I'm John Batchler. I welcome Conrad Black, distinguished biographer, writing his column for the National

Post, noticing something funny going on in the Americas. It's all good news, and it's all happening

in South America and Central America. The electorate has woken up to the fact that the left side

led to narco-terrorism, gangland activity, and violence and no growth.

The right side now represents itself as elections, Democrats, with a small D, and also

believes in Republican representation. That is, you elect an official who represents you in the National Congress,

and most importantly, making money. Conrad, a very good evening to you. You feature in your column

a young man in Abilardo de la Esprea, who is the now president of Colombia, a very important

state.

Relations between Bogota and Washington were critical over 100 years ago and still are.

But the election of Delispreo, what attracts you to his success, Conrad?

Good evening to you.

Good evening to you, John.

Well, I admit that the attraction is in part somewhat whimsical and humorous, and it consists of the unusual route he's followed to the presidency and some of the flamboyant statements he's made,

which are so refreshing compared to his immediate predecessor and some others

in the recent history of Columbia.

And, you know, he has these lines that attack the left with phrases like they need a backbone

transplant, and I will emasculate the left and he calls himself the tiger and his

followers call him the tiger and he's you know he uses tiger images he's going to you know

thrust his claws down on the throat of the left and things like this I mean it's just it's

kind of amusing but it seems to me that I don't want to oversimplify.

Obviously, it's a complicated place and a continent of, what, four or five hundred million people in it.

...