WELCOME DRUG CANDOR

Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush did an unusual thing
recently. He defended the Mexican government against all-too-common American
contentions that it is corrupt and is lackadaisical about the U.S.
government's undeclared "war on drugs."

Bush, the likely Republican candidate for the United States presidency next
fall, questioned the popular contention that the Mexican government was
corrupt during a recent interview on Fox television's "The O'Reilly Factor,"
a news and commentary program.

Responding to questions from host Bill O'Reilly, he said the government of
Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo was doing all it could about drugs and,
horror of horrors for typical American politicians, said much of Mexico's
drug problem was demand for the illicit products in the United States.

If truth be told, Bush's defense of the Mexican government was astonishing.
For some years now, Mexico, Colombia and several other countries have been
perennial whipping boys for this country's failed drug war. Most every
politician who chooses to comment on drugs generally gets around, mostly
sooner rather than later, to blaming the Mexican, Colombian or another
government for the drug problem as opposed to the great U.S. demand that in
reality spawns and supports the illegal drug trade.

While certainly astonishing, given the prevailing whines from American
politicians, Bush's view is, in fact, a more positive, mature and helpful
one. Mexico is an important country and it behooves the U.S. government to
do its part to maintain good relations with it. Chronic complaining about
Mexico not curbing the drug trade serves no useful purpose and, over time,
likely will hurt U.S.-Mexican relations. Bush's surprising view is a welcome
one.