CIA director James Woolsey told the authoritative Jane's Defence Weekly that where bribery is spotted, the U.S. State Department demands that there should be a new round of bids for the contract involved.
Woolsey said the CIA gathers intelligence about the commercial practices of foreign governments with relish.
However, he said CIA involvement in specific cases is hardly ever made public. No specific foreign country or company was mentioned in the report.
"Some of the American corporations who have benefited from projects being rebid because we have been able to take actions have stated publicly they need no help from American intelligence," Woolsey said.
He added that the CIA also monitors efforts by both friendly and unfriendly foreign intelligence services to spy on U.S. firms.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.