banyon
04-30-2008, 05:28 PM
We can't secure our own borders and can't bother our Congress to address illegal immigration at all, but it's time to send $1.4 billion to the MEXICAN ARMY to fight their failed drug battle as well (though much of the money will likely be swallowed up by corruption and bribes).
U.S. may send Mexico $1.4 billion in drug war
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-mexicoaid_02int.ART.State.Edition2.423add3.html
Money in Pentagon budget targets training, high-tech tools
12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, October 2, 2007
By ALFREDO CORCHADO / The Dallas Morning News
acorchado@dallasnews.com
MEXICO CITY – Tucked in the Pentagon's massive budget request is at least $1.4 billion in U.S. aid to Mexico for its fight against increasingly violent drug kingpins – including better training and high-tech tools.
Negotiators for the two countries have agreed on the package now awaiting U.S. congressional approval, officials familiar with the proposal said Monday.
Both U.S. and Mexican officials have said the package is needed to fight a common threat – one that has leeched over the border and into North Texas.
"We either win together or we lose together," said Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora in interviews with The News in September.
But some have criticized the package as money down the drain until Mexico weeds out endemic police corruption.
It was unclear whether the Mexican aid package is contained in the $460 billion 2008 defense authorization bill, which the U.S. Senate approved 92-3 Monday night, or in a pending $193 billion supplemental Iraq war budget.
One Senate Republican aide familiar with details of the bill said the money is in the measure approved Monday night, but neither U.S. nor Mexican officials could confirm that.
In any case, the defense bill still needs to be finalized by House and Senate negotiators before going to President Bush for his signature – and the legislative process is still weeks from completion.
A U.S. official familiar with the aid package said it probably will come up for debate in the coming days and weeks as details of the bill become public. The official requested anonymity.
Beyond the two-year duration of the aid arrangement, the governments would probably form a permanent cooperation agreement that must be agreed upon by the next U.S. administration following the 2008 presidential election, officials said.
In general, the plan calls for the U.S. to take on a bigger role in the fight against Mexican drug traffickers – and it represents a significant increase from the estimated $40 million Mexico currently receives annually from the U.S. government.
Though details remain murky, Mexican officials stressed in interviews with The News last month that the agreement does not call for the U.S. military to play any role in Mexico – unlike Plan Colombia. Under that plan, the South American nation has received about $5 billion in U.S. assistance over the last six years to fight rebel groups and the illicit drug trade. That plan also included U.S. training of Colombian military in that country.
Mr. Medina Mora stressed in interviews with The News that the initiative is aimed at bolstering Mexico's telecommunications capabilities – and its ability to monitor its airspace and coastal waters, where about 85 percent of all smuggling takes place.
Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa said any agreement with the United States would require approval by the Mexican Congress, which is unlikely to put up much resistance given the breakdown in Mexican security and the increasing violence of drug cartels.
With more than 2,000 execution-style killings this year, Mexico is on pace to set a record for drug murders, surpassing the 1,900 last year.
Plan given chance
The proposed aid package is likely to generate much criticism among some members of the U.S. Congress.
But analysts in Washington said that given the clamor in the U.S. for increased border security, the plan stands a chance.
"There's a willingness to look at cooperative efforts between the United States, Mexico and Central America, especially if it involves training, judicial reform, police reform," said Andrew Seele, director of the Woodrow Wilson Center's Mexico Institute.
"That is likely to get a better reception than if it's strictly a counternarcotics proposal," he said.
Some said the proposal underscores Washington's concerns about Mexico's war with the powerful drug cartels whose reach has been felt in U.S. cities like Laredo and McAllen and as far north as Dallas.
Local and federal authorities in North Texas have documented crimes committed by elements of the Zetas – drug enforcers for the Gulf cartel.
Nonetheless, analysts cautioned that final congressional approval remains an uphill battle.
"The odds are good, given Washington's preoccupation with border security," said Armand Peschard-Sverdrup, president of a firm dedicated to U.S.-Mexico issues – the newly formed Peschard-Sverdrup & Associates. "There is a strong interest in curtailing the drug flow into the U.S. and ... supporting President [Felipe] Calderón's bold leadership on the issue. But this is still a difficult process."
Phil Jordan, former head of the regional Drug Enforcement Administration office in Dallas, is skeptical.
"Until you reduce U.S. demand for drugs and weed out the immense corruption among Mexico's law enforcement, pouring more U.S. money into Mexico won't necessarily solve the problem," he said.
Tackling corruption
The increased financial assistance is designed to enable Mexican law enforcement to take on drug traffickers who possess advanced weapons, electronic monitoring systems and aircraft, Mr. Medina Mora and Public Security Minister Genaro García Luna told The News last month.
