Your idea is good. But there could be an open door for the Afghanis: NATO could threaten to cut of much aid, but the year after, if the books are cleaner, offer to increase aid again. NATO could tie the amount of aid to such accounting. If official corruption dropped below a certain low level, then NATO could offer Afghanistan a special augmented package of aid. This would keep Afghanis looking toward the long-term.

One idea: to set up an international body to study best practices in overcoming corruption and to experiment with states to find better ways to decrease corruption. Transparency International states which states are cleaner. But the problem remains: how to get there. An organization such as the one mentioned could help to show the way.

As well, Afghanis could open up a think tank and experimental body working with the UN on how to cut corruption.

A similar system could be set up in political systems. Two weeks ago, President Laurent NGabo of the Ivory Coast refused to accept Ivory Coast election results. UN and Pan African bodies could offer such people excellent retirement packages and possibly, positions on Pan African (or Pan Asian or whatever) bodies. If such people failed to heed the ballot, then the UN and all other bodies – including Pan African bodies, would cut aid.

Another suggestion: one thing that cut corruption in Porto Alegre, Brazil, was to hand over a certain portion of city tax money neighbourhood councils. These councils would then decide what priorities they wanted in their neighbourhoods. Since locals were watching the local councils closely, it cut corruption.

I’m deeply enjoying your book – especially the suggestion on reducing Palistinian-Israeli tensions by sharing tourist tax revenue.

John Coghlan