FOX'S SURPRISING CONCESSION

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 an American
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, 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 undocumented immigrants 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.