Complicated

 This story about El Salvador's anti-crime program illustrates a fundamental problem that I'm not sure most developed world liberals really grok. Civil liberties are being run over in an effort to rescue the population from endemic and pervasive gang violence. And most Salvadorans are cool with that. 

Fundamental to the role of the state - like the absolute bear minimum - is the preservation of public order. That's been degraded in many Latin American states by gang violence. Sure, it's because of American demand for drugs. That's horrible and entirely our fault.

But quite a few Central American states were teetering on state failure. El Salvador is not any more.

The real question is: What will El Salvador look like in a few years? Will they be able to revive their commitment to civil liberties? 

Having cured themselves with bitter medicines, can they stop taking them?