ANNUAL CERTIFICATION OF MEXICO A NEEDLESS FIGHT

The hypocrisy of judging a friend by a standard that even you cannot
meet should be apparent to almost anyone.

But translated into international public policy, the issue somehow
gets confused, and thus we have the annual ritual of the president's
need to "certify" Mexico as an adequate partner in the war against
drugs.

President Clinton, who has just returned from a brief visit with
Mexico's President Ernesto Zedillo, is likely to certify Mexico by the
March 1 deadline, even though congressional opposition is mounting.

Critics have seized on the fact that drug seizures in Mexico dropped
during the last year. The same critics persist in largely ignoring the
demand on this side of the border that has contributed so mightily to
the problem.

Let's not whitewash it. Mexico's efforts have been a disaster, made
more so by corruption.

Clinton and Zedillo have proposed a set of performance guidelines to
measure the effectiveness of cooperative anti-drug efforts. No one
really expects them to have any profound effect, but they are at least
more cooperative, and thus more effective, than persisting in
humiliating the Mexicans.

Corruption on both sides of the border is a problem. To pretend it
only cuts one way is ludicrous.

Mexico City should be pressured to do more. So should
Washington.

Sanctimoniousness, however, is counterproductive.

- - G. Alan Robison Executive Director Drug Policy Forum of Texas Houston,
Texas 713-784-3196; FAX 713-784-0283