DRUG CERTIFICATION SHAM

EACH YEAR around this time, the White House exposes the transparent
hypocrisy of the U.S. policy of ``certifying'' some drug-ridden countries as
allies in the war against international dope trafficking.

Under the Foreign Assistance Act, President Clinton must decide by March 1
which of 28 drug-producing countries should be certified as worthy of
American aid and a host of economic and trade benefits.

As usual during the annual certification review, an embarrassing spotlight
shines on Mexico, a close friend and a major transshipment area and producer
of drugs entering the United States.

Officials in the Office of National Drug Control say 58 percent of all
illegal drugs on U.S. streets come through Mexico, which is also a big-time
producer of heroin, marijuana, opium and amphetamines.

After Clinton's 23-hour visit to Mexico this week and his praise of
President Ernesto Zedillo's efforts to fight drugs, there was no doubt the
president would renew certification this year, despite resistance in
Congress.

There are many good, pragmatic reasons to support our southern neighbor,
even if its anti-drug policies are failing and drugs are corrupting every
level of government.

Mexico is our second largest trading partner after Canada. We share a
2,000-mile border and our histories, cultures and economics are inseparably
intertwined.

As a practical matter, if Mexico were decertified it would suffer economic
losses and social upheaval that would echo across the border, especially in
California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

With all its problems, Mexico is a proud nation and officials there are
offended by certification as a presumptuous violation of their relations
with the United States.

Because of practical economic and political considerations, Mexico will
undoubtedly win certification and perhaps it should.

But the Foreign Assistance Act should be repealed or amended to eliminate
the annual hypocrisy of pretending Mexico is making decent headway against
drugs when the evidence of such is questionable at best.