WHEN NATO FINALLY EXPANDS EAST-ward, Poland is likely to be one of the first new members - but only if its military is under democratic control comparable with other alliance members. The country is suffering a civil-military crisis, resulting primarily from the lack of a constitution that can clearly divide powers between the president and the government. The civilian Defense Ministry has so far been unable to control the military, the General Staff remains independent of the defense minister, and the army is highly politicized.

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