Mo' & MoRe: [Vnbiz] Intel Vietnam refuses to pay bribes

[Earlier published at MoRe: [Vnbiz] Intel Vietnam refuses to pay bribes .  The following is revised.  The former will soon be deleted.]

Thank you, sincerely, Anh Hoanh, for making that byte a whole lot less ambiguous. 

Of the significance of the purportedly unique international reach of the US Foreign Corruption Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA), with all due respect, please let's remember that a tree grows and spreads out from its roots, that the US roots, at home, do not stack up all that well these days against those of its peers, or others, and please, please, please can we keep the Yankee-doodle-dandying in either perspective or check?  ;)

The USA is still a great nation with even greater individuals and communities -- who today are often hanging on the skins of their teeth.  But, today, the USA is far from the world's accepted ethical leader in few places other than the US Bible Belt and in the Media in or from the USofA.

For the convenience of all chis, anhs, et als here, here again are two previously mentioned, apparently quite authoritative takes on that perspective above of the USA's level of corruption versus its international peers, graphically, for those who can receive as much:

2007-08-15

From http://govap-sighgone.blogspot.com/2007/08/twenty-nations-ranked-by-corruption.html

Twenty Nations Ranked by "Corruption Control"

Click on the chart to enlarge it.

This chart is based on data from the World Bank's "Governance Matters" pages, http://info.worldbank.org/governance/wgi2007/

2007-08-15

From http://sighgone-ho.blogspot.com/2007/08/transparency-internationals-corruption_15.html

Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index - Top 23, USA Highlighted

Click on the image for an enlargement.

Source: http://www.transparency.org/content/download/10825/92857/version/1/file/CPI_2006_presskit_eng.pdf


As an aside, on your question of the relevance of Iraq and oil, it's just another US invasion-cum-war directly resulting from the corruption of the last two Bush Admin's.  I can only extend the [subconscious?] waffle in the rationale of your response as such: "... it is not about oil, or at leadt not about oil only,...", or, maybe, at least not primarily about controlling oil wealth [which is what i wrote], or maybe not all of it, eh?

[Said and sent with the goodwill of open debate between free and friendly folks worldwide.  Please pardon a few friendly pokes here and there.  ;) - ed]

Cheers,
Andi


On 8/15/07, Tran Dinh Hoanh < tdhoanh@xxx.yyy> wrote:

[ Vietnam Business Forum ]

Dear brother Andi,

 

The US Foreign Corrup-tion Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA) prohibits U.S. companies, their subsidiaries, as well as their officers, directors, employees, and agents from bribing "foreign officials" (and also requires U.S. companies that issue debt or equity to maintain internal accounting controls and to keep books and records that accurately reflect all transactions).   It means that even if the payment is considered legal in a foreign country under the law or normal practice of that country (such as the customary "boi duong" or "gifts" in Vietnam), it is still illegal under the US law if it violates the FCPA  and the American violator will be prosecuted in the US court, even if the payment is done in a foreign country. 

 

As far as I know, only the US reaches its citizens that far.  Other countries will let its citizens do whatever is considered legal practice in a foreign country.  

 

I don't understand why we have to talk about Iraq.  I oppose that war because it is stupid.  But it is not about oil, or at leadt not about oil only.  (/11 attack on the US is real, and if Bush over-reacted in Iraq, that would be easy to understand.  :Let's stay with what we can prove by facts.

 

I am not saying that American companies are not corrupt,  Some of them do, and I did talk about the Banana Republic often in this forum.  However, many US companies will not engage in corruption practices overseas because US companies have many ethical lawyers like me.

 

Have a great day!

 

Hoanh