DOWN MEXICO WAY

Drugs hurt, NAFTA helps

Americans who think the United States is the chief victim of drugs
should talk to Mexican Ambassador Jesus Reyes Heroles. The drug trade
threatens free government in Mexico, the ambassador declared in
interviews and speeches in Tulsa.

His argument is convincing. The United States provides a $50
billion-plus market for illegal drugs that is irresistible to drug
traffickers operating in Mexico. The profits to drug cartels are so
large that they can spend as much as the Mexican government in the
drug war.

The ambassador didn't say it, but his comments should make Americans
think again about the monstrously expensive ($18 billion annually) war
on drugs. It is a war that cannot be won by trying to stop the flow of
drugs into the country.

Somehow, the United States must cut the demand for illegal drugs. How?
Well, stopping Americans from using drugs is a simple answer. And it
is clear that spending money on education and prevention is the best
course. In fact, however, most of the money in the drug war is spent
on trying to stop the flow into the country.

Another solution is legalization of drugs. There are problems with
that, but decriminalizing drugs would have the immediate effect of
driving down prices and taking away the profits for criminals.

Heroles sees the problem in a much broader context. The long-term
solution for drugs and the illegal immigration of Mexicans into the
United States is to build the Mexican economy so that there will be
jobs in Mexico.

It is an obvious point, of course. One that Mexican and U.S.
policy-makers have recognized for years. It is a view that has led to
the creation of the North American Free Trade Agreement signed by the
United States, Mexico, and Canada.

And contrary to its detractors, Heroles says NAFTA is working. He
cites a raft of statistics to show robust economic growth in Mexico.
One of the unexpected results is that once Mexican firms begin to
trade with their North American neighbors, they find it easier to
trade with other countries. Therefore, trade with Asia and Europe is
blossoming in Mexico.

It is not rocket science to recognize the fundamental truth of
Ambassador Heroles' message: The United States and Mexico are
inextricably linked. It is in the interests of both countries to
develop the economy of Mexico and to deal cooperatively with the
problems that immigration of Mexicans to the United States bring to
both countries.

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady