Pentagon will examine US role in Afghan graft.

An excellent idea to look at the US role in Afghan graft. As was the case in Iraq many private contractors have very lucrative contracts that become even more lucrative through corrupt practices. Both Afghan and foreign contractors are no doubt lining their pockets with US taxpayer's money. While there may be a few cases where some are punished for this sort of activity it is likely to continue. Afghanistan is one of the most corrupt countries on the planet and if one intends to get things done bribes and the like are probably essential.

Pentagon: US to look at own role in Afghan graft

Defense chief says US will examine its own contracts in hopes of reducing Afghan corruption

LOLITA C. BALDOR
AP News

The United States will do its part to reduce corruption in Afghanistan by examining its own contracts and projects, even as it is demanding the same from the Afghan government, Defense Secretary Robert GatesDefense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday.

"The place for us to start is to deal with corruption that may be associated with contracts we're letting or work that we're having done and development projects that we are undertaking in partnership with others including with the Afghans," Gates said.

Afghan President Hamid KarzaiAfghan 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.

..NATO and some allies, including Germany, have said they will wait to make any decisions until after the U.S. has made its announcement. The U.S. has a record U.S. force of more than 68,000 in Afghanistan....