WAR ON DRUGS: U.S., MEXICO FORM NEEDED ALLIANCES

When it comes to political and law-enforcement teamwork, having an
open border with Mexico is a good thing.

Last week, two important U.S.-Mexico alliances were announced, each
dealing with a drug problem wreaking international problems.

El Paso and Juarez leaders have launched the "Crystal Darkness"
campaign to educate citizens on the growing dangers of
methamphetamine. As El Paso Mayor John Cook put it, "I call this the
Kryptonite of the human race, because once people try it, they're more
than likely going to be hooked forever."

Scary.

Also, El Paso Drug Enforcement Administration agents are working with
the Mexican army and federal police to battle drug cartels in Juarez.
As John "Jack" Riley, DEA special agent in charge of El Paso, said:
"Some of these people (drug traffickers) are in a position to make
mistakes, and we are ready to pounce on them." Good. Some 200 people
have been killed in Juarez since Jan. 1 as a result of a drug war
between rival cartels. Such mass-murdering so close to El Paso ...

Scary.

When it comes to drug trafficking, El Paso has long been a port of
entry. It has not necessarily been a hotbed of drug use.

But Cook and other leaders point out that "meth" has many now
concerned in this immediate area. And as "Crystal Darkness" organizer
Pat McGrath said, the focus is "to prevent a plague that has hit other
parts of the country, which is an addiction to meth." Some contend no
drug does more damage than meth.

In El Paso, methamphetamine seizures went from 11 grams in 2005 to
1,165 grams in 2007.

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., led a major campaign to seek out and
stop meth labs in his state, including in many of the midsized cities.

Meth is cheap to make when compared to processing some other drugs. It
is cheaper to buy on the street.

It is highly addictive and its use will create a plethora of mental
and physical problems.

Methamphetamine facts can be examined at the Web site:
http://www.nida.nih.gov/InfoFacts/methamphetamine.html

Our DEA alliance with Mexico has already stopped some problems in El
Paso, Riley said. That includes preventing several kidnappings of
cartel members in the El Paso area, he said.

The good news: Riley said he believes the cartel war will not spill
into El Paso, and that the cartel war in Juarez may be abating.

The Crystal Darkness Campaign and the DEA alliance with Mexico are two
good ways to attack the major bi-national problem of drug addiction.