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Well, punitive is the point, isn’t it? I can’t understand what interest the US Government has in policing bribes in Mexico. Mexico is a sovereign and public corruption in Mexico is Mexico’s business. Not that Mexico might have other problems they’re more concerned about.

These FCPA investigations and actions are like speeding tickets — they proceed on the pretense of protecting the public, but in reality are about raising revenue, first and foremost. The kicker in the case of Wal-Mart is that the Obama administration can use the prosecution as red meat to feed its leftist base, which, of course, loathes Wal-Mart and is only too happy to see it pursued and harassed by the government. And let’s not forget those tireless DOJ prosecutors in DC who doggedly pursue the “public interest” in bringing Wal-Mart to “justice,” only to walk through the revolving door and into private practice to make a killing defending the Wal-Marts of the world against the next FCPA witch hunt.

Walter Olson tackles well the controversy over Wal-Mart’s Mexico problem and the Washington Post’s misguided coverage. [Daily Caller; Cato; OL]……