The aid package may also strengthen programs aimed at training Mexico's police and periodically testing them to weed out corrupt elements.
For now, both sides continue to stress the importance of increased cooperation on issues such as drug demand and gun control in the United States and terrorist cells and transnational criminal organizations such as the paramilitary cartel enforcers the Zetas and the Central American gang the Mara Salvatruchas.
"The U.S government needs to do more in reducing the drug consumption, and it needs to do its part in the equation of stopping the flow of cash and weapons," said Mr. Medina Mora in a recent interview. "The U.S. law is too flexible, too permissive when it comes to gun possession, and unfortunately many of those guns, particularly high-power assault weapons, too often end up in the hands of ruthless drug cartels."
the Government site: (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/oct/93800.htm)
The Merida Initiative: United States – Mexico – Central America Security Cooperation
Joint Statement on the Merida Initiative: A New Paradigm for Security Cooperation
Today President Bush announced his request to fund a new security cooperation initiative with Mexico and the countries of Central America in order to combat the threats of drug trafficking, transnational crime, and terrorism in the Western Hemisphere. President Calderón of Mexico has taken decisive action to fight drug trafficking and criminal organizations operating on both sides of the border. The Presidents of Central America have clearly expressed the political resolve to join forces to strengthen regional security and seek additional tools and capacity to execute such will.
This partnership would support coordinated strategies to:
Produce a safer and more secure hemisphere where criminal organizations no longer threaten governments and regional security; and
Prevent the entry and spread of illicit drugs and transnational threats throughout the region and to the United States.
To achieve these goals, President Bush has requested $550 million as part of a multi-year program to provide:
Non-intrusive inspection equipment, ion scanners, canine units for Mexican customs, for the new federal police and for the military to interdict trafficked drugs, arms, cash and persons.
Technologies to improve and secure communications systems to support collecting information as well as ensuring that vital information is accessible for criminal law enforcement.
Technical advice and training to strengthen the institutions of justice – vetting for the new police force, case management software to track investigations through the system to trial, new offices of citizen complaints and professional responsibility, and establishing witness protection programs.
Helicopters and surveillance aircraft to support interdiction activities and rapid operational response of law enforcement agencies in Mexico.
Initial funding for security cooperation with Central America that responds directly to Central American leaders’ concerns over gangs, drugs, and arms articulated during July SICA meetings and the SICA Security Strategy.
Includes equipment and assets to support counterpart security agencies inspecting and interdicting drugs, trafficked goods, people and other contraband as well as equipment, training and community action programs in Central American countries to implement anti-gang measures and expand the reach of these measures in the region. The President’s Commitment to Regional Security Strategy
“The United States is committed to this joint strategy to deal with a joint problem. I would not be committed to dealing with this if I wasn’t convinced that President Calderón had the will and the desire to protect his people from narco-traffickers. He has shown great leadership and great strength of character, which gives me good confidence that the plan we’ll develop will be effective.”
President George W. Bush, August 21, 2007 Montebello
“Our countries are working together to fight transnational gangs. And the President (Berger) was right – I suggested we think about this issue regionally. You’ve got to understand that these gangs are able to move throughout Central America and up through Mexico into our own country, and therefore, we’ve got to think regionally and act regionally.”
President George W. Bush, March 12, 2007 Guatemala City
Drug Demand Reduction
The United States has done more than any other industrialized nation to reduce illegal drug use among its population. Through a broad array of efforts, it has succeeded in reducing cocaine use among 18-25 year olds by nearly 60% since its peak in 1979, and overall youth drug use has fallen by 23.2% since 2001. The President’s FY2008 budget dedicates $4.6 billion to an array of new federal prevention and treatment initiatives. Since 2001, the Administration has spent $16.7 billion on drug demand reduction.
The National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy
United States federal agencies along the Southwest border are coordinating their efforts to implement 68 objectives under this new strategy in the following areas: intelligence collection and information sharing, interdiction at and between ports of entry, aerial surveillance and interdiction of smuggling aircraft, investigations and prosecutions and countering financial crime. It is estimated that U.S. is spending $1.9 billion to implement this strategy in addition to funds being requested for the Security Cooperation Initiative. On October 2, 2007 John Walters, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy said that this balanced strategy will serve as an effective response against violent drug trafficking organizations that work to undermine democracy and rule of law.
Reduction in Trafficking in Arms
In 2005, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms launched its Southwest Border Initiative to attack the firearms-trafficking infrastructure of criminal organizations working across the border. New programs to share tracing capabilities with the Mexicans, close off trafficking corridors, expand actionable, real-time intelligence cooperation and aggressively pursue prosecution have resulted in marked increases in interdictions and arrests of individuals seeking to move firearms across the border.
