I'm John Bachelors with Professor Avinellis of the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies

Institute.

Corruption on the wrist. What I'm learning is that in some circles

wearing a very expensive watch can be an invitation to trouble with prosecutors or a way of demonstrating that you've arrived.

For example, last week we dealt with an allegation against Dina Bilarte, the President of

Peru, who had a very expensive watch on her wrist and this led to

police interrogation rate of her home and a week later we're told the legislature

is not going to move against her, although that was a threat initially.

It seems to have backed off a little bit.

There's also anecdotes about Lula de Silva at some point in his past wearing expensive watches.

This is all is not about watches, although it's fascinating that you can pay 56,000 or

$80,000 for a wrist watch, for heaven's sakes.

Apple makes a very good watch and it's a lot cheaper.

However, we come to the word corruption,

and I go immediately to Guatemala

where there is a new president

Aravalo who had a long struggle to get into his office was kept from the

normal transition fair and the headline there suggests that he's going out of his way to say I'm not like them.

Guadal and President Arvalho dismissed his Minister of Environment and Natural Resources

fewer than a hundred days into his term to avoid any doubt over the

integrity of his government. Is this a good move or vain on his part professor?

Well certainly John what you talk about highlights the degree to which corruption is an endemic problem across Latin America that undermines people's faith in democracy and the application of the judicial system and the way in which when one runs an anti-corruption

...