HOPE AND DOUBT

Another new drug-fighting deal between U.S. and Mexico

The United States and Mexico's announcement of a joint strategy to fight
drug trafficking is an all-too-familiar reprise that merits hope, but also
healthy skepticism. The announcement comes two weeks before the White House
must report to Congress on the anti-drug performance of countries notorious
for trafficking in drugs.

At stake, of course, is Mexico's certification. The annual certification
process requires the president to evaluate a country's drug-fighting
efforts. If that country's efforts are deemed weak, it is decertified,
requiring the United States to vote against loans and credits from
international financial institutions.

In recent years, the whole process has come under fire, and a re-
evaluation is in order as to whether certification is a help or a hindrance
in gaining cooperation.

As it stands, however, Mexico has been its own worst enemy in the process.
Its cause was hurt last year by the arrest of its top ranking drug-fighting
official for allegedly receiving money from a trafficker and this year by
questions surrounding its new interior minister, Franciso Labastida, and
his alleged connections to drug traffickers when he was governor of the
northwestern state of Sinaloa.

The "new" drug-fighting agreement touts better police cooperation,
increased exchanges of information on the activities of traffickers and
better facilitation of their extradition for trial in the United States.
The plan also calls for a more aggressive approach in going after drug
cartel assets in both countries, using seizures to finance anti-drug
efforts.

There can be little argument that better cooperation between the United
States and Mexico is needed in the drug war. Mexico's corruption is
disturbing. The United States' insatiable appetite for drugs is alarming.
Both countries have a lot to answer for.