COOPERATION -- THAT'S THE WAY TO SOLVE BORDER PROBLEMS

Binational cooperation is the key to solving border issues, including
arms, human and drug trafficking, border security and violence, and
efforts to reduce organized crime along the border.

U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, recently commended Mexico for
its efforts at cooperation in border issues. The specific matter was
the capture of Jesus Navarro Montes, a narcotics smuggler wanted by
the U.S. in the recent death of Border Patrol Agent Luis Aguilar.

On Tuesday, Reyes met with the Mexican Secretary of Public Security,
Genaro Garcia Luna, and members of the U.S. House of Representatives
to discuss cooperation in border issues.

Reyes said in a press release, "Today's meeting and the recent arrest
of Navarro clearly demonstrates the Mexican government's willingness
to take a more aggressive role in fighting organized crime and drug
cartels. Recent events emphasized that we must act now to take
advantage of this unprecedented cooperation and move forward with
supporting and approving the Merida Initiative."

On a Council on Foreign Relations Web site, the Merida Initiative is
defined as the U.S. participating in a "security cooperation
initiative with Mexico and the countries of Central America in order
to combat the threats of drug trafficking, transnational crime, and
terrorism in the Western Hemisphere."

Mexico's capture and return to the U.S. of the suspect in Aguilar's
death is a solid example of the cooperation needed to address and
solve border security issues. Unilateral attempts would ultimately
fail and could even exacerbate the border problems.

We hope that the spirit of cooperation lauded by Reyes continues.