Released on October 22, 2007
U.S. may send Mexico $1.4 billion in drug war
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-mexicoaid_02int.ART.State.Edition2.423add3.html
Money in Pentagon budget targets training, high-tech tools
12:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, October 2, 2007
By ALFREDO CORCHADO / The Dallas Morning News
acorchado@dallasnews.com
MEXICO CITY – Tucked in the Pentagon's massive budget request is at least $1.4 billion in U.S. aid to Mexico for its fight against increasingly violent drug kingpins – including better training and high-tech tools.
Negotiators for the two countries have agreed on the package now awaiting U.S. congressional approval, officials familiar with the proposal said Monday.
Both U.S. and Mexican officials have said the package is needed to fight a common threat – one that has leeched over the border and into North Texas.
"We either win together or we lose together," said Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora in interviews with The News in September.
But some have criticized the package as money down the drain until Mexico weeds out endemic police corruption.
It was unclear whether the Mexican aid package is contained in the $460 billion 2008 defense authorization bill, which the U.S. Senate approved 92-3 Monday night, or in a pending $193 billion supplemental Iraq war budget.
One Senate Republican aide familiar with details of the bill said the money is in the measure approved Monday night, but neither U.S. nor Mexican officials could confirm that.
In any case, the defense bill still needs to be finalized by House and Senate negotiators before going to President Bush for his signature – and the legislative process is still weeks from completion.
A U.S. official familiar with the aid package said it probably will come up for debate in the coming days and weeks as details of the bill become public. The official requested anonymity.
Beyond the two-year duration of the aid arrangement, the governments would probably form a permanent cooperation agreement that must be agreed upon by the next U.S. administration following the 2008 presidential election, officials said.
In general, the plan calls for the U.S. to take on a bigger role in the fight against Mexican drug traffickers – and it represents a significant increase from the estimated $40 million Mexico currently receives annually from the U.S. government.
Though details remain murky, Mexican officials stressed in interviews with The News last month that the agreement does not call for the U.S. military to play any role in Mexico – unlike Plan Colombia. Under that plan, the South American nation has received about $5 billion in U.S. assistance over the last six years to fight rebel groups and the illicit drug trade. That plan also included U.S. training of Colombian military in that country.
Mr. Medina Mora stressed in interviews with The News that the initiative is aimed at bolstering Mexico's telecommunications capabilities – and its ability to monitor its airspace and coastal waters, where about 85 percent of all smuggling takes place.
Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa said any agreement with the United States would require approval by the Mexican Congress, which is unlikely to put up much resistance given the breakdown in Mexican security and the increasing violence of drug cartels.
With more than 2,000 execution-style killings this year, Mexico is on pace to set a record for drug murders, surpassing the 1,900 last year.
Plan given chance
The proposed aid package is likely to generate much criticism among some members of the U.S. Congress.
But analysts in Washington said that given the clamor in the U.S. for increased border security, the plan stands a chance.
"There's a willingness to look at cooperative efforts between the United States, Mexico and Central America, especially if it involves training, judicial reform, police reform," said Andrew Seele, director of the Woodrow Wilson Center's Mexico Institute.
"That is likely to get a better reception than if it's strictly a counternarcotics proposal," he said.
Some said the proposal underscores Washington's concerns about Mexico's war with the powerful drug cartels whose reach has been felt in U.S. cities like Laredo and McAllen and as far north as Dallas.
Local and federal authorities in North Texas have documented crimes committed by elements of the Zetas – drug enforcers for the Gulf cartel.
Nonetheless, analysts cautioned that final congressional approval remains an uphill battle.
"The odds are good, given Washington's preoccupation with border security," said Armand Peschard-Sverdrup, president of a firm dedicated to U.S.-Mexico issues – the newly formed Peschard-Sverdrup & Associates. "There is a strong interest in curtailing the drug flow into the U.S. and ... supporting President [Felipe] Calderón's bold leadership on the issue. But this is still a difficult process."
Phil Jordan, former head of the regional Drug Enforcement Administration office in Dallas, is skeptical.
"Until you reduce U.S. demand for drugs and weed out the immense corruption among Mexico's law enforcement, pouring more U.S. money into Mexico won't necessarily solve the problem," he said.
Tackling corruption
The increased financial assistance is designed to enable Mexican law enforcement to take on drug traffickers who possess advanced weapons, electronic monitoring systems and aircraft, Mr. Medina Mora and Public Security Minister Genaro García Luna told The News last month.
The aid package may also strengthen programs aimed at training Mexico's police and periodically testing them to weed out corrupt elements.
