Posted on 05/16/2008 7:30:43 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
WASHINGTON — President Bush's attempt to win $560 million in aid this year to assist Mexico's anti-narcotics efforts has run into a rebellion from some Texas Republicans worried about corruption, inefficiency and now defections among Mexican police officials.
Wednesday's disclosure that three Mexican police chiefs are seeking asylum in the United States prompted the Texans to push Thursday for congressional hearings on the bloody border war among Mexico's drug cartels and a reassessment of U.S. anti-drug assistance to the country.
"Our first priority must be to secure our own border and equip our own personnel before we even discuss sending one nickel to the corrupt Mexican government," said Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston.
Bush has asked Congress to approve emergency assistance for the Merida Initiative, the first installment of a three-year, $1.4 billion project to send American equipment and training to Mexican security forces battling powerful drug cartels.
But Texas lawmakers from both parties have balked at supplying the Mexican government with equipment that they say U.S. law enforcement agencies lack. And congressional Democratic leaders, eager to hand Bush yet another legislative setback, are likely to embrace the Texans' efforts.
$100 million for U.S. Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a plan by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, to insert $100 million for domestic law enforcement personnel into a spending bill currently working its way through Congress. The money is to be used for local law enforcement along the border and in areas of heavy drug trafficking.
Hutchison has withheld her support for Bush's proposal, saying she would back the initiative only if "there was also a major increase in funding for domestic law enforcement and border sheriffs."
In the House, Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, is pushing to divert to U.S. law agencies half of the entire $1.4 billion proposed by Bush.
Poe said he was motivated by reports of Mexican corruption, including that of a police commander being found with $2.4 million in his car and Mexico's one-time drug czar being convicted in the late-1990s of taking bribes.
Culberson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, would cut off Mexican aid completely.
"What's most maddening to me is the answer is so easy: Help our own law enforcement officers do their job," he said. "Quit obsessing with how to placate Mexico and focus on protecting America at our border."
The continuing drug-related violence along the Texas-Mexico border — combined with the assassinations of senior Mexican law officials and the disclosure of the defections of the three police chiefs — led Texas Sen. John Cornyn to suggest a Capitol Hill probe of the situation.
"We need to have an investigation, essentially, and hearings in Congress about how best to help our Mexican neighbors combat the cartels," the San Antonio Republican said in a conference call with reporters. "Because frankly, it's not just in their interest. It's in our interest, as well."
'Help them in this fight' While Cornyn said he would push for additional assistance to U.S. law enforcement personnel, he said that some aid to Mexico is needed, too:
"It's important that we provide assistance to the Mexican government as they request us to help them in this fight."
In Mexico City, the American flag flew at half-staff at the U.S. Embassy Thursday, partly to honor the slain Mexican police officers and soldiers.
Underscoring Bush's support for the Mexican government, U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza said, " Mexico has lost too many heroes in the fight against criminals and drug cartels."
On a day commemorated in the United States as Peace Officers Memorial Day, Garza praised the slain Mexican agents along with those killed in the United States.
"These brave men and women inspire us by their sacrifice," he said, "and commitment to sustain free, peaceful and democratic societies"
Dudley Althaus contributed to this article from Mexico City.
richard.dunham@chron.com
stewart.powell@chron.com
"What's most maddening to me is the answer is so easy: Help our own law enforcement officers do their job," he said. "Quit obsessing with how to placate Mexico and focus on protecting America at our border."
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Take it, and a couple billion corrupt contractors in Iraq are wasting and build a big-azz fortified fence.
Duh!
I'm thinking enough of our money is going to Mexico directly and indirectly and no additional funds should be provided. How bout' if Mexico hires back all of the illegal immigrants here in the US to go back to Mexico and help step up the efforts of enforcing drug control - that would solve two problems - they'd be providing jobs for their own and helping to eliminate the cost of the illegal immigration issue here in the US.
And without a doubt, the aid should not fall into the hands of their inefficient and corrupt government as it would not be distributed appropriately. One of the reasons the illegals come to the US in such great numbers is because their own government has betrayed them with corruption by the rich and exploitation of the poor.
YEAH!!!! WHAT YOU SAID!!!
WTF?!
This money should have gone to build the fence mandated by LAW instead of in the pockets of the corrupt Mexican government.
Man, we are so sold out.
People on BOTH sides of the border have been benefiting from this *War On Drugs* for a very long time. No amount of time or money will stop it. It’s an out of control monster with no end in sight.
Anybody disagree?
There will be an end.
True
How about if they give us crude oil in exchange for this “aid” ???
I disagree.
You sound just exactly like Nancy Pelosi talking about Iraq a year ago.
Maybe you’d take that as a compliment, I don’t know...
Well of course Bush wants to give Mexico billions of American dollars...A country so corrupt, their law enforcement officials can be bribed with cheap prostitutes and beer.
Of course not. There are many billions involved here. This money is being funneled all over the place, including the pockets of those controlling D.C.
How in hell could they ever stop drugs from coming through the border, when the government refuses to stop millions of people entering illegally?
This is a sad government joke on us.
Gee, thanks Redbob! Who pissed in your Cheerios?
I'm just being real and trying to spark a valid conversation.
You have an idea on how to stop ANYTHING from coming across the border or making folks stop doing drugs or making Mexico responsible for their corrupt government?
If you do, speak up.
You don’t think the PTB want a clean, sober and healthy population, do you? Hell, there might be an awakening or something.
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