Point:

Attorney General John D. Ashcroft yesterday urged nations that rallied against terrorism after Sept. 11, 2001, to unite again to fight corruption, which is costing the world economy more than $2 trillion every year.

In a speech to the World Economic Forum, Ashcroft attacked government officials who pocket payoffs and deprive their people of money for better roads, cleaner water, and more modern schools.

Counterpoint:

Oil services company Halliburton Co has told the Pentagon that two employees took up to $6 million in kickbacks for awarding a Kuwaiti-based company with work supplying U.S. troops in Iraq, the Wall Street Journal said on Friday.

But of course, that isn't depriving the Iraqis, or Kuwaitis, of anything. Since Halliburton's activities are funded by cost-plus contracts from the US government, they're ripping off us.