NATO has 134 military committees which focus on or study various things (air-sea rescue, infantry systems, mobile heavy artillery, tanks, shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, etc.). Most of these are now holding double meetings, the first day with just NATO members and the next day including the 26 Partnership for Peace nations. A handful of these committees are now dispensing with the first meeting and holding "fully transparent" sessions. One committee (the virtual prototyping committee under the Naval Armaments Group of the Support Division) is even chaired by Sweden, a Partnership member. The goal seems to be to bring everyone up to NATO (i.e., to US) standards so that inter-operability is possible.--Stephen V Cole