For now, both sides continue to stress the importance of increased cooperation on issues such as drug demand and gun control in the United States and terrorist cells and transnational criminal organizations such as the paramilitary cartel enforcers the Zetas and the Central American gang the Mara Salvatruchas.
"The U.S government needs to do more in reducing the drug consumption, and it needs to do its part in the equation of stopping the flow of cash and weapons," said Mr. Medina Mora in a recent interview. "The U.S. law is too flexible, too permissive when it comes to gun possession, and unfortunately many of those guns, particularly high-power assault weapons, too often end up in the hands of ruthless drug cartels."
the Government site: (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/oct/93800.htm)
The Merida Initiative: United States – Mexico – Central America Security Cooperation
Joint Statement on the Merida Initiative: A New Paradigm for Security Cooperation
Today President Bush announced his request to fund a new security cooperation initiative with Mexico and the countries of Central America in order to combat the threats of drug trafficking, transnational crime, and terrorism in the Western Hemisphere. President Calderón of Mexico has taken decisive action to fight drug trafficking and criminal organizations operating on both sides of the border. The Presidents of Central America have clearly expressed the political resolve to join forces to strengthen regional security and seek additional tools and capacity to execute such will.
This partnership would support coordinated strategies to:
Produce a safer and more secure hemisphere where criminal organizations no longer threaten governments and regional security; and
Prevent the entry and spread of illicit drugs and transnational threats throughout the region and to the United States.
To achieve these goals, President Bush has requested $550 million as part of a multi-year program to provide:
Non-intrusive inspection equipment, ion scanners, canine units for Mexican customs, for the new federal police and for the military to interdict trafficked drugs, arms, cash and persons.
Technologies to improve and secure communications systems to support collecting information as well as ensuring that vital information is accessible for criminal law enforcement.
Technical advice and training to strengthen the institutions of justice – vetting for the new police force, case management software to track investigations through the system to trial, new offices of citizen complaints and professional responsibility, and establishing witness protection programs.
Helicopters and surveillance aircraft to support interdiction activities and rapid operational response of law enforcement agencies in Mexico.
Initial funding for security cooperation with Central America that responds directly to Central American leaders’ concerns over gangs, drugs, and arms articulated during July SICA meetings and the SICA Security Strategy.
Includes equipment and assets to support counterpart security agencies inspecting and interdicting drugs, trafficked goods, people and other contraband as well as equipment, training and community action programs in Central American countries to implement anti-gang measures and expand the reach of these measures in the region. The President’s Commitment to Regional Security Strategy
“The United States is committed to this joint strategy to deal with a joint problem. I would not be committed to dealing with this if I wasn’t convinced that President Calderón had the will and the desire to protect his people from narco-traffickers. He has shown great leadership and great strength of character, which gives me good confidence that the plan we’ll develop will be effective.”
President George W. Bush, August 21, 2007 Montebello
“Our countries are working together to fight transnational gangs. And the President (Berger) was right – I suggested we think about this issue regionally. You’ve got to understand that these gangs are able to move throughout Central America and up through Mexico into our own country, and therefore, we’ve got to think regionally and act regionally.”
President George W. Bush, March 12, 2007 Guatemala City
Drug Demand Reduction
The United States has done more than any other industrialized nation to reduce illegal drug use among its population. Through a broad array of efforts, it has succeeded in reducing cocaine use among 18-25 year olds by nearly 60% since its peak in 1979, and overall youth drug use has fallen by 23.2% since 2001. The President’s FY2008 budget dedicates $4.6 billion to an array of new federal prevention and treatment initiatives. Since 2001, the Administration has spent $16.7 billion on drug demand reduction.
The National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy
United States federal agencies along the Southwest border are coordinating their efforts to implement 68 objectives under this new strategy in the following areas: intelligence collection and information sharing, interdiction at and between ports of entry, aerial surveillance and interdiction of smuggling aircraft, investigations and prosecutions and countering financial crime. It is estimated that U.S. is spending $1.9 billion to implement this strategy in addition to funds being requested for the Security Cooperation Initiative. On October 2, 2007 John Walters, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy said that this balanced strategy will serve as an effective response against violent drug trafficking organizations that work to undermine democracy and rule of law.
Reduction in Trafficking in Arms
In 2005, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms launched its Southwest Border Initiative to attack the firearms-trafficking infrastructure of criminal organizations working across the border. New programs to share tracing capabilities with the Mexicans, close off trafficking corridors, expand actionable, real-time intelligence cooperation and aggressively pursue prosecution have resulted in marked increases in interdictions and arrests of individuals seeking to move firearms across the border.
Released on October 22, 2007