Aid money role in fighting Afghanistan corruption

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US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, says US military plans for Afghanistan, after some NATO countries pull out, are sustainable. [Reuters]

Last Updated: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:51:00 +1100

The US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, says the United States can help the battle against corruption in Afghanistan by tightening control of its own contracts and projects there.

Speaking ahead of an international security summit in Canada, Secretary Gates said the US military plan for Afghanistan, especially after the withdrawal of Canadian and Dutch troops over the next two years, is sustainable.

US President Barack Obama is considering whether to send more troops to Afghanistan, but corruption and credibility of the Afghan government is complicating the issue.

Robert Gates says the US can start addressing that issue where they have the most leverage.

"The international presence has provided significant influx of assistance dollars, so it seems to me that the place for us to start is to deal with corruption that may be associated with contract that we're letting - or that we're having done," he said.