ALONG THE AXIS:

U.S. expects defense deal with Poland to be wrapped up soon (Reuters, March 5, 2008)

The United States expects to conclude negotiations with Poland on a missile shield site by the end of President George W. Bush's term in office in January, officials said Wednesday.

"I would say the odds were extremely high that they would be successful," Dan Fried, assistant secretary of state for European affairs, said when asked if he expected the negotiations to be wrapped up by the end of Bush's presidency