Do we have1.4 billion to waste to help Mexico battle violent drug gangs, but the money will be largely ?

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.

The latest example of how deep-pocketed drug traffickers have warped local law enforcement came earlier this month when agents detained 25 federal police officers in the northern border state of Tamaulipas on suspicion of providing protection for the Gulf drug cartel.

Erubiel Tirado, a national security and diplomacy expert at Mexico City's Iberoamericana University, said the Merida plan's emphasis on equipment and training of Mexican forces sends a clear message.

"There's no confidence in our institutional infrastructure, which is precisely the origin of the crisis we're going through," he said.

President Bush asked Congress on Monday to approve funding for the plan's first $500 million installment. If approved, it would make Mexico the second biggest recipient of U.S. security and anti-drug aid after Colombia, which has received $5 billion under Plan Colombia. Critics of the new plan have dubbed it "Plan Mexico."

Unlike the Colombia initiative, though, the Mexico proposal does not involve putting U.S. troops on Mexican soil. Instead, it would pay for such things as helicopters and surveillance aircraft, "nonintrusive inspection equipment" and drug-sniffing dogs.

Mexican opposition politicians have nevertheless raised concerns that it would violate Mexican sovereignty and pledged to oppose Mexico's plan to spend $7 billion over three years to the fight against organized crime.

Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa was to appear before the Senate later Wednesday to provide lawmakers with details on the initiative.http://www.star-telegram.com/448/story/2...

Once again we will be lining the pockets of both the Mexican government and the drug cartels being they are in bed together

Yes, the US government can waste a billion here or there and hardly notice.

When we are wasting trillions of dollars on the Iraq War, 1.4 billion to Mexico doesn't seem like a whole lot.

Of course it is a bad Idea, but we are talking about a country that has been fighting a war on drugs for 30 years. And losing.

well this present govt has a soft heart for mexico
they will do anything to support them as long as this present US govt is in the power

Mexico should spend the 7 billion to improve conditions in their country first.

Isn't it about time that Mexico took responsibility for their corrupt society and did something to change it themselves. Since we are sending all of their absconders back, perhaps they will learn to survive without all of our money going to these idiots! I'm so sick of the illegals and their hostile attitudes, I don't really care about Mexico at all. I'm not going to vacation in that rat hole and I have no family there. Help yourselves for once, that's how the drug cartels became so powerful, they helped themselves. So many public officials had their hands out to them, they have exactly what they asked for.

God damn it!!! I'm tired of money going to help everyone but the ACTUAL CITIZENS!!!

That money would be better spent here on ICE agents, Border Patrolmen,and a fence made in America.

Most of you think Mexico is the only responsible for this drug wars.
Well, here's a thought... .if drugs werent as widely bought in the US there would be no need for drug cartels to exist.... who would they sell the drugs to???? poor mexicans? they cant afford it.... rich mexicans??? it's not that many of us to make that kind of business out of it.

Its like what happens with fur coats... one would need to cut back demand to deal with the problem


So yes... drug wars are our problem as mexicans and believe me... we are very very aggraviated by them, but please dont act like they are just a product of mexican corruption... because they are also a product of american consumption.

And given that we cannot afford to fight this war with our own resources, it is under your best interest to help Mexico (disregarding any responsibility you might have on the matter) if you want to keep drugs away from your children.

So no, I dont think you are throwing that money away... and I dont think that your government would do it just to help Mexico,,, I think good things could come out of this for both countries, but you manage to think that we are enemies and that we do not deserve your attention instead of acknowledging that we need to be in this together.