Pubdate: Sat, 14 Apr 2001 Source: Ventura County Star (CA) Copyright: 2001, Ventura County Star Contact: http://www.staronline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/479 DRUG CONCESSION A BIG STEP BY MEXICO Partners: Allowing U.S. To Help Root Out Corruption Seen As A Bold Move By President Fox Mexican President Vicente Fox is willing to have U.S. agents investigate whether Mexican police and intelligence officers are involved in drugs, a major concession by a proud nation scarcely eager to parade its official corruption and a major step toward a closer relationship with a U.S. government that ought to find ways to reciprocate. The undeniable truth is that some of Mexico's top cops have also been drug smugglers, which has made it extraordinarily difficult to curtail the shipment of illegal drugs to American dealers. The corruption is a devastating problem for Mexico, and its leaders have frequently pointed accusatory fingers at the great demand for drugs by residents of the northern neighbor. Allowing U.S. intelligence officials to do their own probes of Mexican officials has not been advocated by Mexican leaders, however, because it could be embarrassing and seem like an encroachment on sovereignty. But according to The Washington Post, Mr. Fox wants to work out an understanding with the U.S. Justice Department about joint security checks. It is a bold move from a man who made history last summer by defeating the candidate of the party that has ruled Mexico for more than 70 years. Perhaps the move is at least a partial consequence of efforts by President Bush to further recognize the importance of Mexico to the United States; his first foreign visit as president was a trip there. The importance of such an agreement goes beyond the question of drug smuggling, for Mexico is important to this country for many reasons: the thousands of workers who cross over every year; air pollution that knows no borders; the possibilities of mutually advantageous arrangements concerning water and energy resources, and, of course, the large amount of trade between the countries. Closer cooperation between Mexico and the United States could be economically advantageous to both lands, and could help address various social problems as well. What is necessary now is for the United States to look to itself to see what we can do. In the Post account, Mexico's national security adviser makes some suggestions such as the United States' taking additional steps to stop the smuggling of guns into Mexico. The big thing the United States must do, though, is to treat Mexico as a partner we respect in all our policies. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth