GAO SAYS U.S. ANTI-DRUG AID TO MEXICO IS A BIT OFF BASE

Narcotics: While useful, the equipment supplied isn't always suited to tasks
at hand.

Washington--U.S. efforts to help Mexico fight cocaine, marijuana and other
illegal drugs are beneficial, but they haven't always been on target,
congressional investigators conclude in a new report.

Although the Defence Department has given the Mexican military surplus
helicopters and planes, a lack of spare parts and mission-suitable craft
have kept the U.S. aid from being put to full use, the General Accounting
Office found in a report issued this week.

The U.S. gift of 73 UH-1H helicopters to the Mexican military could be
squandered, said the GAO, Congress' investigative branch.

U.S. Embassy officials in Mexico City told GAO investigators that the
helicopter program has a "high potential for complete mission failure"
because of the high cost of keeping the fleet operational. The $25 million
annual cost to keep the fleet in the air isn't likely to be shouldered by
the Mexican military once the U.S. aid runs out, GAO said.

While the U.S. assistance has enhanced the Mexican military's ability to
conduct counternarcotics missions, key elements of the aid "were of limited
usefulness or could have been better planned and coordinated," GAO said.

The report recommended improved coordination by the Defense and State
Departments, as well as the National security Council, in targeting future
counternarcotics help that meets Mexico's needs.

The Pentagon generally concurred with the findings but defended the assistance.

In 1996 and 1997, the Defence Department gave the Mexican military aid worth
$76 million, including the 73 UH-1H helicopters and four C-26 aircraft.
Separately,the Mexican navy purchased two Knox-class frigates for
counterdrug operations and other missions.

But the helicopters provided to the Mexican Army's anti-drug units haven't
been used at peak capacity-in part because a shortage of spare parts has
grounded many of them and because the helicopter is unsuited to operations
at higher altitudes. Mexican drug crops typically are grown on fields at
higher altitudes.

GAO also faulted the C-26 and Knox-frigate deals.

The National Security Council unilaterally added the C-26 planes to the aid
package shortly before President Clinton approved it to give Mexico
sureveillance-capable aircraft, GAO said. But the C-26 copies provided
lacked sophisticated surveillance equipment, and the State Department
estimates it would cost $3 million to reconfigure each of the planes.

The GAO found there was confusion between U.S. and Mexican military
officials about the frigates' condition. In drydock for six years, the two
frigates were sold to Mexico in as-is condition. Making the ships
operational will cost $400,000.