Last month, Corruption Currents invited experts to add context to Argentina's steady decline in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index, as part of our "Fallen Angels" series. They cited weaknesses in the country's independent institutions, tying Argentina's corruption problem to its economic and political problems over the years.

The U.S. embassy in Buenos Aires appears to be in agreement. Secret diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks and published Wednesday portray corruption in Argentina as widespread...