I'm John Batchel, and we never have enough time for good news, Evan. Never. There's always so much bad news,

but Chile is a positive story, quite independent of the positives in Argentina and Ecuador and

elsewhere in the continent. And you're headed to Chile. What is your missions, Professor?

I am done. I'm actually going down there for research trip next week. I'll be giving talks to a number of Chilean institutions.

Their national war college called Anepe, their Army War College called Acagua, their naval

war college as well as a leading university in a think tank called Athena Lab, among other

places.

And so it should be a great trip to understand

what is going on with the new cast administration and what is going on with the challenges of

organized crime as well as the advance of the PRC, which has a very large role there. So it should be

lots to talk about when we get back. But also, as you talked about, you know, March 11th, just a

couple of days ago, Jose Antonio Cast was formally inaugurated. But also, as you talked about, you know, March 11th, just a couple of days ago,

Jose Antonio Cast was formally inaugurated. He has wasted no time in getting into his promised

agenda, which on the one hand is focused on security, focusing on border security. He has already

begun the first part of what will ultimately be a wall

to help restrict access, irregular access from Peru and in Bolivia. But at the same time,

also is promised to focus more on gangs such as Venezuelan, but also Peruvian gangs, which have increased extortion and kidnappings

in Chile and really increased Chilean sense of insecurity. He has also wrestling with a budget

deficit that has gotten worse, relatively slow growth. He's put forth a proposal for a significant cut in the federal budget, about 3% of this year.

He's put forth proposals to make certain changes to tax laws, eliminating part of the value-added tax against homeowners.

So he's moving forward very quickly.

And the other thing I really should say,

...