russian fighters, which of course I would have rather purchased from your country, as I told you previously. We have not pursued any bomber or ground attack aircraft, so I hope it is apparent that our policy is defensive. If attacked we would hope to be able to protect our ground forces from enemy aircraft. Obviously it would do no good against a nation such as yours, but hopefully would be sufficient against some more plausible threat.
Thank you for mentioning the trade angle. I know the Congress isn't always the best at counting the cost, but the total damage to the American economy from this policy, if implemented will be much larger, in dollar terms, than it will be on us. Proportionally, it will hurt us more, as your economy is large and diversified, but we will be able buy most of what we want from the Europeans and elsewhere. We aren't a big market for your main exports. Also, from our years of isolationism, we are relatively more self sufficient than other economies our size. Most of our exports are commodities, which command roughly the same prices whereever after adjusting for shipping costs. You are our nearest large market, so our shipping costs will go up some, but not that much. You have already stopped buying our coal. But why I am rattling on about ecomomics when there is a professor here? Per Talbott, do you have anything to add?
We would appreciate it if the President would veto the measure. We would be grateful. If there is a particular favor or favors you have in mind, then please let us know, and we will do our utmost to work them into our plans. I am also unsure what the actual objective of the sanctions is. The person most involved was fired and then shot himself. We have signed the treaty that takes us out of the field of endeavor. I am already well into my term, I cannot succeed myself in office, and my sucessor will be chosen democratically, by the people here. I suppose our difficulties will give both the Conservatives and the Socialist a better chance in the next election, although the Conservatives' actual policies would not be much different than those of the current administration. Once I get the MESA post straightened out, I hope the new minister will carry through the plans I have outlined for a privatization of the business insurance portion of Omnicare, the government run insurance company. We could perhaps arrange for an American company or companies to have the inside track in taking over some of that business. But of course, they couldn't do that if the proposed sanctions become law, meaning that that their European competitors will steal a market out from under their noses.
This is the classified part. Therefore, we bought some spare parts in the secondary market. My former MDIS, the late Frans Truman, handled the details of the negotiations. He cleared the amount to be spent with me, but nothing else. I would ask you not to disclose this publicly.
Back to the main story. When the freighter sunk off our coast, I learned of his signing of the blank end-use certificate. Given that we were not at that time signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it is not entirely clear why the German exporter considered his signature sufficient, but INTERPOL seems to have cleared that firm from any wrong-doing. We are now signatories, as I signed the treaty very rapidly after learning of the matter. The leak and its publishing were of course illegal, and the subject of on-going negotiations.
The air force's least old fighters were thereby quickly returned to operational status, as was needed at the time, and we have since considerably supplemented our fighter strength by the purchase of the new Russian fighters, which of course I would have rather purchased from your country, as I told you previously. We have not pursued any bomber or ground attack aircraft, so I hope it is apparent that our policy is defensive. If attacked we would hope to be able to protect our ground forces from enemy aircraft. Obviously it would do no good against a nation such as yours, but hopefully would be sufficient against some more plausible threat.
Thank you for mentioning the trade angle. I know the Congress isn't always the best at counting the cost, but the total damage to the American economy from this policy, if implemented will be much larger, in dollar terms, than it will be on us. Proportionally, it will hurt us more, as your economy is large and diversified, but we will be able buy most of what we want from the Europeans and elsewhere. We aren't a big market for your main exports. Also, from our years of isolationism, we are relatively more self sufficient than other economies our size. Most of our exports are commodities, which command roughly the same prices whereever after adjusting for shipping costs. You are our nearest large market, so our shipping costs will go up some, but not that much. You have already stopped buying our coal. But why I am rattling on about ecomomics when there is a professor here? Per Talbott, do you have anything to add?
We would appreciate it if the President would veto the measure. We would be grateful. If there is a particular favor or favors you have in mind, then please let us know, and we will do our utmost to work them into our plans. I am also unsure what the actual objective of the sanctions is. The person most involved was fired and then shot himself. We have signed the treaty that takes us out of the field of endeavor. I am already well into my term, I cannot succeed myself in office, and my sucessor will be chosen democratically, by the people here. I suppose our difficulties will give both the Conservatives and the Socialist a better chance in the next election, although the Conservatives' actual policies would not be much different than those of the current administration. Once I get the MESA post straightened out, I hope the new minister will carry through the plans I have outlined for a privatization of the business insurance portion of Omnicare, the government run insurance company. We could perhaps arrange for an American company or companies to have the inside track in taking over some of that business. But of course, they couldn't do that if the proposed sanctions become law, meaning that that their European competitors will steal a market out from under their noses.
