Posted on 10/23/2007 5:33:38 AM PDT by shrinkermd
...U.S. and Mexican negotiators reached the agreement in secrecy. Some in Mexico worried that an aid package would infringe upon its sovereignty, and concerns surfaced in the United States about costs and strategy...
The much-anticipated Mexico aid plan, would pay for helicopters, canine units, communications gear and inspection equipment, the State Department said.
The program also would include training and technical advice on vetting new police officers, and case-management software to track investigations in a nation where drug kingpins have infiltrated many state and local governments and infighting among drug traffickers has cost more than 4,000 lives in the past 22 months.
The violence is particularly acute in northern Mexico, where gunfights frequently spill across the U.S. border...
Mexico's drug cartels have been engaged in a fierce war for at least two years as they compete for lucrative trade routes and to try to fill power vacuums left after the extradition of several major cartel leaders to face trial in the United States.
Although the bulk of U.S. attention is focused on Mexico, Bush also announced an additional $50 million in proposed aid for Central American nations that have been beset by rampant violence and drug cartel corruption as traffickers seek new routes for the tons of cocaine and other drugs that flow into the United States every day.
The aid packages are part of what the Bush administration hopes will be a multiyear, $1.4 billion initiative.
Bush barely mentioned the package in his budget remarks. But within minutes of his announcement, the White House -- cognizant of possible opposition in Congress -- launched a public relations offensive, distributing a statement about the aid plan that was followed by enthusiastic news releases from the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Antonio O. Garza Jr., and the State Department.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Where’s the fence, Jorge?
We’ve been giving anti-drug money to central and south America (including Mexico)for years and it hasn’t slowed down the drug traffic one iota.
Headline should read: United States to put $1 billion into the corrupt Mexican oligarchy's pockets.
Q: Why are the Drug gangs in Northern Mexico?
A: Because the US is their customer base and it's far too easy to get tons of drugs across the border. If we secured our Southern border so it was pointless to try crossing, the drug gangs would move on.
It's just like what was a very busy grocery store about 4 miles from my house that went out of business. The doors are locked and the shelves are empty. Guess what, no one is waiting at the door or in the parking lot because they know there is no food there.
The same is true for the Mexican drug gangs, if it's virtually impossible to get across our border, they too will leave looking for a better route.
If Bush really wants to get rid of the drug gangs, rather than line the corrupt politicians pockets in Mexico, he should spend the $1 billion to secure our border.
Aid?Looks to me like a guarantee of the free flow of drugs across the border.
** Sigh ** - I was such a big supporter of this guy. I regret voting for him. He’s like having a temporary employee that sells the company secrets to the competition and there is nothing you can do about it.
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