August 08, 2007
Huge Anti-Drug Package Could Be On The Way For Mexico
In recent years, the war on terrorism has largely eclipsed (in dollars and attention) that other U.S.-led war on a non-state -- the war on drugs. But the recent immigration debate and Mexico's new president have renewed concerns about the influx of illegal substances and drug-fueled violence spilling into the United States from its southern border.
The Washington Post reported this morning that the Bush administration is "close to sealing a major, multiyear aid deal to combat drug cartels in Mexico." Lawmakers, congressional aides and Mexican officials involved in the negotiations are optimistic, with Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Tex., predicting that the package will commit "hundreds of millions of dollars" to the effort.
Drug cartels have been wreaking havoc in Mexico; in the past year alone, 3,000 people have died in drug-related incidents there. Meanwhile, President Felipe Calderon has taken a hard line against the cartels, using his first year in office to crack down on drug gangs by stepping up law enforcement, calling in military support and extraditing suspects to the United States.
So far, however, these efforts have made little headway, prompting Calderon to appeal to President Bush for help -- a significant move for a country that "has historically been averse to any assistance from the U.S. that could be construed as a breach of its sovereignty," the Christian Science Monitor notes.
If approved, the aid package would be the largest of its kind since a $5 billion program to combat Colombian drug lords was launched in 2000, the Post reports. Those who have been following developments in the "war on drugs" may see the move as overdue. Two years ago, officials declared that Mexican kingpins had surpassed their Colombian neighbors as the biggest suppliers in the U.S. drug trade.
In addition to the money, top officials in Mexico have pleaded for more help in curbing U.S. gun smugglers who are aiding the violence by helping to arm the cartels with weapons designed specifically to harm law enforcement officers.
Bush may formally announce the proposed aid package in the coming weeks, as he prepares to meet with Calderon in Quebec on Aug. 20. But Cuellar noted that the details of the proposed deal have not been finalized and Congress would decide the ultimate sum.
The Council on Foreign Relations has a handy primer on Mexico's drug war under Calderon.
