DRUGS, MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES

In an effort to help eliminate corruption, the Mexican government has
proposed that U.S. drug enforcement officials be allowed to play a
significant role in performing security checks on their Mexican
counterparts.

According to USA TODAY, April 12, U.S. officials are encouraged by this
proposal. They view it as an acknowledgement that drug corruption is endemic
among Mexican drug enforcement officials.

Independent observers contend that the United States and Mexico have shared
similar intelligence since 1996, with limited success.

To quote Ethan Nadelmann, the director of the Lindesmith Center-Drug Policy
Foundation, a drug policy reform organization: "In a place like Mexico, the
pressures and enticements are just extraordinary."

We applaud U.S.-Mexican cooperation in dealing with this matter. We realize
it's an uphill battle - and not just for the reason stated by Mr. Nadelmann.
It's not just a problem south of the border.

Question: What is the big enticement for crooks and corrupt drug officials
in Mexico?

Answer: The big demand for such drugs in the United States.

The need to educate young Americans about the dangers of drug abuse - and
the continued need on a local level for the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance
Education) program - must not be forgotten north of the border.