Bush Seeks Funds to Help Mexico Fight Drugs

[Kevin and 10]

Monday, October 22, 2007 9:53 PM

WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush asked Congress on Monday for $500 million to help Mexico fight powerful drug gangs as part of larger program to curb violence and the flow of narcotics into the United States.

Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon have spent several months hammering out the details of the package, which comes as the United States has welcomed a crackdown by Mexico on drug trafficking.

Concerned about killings tied to the narcotics trade, Mexican officials have made a series of drug raids, including one earlier this month in the city of Tampico that resulted in Mexico's biggest cocaine bust.

"The United States will do all it can to support Mexico's efforts to break the power and impunity of drug organizations and to strengthen Mexico's capabilities to deal with these common threats," White House press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement.

Bush's initial $500 million request for Mexico is part of a program that will total $1.4 billion. His administration has also requested $50 million for counter-narcotics efforts in Central American countries.

Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa said the three-year program meant the United States would send its southern neighbor equipment such as surveillance aircraft, drug-detection gear and data-processing technology.

Washington would not send Mexico cash, nor would it ask for guarantees in terms of arrests, get involved in strategy or send soldiers, she told a news conference. "At no point has the presence of U.S. troops or the participation of U.S. personnel or companies been contemplated," she said in Mexico City.

The anti-drug request earlier received a cautious reception from Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, who chided the White House for not consulting Congress more on details of the plan.

'DEVIL IN DETAILS'

"The devil will be in the details, and to this point, the details are scarce," Menendez said. He said he would be concerned if there was too much of a focus on enforcement without broader measures such as economic initiatives aimed at addressing the roots of the drug trade.

Calderon deployed 25,000 troops last December to back up police in fighting the cartels amid a surge in drug-related murders.

The Bush administration has said Mexico's crackdown has contributed to shortages in the United States of drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine, causing street prices to jump.

Bush spoke by phone to Calderon about the counter-narcotics plan before announcing the funding request.

The plan comes as the United States is struggling to compete with other powers in providing assistance and wielding influence in Latin America and elsewhere.

U.S. officials had already emphasized that no U.S. troops will be sent to Mexico as part of the counter-narcotics program, a sensitive issue in Mexico, where many would view a U.S. military presence as a breach of sovereignty.

Some media have dubbed the aid plan "Plan Mexico" to liken it to a multiyear initiative known as "Plan Colombia." Since 2000, the United States has pumped more than $4 billion in mostly narcotics and security aid into Colombia, including U.S. military advisers and trainers.

But U.S. officials have rejected that comparison and are calling the program the "Merida Initiative" after the Mexican city where Bush and Calderon discussed the drug war in March.

The U.S. funds will be used for equipment such as helicopters and narcotics-scanning equipment. Some will be used for training and technical help for law enforcement agencies.

The counter-narcotics proposal was included in an emergency budget request of nearly $200 billion, most of which is for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Luis Javier Algorri, a police chief in Mexico's tough northern border city of Tijuana, said the U.S. money would boost security programs and bring results but was not enough.

"We need more intelligence, more investigative police work," he said. "Without that, no plan will work."

Edited October 23, 2007 by Kevin and Tuyen

[peejay 327]

$500 million now? Another $900 million later? To Mexico? To control a major source of income for their country?

That has as much chance of success as asking Mexico to control their remittance making illegal aliens.

Build the damned border fence Bush promised, put more National Guard troops on the border, and let Mexico clean up their own mess...with their own pesos.

When has Bush been right about anything?

Edited October 23, 2007 by peejay

[jundp 191]

When has Bush been right about anything?

Well, he did once say in a speech that "teachers are the only profession that teaches our children" that was pretty accurate.

Edited October 23, 2007 by jundp

[Kevin and 10]

Don't forget, his administration or th UN hasn't done a thing to stop the production of poppies in Afganistan.

[Sinergy 3]

how bout use that money to help keep the illegals out of the country

[JODO 2]

Just another money pit.

Edited October 23, 2007 by JODO

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Bush is the quintessential neo-con....socially conservative, but loves to spend tax dollars like a drunken sailor. I'll bet he's never had to balance a checkbook in his life.

[Kevin and 10]

Bush is the quintessential neo-con....socially conservative, but loves to spend tax dollars like a drunken sailor. I'll bet he's never had to balance a checkbook in his life.

Bush has grown the Gov't more than Clinton or his Old Man.

[almaty 19]

Bush is the quintessential neo-con....socially conservative, but loves to spend tax dollars like a drunken sailor. I'll bet he's never had to balance a checkbook in his life.

Bush has grown the Gov't more than Clinton or his Old Man.

true...

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

When has Bush been right about anything?

Well, he did once say in a speech that "teachers are the only profession that teaches our children" that was pretty accurate.

They obviously failed him, though.

[pedroh 21]

$500 million now? Another $900 million later? To Mexico? To control a major source of income for their country?

That has as much chance of success as asking Mexico to control their remittance making illegal aliens.

Build the damned border fence Bush promised, put more National Guard troops on the border, and let Mexico clean up their own mess...with their own pesos.

When has Bush been right about anything?

well the money is not exactly income to Mexico, it's income for the drug dealers.. or do you think the government also helps the drug dealers? LOL

right now even the govt is scared of the drug dealers, they're wrecking havoc all around the country..

Edited October 24, 2007 by pedroh

[natty bumppo 297]

$500 million now? Another $900 million later? To Mexico? To control a major source of income for their country?

That has as much chance of success as asking Mexico to control their remittance making illegal aliens.

Build the damned border fence Bush promised, put more National Guard troops on the border, and let Mexico clean up their own mess...with their own pesos.

When has Bush been right about anything?

well the money is not exactly income to Mexico, it's income for the drug dealers.. or do you think the government also helps the drug dealers? LOL

right now even the govt is scared of the drug dealers, they're wrecking havoc all around the country..

And the dealers don't purchase goods & services in Mexico? Don't hire people who purchase goods & services?

Does this mean the drug dealers and employees don't pay any taxes for anything?

Darn ... then lets use the money to invite the illegals in this country to promptly leave.

[pedroh 21]

$500 million now? Another $900 million later? To Mexico? To control a major source of income for their country?

That has as much chance of success as asking Mexico to control their remittance making illegal aliens.

Build the damned border fence Bush promised, put more National Guard troops on the border, and let Mexico clean up their own mess...with their own pesos.

When has Bush been right about anything?

well the money is not exactly income to Mexico, it's income for the drug dealers.. or do you think the government also helps the drug dealers? LOL

right now even the govt is scared of the drug dealers, they're wrecking havoc all around the country..

And the dealers don't purchase goods & services in Mexico? Don't hire people who purchase goods & services?

Does this mean the drug dealers and employees don't pay any taxes for anything?

Darn ... then lets use the money to invite the illegals in this country to promptly leave.

that's not the govt fault. how are you gonna know when you're using laundered cash? do you ask'em? excuse me mr druglord, is this money legal? or did u get it by selling drugs

Edited October 24, 2007 by pedroh

[pedroh 21]

and just for sh!ts and giggles, let's make this thread about illegal aliens!