BORDER IDEA IS TOUTED HERE

A multistate drug chief, overseeing more law enforcers using better
technology, would curtail drug trafficking, corruption and illegal
immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border, Barry R. McCaffrey said Monday.

McCaffrey, the Clinton administration's director of drug policy, was in San
Antonio to stump for what he called a new, long-term initiative to "change
the nature of law and order on the border."

Montgomery Elementary sixth-grader Jennifer Landeros hands Drug Czar Barry
McCaffrey a DARE bear Monday during a forum held at the school. Sheriff
Ralph Lopez is behind McCaffrey. Photo by Kevin Geil/Staff

The retired Army four-star general stressed that his aim is not to close
the 2,000-mile frontier with trade-giant Mexico.

"The big problem is the Southwest frontier," McCaffrey said in a meeting
with the San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board. "We have a gigantic
movement of people and cargo."

McCaffrey offered few details, saying the plan has yet to be completed.
According to a written outline of the proposal he provided, a single
federal officer would have overall responsibility for counter-drug efforts
along the border.

Such a drug czar would be a presidential appointee, confirmed by the Senate
to serve a four-year term, and would supervise a small staff called the
Southwest Border Counter-Drug Coordinating Authority.

He or she would have authority to review border drug policy, allocate
funds, coordinate with state and local drug authorities and serve as a
liaison with Mexican officials, according to the proposal.

McCaffrey said the key to the success of such an effort would be the
support of the Mexican government, which he said had been "cooperative but
anxious" in preliminary discussions.

He said the center likely would be headquartered in El Paso because of that
city's existing and extensive federal law enforcement resources.

U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, said he welcomed the effort, which he
said actually dates to the 1970s when President Nixon wanted a border
management agency.

"That never went anywhere. There were a lot of competing forces.
Politically, the climate is better now," Reyes said by phone. "There is a
lot of frustration and concern in Congress about the impact of drug
trafficking in our communities and across the country."

McCaffrey said his office estimates the proposed program could curtail
cross-border drug smuggling by 25 percent in five years and 80 percent in
10 years.

Reyes, who was with the Border Patrol for 29 years, said the alternative to
McCaffrey's project is the militarization of the border, which no one wants
- -- although some critics maintain it is already occurring.

"There is no other proposal other than the military," Reyes said. "I think
there will be support for this project . . . It is better control of the
border without having to resort to militarization."

Reyes added that recommending a single executive who would coordinate
counter-drug activities along the border wouldn't mean that existing
agencies -- the U.S. Customs Service, Immigration and Naturalization
Service, the Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and others
- -- could not communicate with each other.

"This is not a situation where anyone is criticizing that there is no
cooperation or agencies are not getting along," Reyes said. "It is an idea
that we can do a better job with all the agencies involved."

Customs spokeswoman Judy Turner said cooperation between her department and
other border agencies is improving. She cited Operation Brass Ring, a
six-month initiative to tighten drug inspections at U.S.-Mexico border
crossings, as an example.

McCaffrey later took his anti-drug message to Montgomery Elementary School
in the North East School District.

As he approached a lectern in the school's cafeteria, McCaffrey was greeted
by a crowd of screaming students in what amounted to a rally in support of
community policing in the area.

McCaffrey lauded the community service sectors of both the Bexar County
Sheriff's Department and the San Antonio Police Department as models for
the rest of the nation.

"At the end of the day it comes down to parents and the community,"
McCaffrey said about the war on drugs.

The general spoke of several programs introduced to curb a rise in drug use
among youths. McCaffrey said teen drug use has risen steadily since 1991,
and in the case of eighth-graders, the figures have tripled.

But he also noted that serious crime has declined in the county and said he
hopes the downward slide will extend to drug use. He pointed to a national
anti-drug media campaign recently launched to discourage young people from
using drugs.

"I was really impressed that (McCaffrey) came to Montgomery," said Kimberli
Philips, a 12- year-old former Montgomery student. "It's known as a
low-grade school but that's not the case."

Philips, who now attends Ed White Middle School, presented McCaffrey with a
medal at the end of the half-hour forum, drawing smiles as she struggled to
fit the ribbon over his head.

A parent, Mary Ann Hall, said the day's events were "very positive."

"I was glad to see so many people come out to support the events going on,"
she said, adding that McCaffrey's presence there provided an incentive in
community anti-drug efforts.

Community policing in Bexar County is not perfect, said Sheriff Ralph Lopez
after he addressed the crowd, adding that it's "been an uphill climb" and
calling the county's drug problem "horrendous."

"When third-graders bring guns and drugs to school, you know you have a
problem," Lopez said.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski