THE STINGER AND THE STUNG

"Operation Casablanca," a money-laundering sting operation by the U.S.
Departments of Treasury and Justice against Mexican narcotraffickers, was so
colossally mishandled diplomatically that it could have been called "Let's
Shoot Ourselves in the Foot."

The operation, in the works for three years before it was made public on May
18, has led to the arrests of 167 individuals and the seizure of $110
million of drug-tainted money. Though the arrests were made in the U.S.,
much of the investigative derring-do by American agents was done inside
Mexican territory.

Problem is, no one notified the Mexican authorities. And in Mexico, where
anti-gringo sentiment runs deep--and sometimes amok--the disclosure that
U.S. agents' conducted secret operations there ignited a political firestorm
for President Ernesto Zedillo, who in turn has fired off indignant protests
to Washington.

To make matters worse, the Treasury and Justice officials also kept the
operation secret from Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and drug czar
Barry McCaffrey at the White House.

Obviously, this is a profoundly awkward situation. But given the enormity of
their common drug trade and money-laundering problems, both countries must
act quickly to get put this incident behind them and not let hurt national
feelings do serious damage to the vital work of anti-narcotics enforcement.

Some Treasury investigators involved in Operation Casablanca have
suggested--not altogether without reason--that narco-corruption is so
rampant in Mexico that confiding in their counterparts there could have
jeopardized the operation.

Indeed, even Mexico's drug czar, Gen. Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo, was arrested
and sentenced last year for his links to the drug trade.

Still, Operation Casablanca was clearly a violation of Mexico's
sovereignty--no small matter. And it has only added to the suspicion and
distrust that seem endemic to the U.S.-Mexican relationship.

Nevertheless, the U.S. and Mexican governments must cooperate in drug
enforcement. There is no alternative.

Secretary Albright was right to reject demands by her counterpart, Rosario
Green, that the U.S. agents involved in the operation be extradited to
Mexico to stand trial. Such theatrics would only prolong the diplomatic flap
and serve no useful purpose.

The U.S. has issued apologies. It must reach some agreement with the Zedillo
government on confidential information-sharing--Mexico's sovereignty must be
respected.

But neither country can allow Operation Casablanca to undermine, much less
reverse, their common efforts in the war against illegal drugs.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett