This is CBS Eye on the World.

Here's John Batchelor.

The New World Report with Professor Evan Ellis of the U.S. Army War College

and the Strategic Studies Institute.

Evan is traveling.

He's on the road and in Costa Rica. What I know about

Costa Rica is mostly as an aspect of the Darien Gap story these last years where hundreds of

thousands of migrants came through the Darien Gap and were transported to the border with Costa Rica

and then transported through Costa Rica on their way north to the Mexican border.

I remember also being told that Costa Rica was obliging,

but that it is a very friendly place for Americans,

and that many Americans retire there or vacation there and the conditions are

said to be tip top, especially for tourism. That's it until Evan arrives and fills me in on the

politics of Costa Rica. Professor, a very good evening to you. What I know is tourism. What else can we say of Costa Rica's

income and how has it gained this first-rate reputation as a safe place to vacation? Good

evening to you. Good evening to you, John. Well, as you point out, Costa Rica historically has been

considered a relatively secure, peaceful, well-governed place,

a vibrant tradition of democracy.

Right after World War II, they actually abolish the National Army.

And so Costa Rica, along with Panama, one of the two countries that actually do not have,

formally an army, although they actually have a very capable police force

in air and naval service.

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