I'm John Batcheworth, my colleague, Professor Avan Ellis of the U.S. Army War College.

This is the New World Report, evidence in Bogota, the capital of Colombia.

And we go to Uruguay, a story we don't touch on much, but the passing at 89 of Jose called

Pepe, the professor tells me.

Mujica, who was a professor and his departure?

Does it mean anything significant for Uruguay?

Jose Pepe Mujica was an iconic figure of the Latin American left.

It's useful to remember that, especially in the post-World War II era, although also before,

Latin American countries wrestled with a question of response to governments that were seen as

authoritarian societies that were seen is unjust and economic situations rigged for the rich against the

poor. And so, you know, you had a variety of different movements.

Indeed, it's probably worth it.

The contrast, we've talked a bit about, about Gustavo Petro in Colombia, who is part of the M19,

a guerrilla movement.

But upon ascending office, has really participated in some very problematic policies

that are seen as hurting Colombia, hurting

its security situation, and Petro's own personal behavior with respect to his, the accusations

of possible drug and alcohol abuse and other things, really kind of testified to how that can

go wrong. Jose Mujica is probably just as much a part of that radical far left.

But as a person, I think, really, who defined his political life and others leading

Uruguay in a very decent way.

So he was part of what was called the Tupamaro guerrillas in Uruguay fighting for basically

...