HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the United States will do its part to reduce corruption in Afghanistan, along with the efforts the U.S. is demanding from the Afghan government.
He says the U.S. will examine its own contracts and projects in Afghanistan. He says the U.S. has the most leverage where it's signing the checks.
Gates is in Canada for a security conference heavily focused on Afghanistan.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has promised to do more to head off corruption that outside analysts say is rampant. But the newly re-elected leader has also chafed under international criticism of corruption in his government. He has pointed out that the flood of development cash into his country over the past eight years has promoted some of the graft.
