In essence, my concept was to offer an exchange to Moldova -- we would offer them a large single sum payment in cash in exchange for getting this equipment permanently off the market. |
The accusation is that the amount offered by the third party black-market purchaser, later revealed to be Iran, was an additional $55 million to the sum offered by the United States. |
The United States in my view has a responsibility in this case -- it is about the relationship between us and Moldova and the accusation that the United States took advantage of a small and weak country -- which is not the case. |
There was no defrauding of Moldova. |
We did not buy these planes to increase American military capacity -- we bought them to prevent them from being a threat in some other part of the world and to help Moldova when they needed it. |
What we're dealing with is a government in Chisinau (the Moldovan capital) with one hand slapping the United States and with the other, digging in the pockets of the United States. |