INVESTING IN MEXICO'S WAR

Stability to the South Pays Off in the North

The traditional time for Mexican presidents to brag about success is
early in the administration, long before reality has overtaken the
illusion of progress. But in the case of President Felipe Calderon's
first 10 months in office, there's genuine reason to believe his
government's claim of headway against crime and corruption.

Mr. Calderon took office amid a street war in which drug gangs were
turning cities into killing fields. Police chiefs, politicians and
journalists were among the main targets of cartel assassins. Ripple
effects of the lawlessness reached even into North Texas. Mr. Calderon
took the controversial decision to send in the military, and early
indicators suggest that this and other strategies are working.

The numbers are still horrifying. Gangland-style executions, according
to federal police, were down to 195 per month in August compared with
319 in March. Nearly 140 police chiefs, federal agents or military
officers have been so far killed this year. All along the border,
serious crime is up - in some cases increasing by more than 20 percent
a year. Even so, these statistics are an improvement over the
drug-related crime levels Mr. Calderon inherited.

By arresting and extraditing top cartel leaders while rooting out
corrupt police, Mr. Calderon is giving new hope to his people that
their lives will not forever be consigned to fear. He is telling the
noncorrupt among his police and military that they are not wasting
their time being honest while their colleagues are accepting bribes.

This signifies an important and welcome change in the Mexican mindset.
Washington was right to be skeptical before because evidence was
lacking that Mexico was ready to confront its drug and corruption problems.

Now the proposal is before Congress to fund $1.4 billion in
counter-narcotics programs for Mexico. It's a lot of money and worth
scrutiny. But it's important that Congress encourage Mexico to build
upon these early successes.

With cross-border tensions rising, particularly over illegal
immigration, Washington needs to send strong signals that we value
Mexico's stability and welfare. Moreover, the U.S. has a clear
responsibility in this battle. We are the principal market for
Mexican-transited drugs - and the principal source of the smuggled
assault rifles and grenades fueling Mexico's drug wars.

A well-audited and closely monitored counter-narcotics aid package is
the best way to crack down on this scourge and show Mexico that we're
more than just the constantly complaining neighbor to the north.