Corruption May Hurt Mexico-US Drug Plan

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Forbes/Associated Press

Corruption May Hurt Mexico-US Drug Plan
By E. EDUARDO CASTILLO 10.24.07, 5:00 PM ET

MEXICO CITY - The U.S. government is vowing to spend $1.4 billion to help Mexico battle violent drug gangs, but the money will be largely wasted if authorities here don't cut the ties between police forces and organized crime, security analysts say.

U.S. and Mexican officials on Monday announced the so-called "Merida Initiative," which U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza described as "the single most aggressive undertaking ever to combat Mexican drug cartels."

The plan's success, however, may hinge on whether it includes an effective strategy to tackle the corruption that has corroded large parts of Mexico's local and federal police forces.

If it does not, Mexico will simply go from having "a corrupt and badly equipped police force to a corrupt and well-equipped police force," said Jorge Chabat, a Mexican national security analyst and drug expert.



Read more: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/10/24/ap4258399.html

[sutz12]

1. Ya think?

And now we hear from the Department of Redundancy Department.

:shrug:

[Judi Lynn]

2. Bush's drug war funding plan draws fire in U.S., Mexico

Oct. 24, 2007, 3:13PM
Bush's drug war funding plan draws fire in U.S., Mexico

By DUDLEY ALTHAUS
Houston Chronicle Mexico City Bureau

MEXICO CITY — President Bush's plan to send $500 million in anti-drug aid to Mexico sparked debate south of the border today.

The proposal — which U.S. officials said would help Mexico fight the cartels that threaten to overwhelm its security forces — stoked traditionally deep suspicions here of Washington's motives, with politicians and journalists voicing concerns about U.S. intervention in Mexican affairs.

"There is worry about what it means to our sovereignty," said Juan-Francisco Rivera, chairman of the Public Security Committee in Mexico lower house of Congress. "We need to first understand what this project is about."

The money, part of a two- to three-year package that would total about $1.4 billion, would be spent to train Mexican security forces, upgrade their equipment, including helicopters and aircraft, and strengthen cooperation with U.S. counterparts, officials in both countries said.
(snip)

Approval by the Democratic-controlled U.S. Congress is far from certain because the aid package is attached to a $45.9 billion supplemental spending request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

More:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5239642.html