Faustus has just done the deal - Ploughshares 

WASHINGTON (Associated Foreign Press) — Poland said Friday it has reached a deal in principle with the United States for aid to modernize Polish air defenses in return for Warsaw's hosting a controversial US missile shield.

But Poland's visiting Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski added that "a great deal of work" lay ahead while his host, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, spoke of "some progress" and "some momentum" on missile defense.

Amid concerns about the potential risks of hosting US missile interceptors, Warsaw has been pressing the United States to help upgrade the Polish armed forces, and notably to boost the country's air-defense system.

"We have an agreement in principle," Sikorski told reporters Friday when asked if he had received assurances about US aid for Poland's air defenses.

"There is still a great deal of work for our experts," he added.

"And, as I mentioned, the prime minister and the president will approve of whatever is done in the meantime, but yes, I'm satisfied that the principles we have argued for have been accepted," Sikorski said.