IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN TALK TO WIPE OUT CORRUPTION IN MEXICO

VICENTE Fox issued this warning to Mexican lawbreakers upon his election a
month ago as the country's new president:

"They should know the one thing we don't want in Mexico is criminality,
violence, drug trafficking, organized crime. To them I say, this is the last
call."

Reassuring words. But Mexicans have heard such declarations before. So have
Americans justifiably cynical about Mexico's will and ability to stop the
flow of narcotics here.

Step back to the '80s when one president began his term with the arrest of a
notorious drug kingpin. The influence of narco-traffickers only spread.
Another president restructured the country's drug task force -- twice --
only to have smugglers corrupt its leaders each time.

But there are bigger expectations this time. Fox rode to victory on an
anti-crime platform and has a clear mandate to clean house. He's the first
opposition candidate elected to the presidency since 1929.

Fox's National Action Party, or PAN, isn't a novice at governance. Its
officials have controlled Baja California since 1989. Yes, they've rooted
out official corruption there. But the murder rate remains high. Drug
violence has worsened.

For now, this uneven record is taking a rear seat to enthusiasm generated by
the July 2 election. That won't last. Fox must move swiftly to show that he
can succeed where past presidents have failed and allay fears that PAN isn't
up to the job.

He's heading in the right direction with an aggressive plan unveiled Monday
to overhaul the country's disreputable and inefficient network of police,
prosecutors and judges. He also wants to demilitarize narcotic-fighting
efforts so Mexico's national security isn't compromised by drug criminals.

To start, Fox must disentangle the warped political bonds that have
developed between the police and presidency.

He wants to abolish the attorney general's office, which currently falls
under the executive branch. The beleaguered office both investigates and
prosecutes federal crimes such as drug trafficking. The arrangement hasn't
worked in Mexico. Charges of political favoritism, graft and torture of
suspects are routine.

Fox's plan: Set up a department independent from the presidency to prosecute
suspects. Another investigative agency -- similar to the FBI in the United
States -- would gather evidence. "There will be training, professional
standards and above all technological equipment to strengthen
investigation," a Fox aide told reporters Monday.

Mexico also needs to professionalize local police forces, with well-trained
officers free from the wayward influence of politicians and drug lords. Fox
has promised to pay officers more money to keep them from straying. That
will be tough for the cash-strapped country -- but past presidents haven't
made better salaries even a priority.

Fox deserves credit for laying out reform a full four months before he takes
office. And he has pledged more specifics to come. Getting Mexican
legislators on board to implement them will take the kind of adeptness that
Fox demonstrated during his campaign.