Sam Gejdenson: “When we look at this issue, and it is a critical issue in a number of areas, and I want to just go through them quickly.…”

“When we look at this issue, and it is a critical issue in a number of areas, and I want to just go through them quickly. One, the estimates are we have lost $26 billion to bribery with contracts where American companies were in competition. Unethical business practices jeopardize fledgling democracies. It destroys the people's support and trust in their government. It aids criminal transactions. Vice-President Gore convened a global conference on fighting corruption. We are now seeing progress. Some of our allies in the G-7 that at one point a number of them provided that one could deduct bribes given to other government officials are finally moving to end this practice. For our part, AID and the administration and Congress have tried to root out corruption and bribery. It makes a big difference especially in the poorest countries as they try to establish good governance and governments that provide the services that their constituents dearly need.”