The Leonard Lopate Show

How much total time did you spend in the countries you are characterizing in your book? Notwithstanding your having lived in a number of countries -- calling Indonesia a giant golf course as you just did can only come from a parachute academic or American corporate executive. Nobody else thinks that way.

(i.e. such a narrow, myopic view of a nation -- it's like an Indonesian saying that America looks like JFK Airport.)

Absolutely fascinating and important article in the New York Times Magazine a few weeks ago. I cannot tell you how many friends and colleagues that I have given it to read. Truly frightening!

The only way the US could continue maintaining its sphere of influence in the world is to deepen TRUTHFUL and SINCERE support with the Western Hemisphere nations, and to implement a genuine development partnership with Latin America. The European integration model could be used for this purpose. Great investment and cooperation from the strongest economies should finance REAL development in the most disadvantaged nations in the region. Benefits will be then reaped in the future.

Latin American nations are to be treated as equal partners and not just as subject nations under the control, influence and servitude of the United States.

Excellent questions L