White House prioritizes anti-corruption efforts in national security policy
CBSN
Washington — The White House announced Thursday that it will be implementing anti-corruption efforts as a key part of its national security agenda, with President Biden directing agencies to conduct a review of efforts to combat corruption abroad and provide a report within six months with recommendations for further action.
"Corruption threatens United States national security, economic equity, global anti-poverty and development efforts, and democracy itself. But by effectively preventing and countering corruption and demonstrating the advantages of transparent and accountable governance, we can secure a critical advantage for the United States and other democracies," Mr. Biden said in a memorandum released on Thursday. The memo reaffirms the administration's commitment to "combat all forms of illicit finance in the United States and international financial systems" and "hold accountable corrupt individuals, transnational criminal organizations, and their facilitators" through sanctions and the pursuit of legal action. It also directs agencies to work with international organizations to combat corruption.Ashley White received her earliest combat action badge from the United States Army soon after the first lieutenant arrived in Afghanistan. The silver military award, recognizing soldiers who've been personally engaged by an attacker during conflict, was considered an achievement in and of itself as well as an affirming rite of passage for the newly deployed. White had earned it for using her own body to shield a group of civilian women and children from gunfire that broke out in the midst of her third mission in Kandahar province. All of them survived. She never mentioned the badge to anyone in her battalion.
The knock at the door came at nighttime on Mother's Day 2008 in Oregon, where Jessica Ellis' parents lived. It was around 9:20 p.m. and his wife, Linda, was already in bed; her father Steve Ellis told CBS News, that he thought someone let their animals out — but two soldiers in Class A uniforms were standing at the door.