By:STANLEY MEISLERTimes Staff Writer
PHOTOAntidrug czar Barry R. McCaffrey briefs newspeople on Mexico's fight
against drugs.

Narcotics: Senator's reaction to White House survey could portend another
fight over issue next year.

WASHINGTONA generally optimistic White House survey of Mexico's antidrug
activity has failed to persuade Sen. Dianne Feinstein (DCalif.), perhaps
the most vocal congressional critic on the issue, that the country has
become a fully cooperative partner with the United States in stemming the
narcotics trade.

Feinstein's wary reaction Tuesday presaged the possibility of another
bruising battle early next year when the Clinton administration goes
through the annual process of either certifying Mexico as an antidrug
partner or finding it liable for possible economic and diplomatic sanctions.

"The report, prepared by the office of federal antidrug czar Gen. Barry R.
McCaffrey and released Tuesday, drew a more sympathetic response from Sen.
Paul Coverdell described himself as "overall ... encouraged by this report."

"I believe Gen. McCaffrey recognizes that we must begin to better manage
our border," the Georgia senator said, "and the content of today's briefing
(on the report) suggests that he understands the true scope and complexity
of the drug problem."

McCaffrey, asked at the briefing whether he believed the report made a good
case for certification of Mexico next year, had replied: "We have a serious
cooperation effort. They are sick of the violence, the corruption and the
threat to their own institutions, and so are we. And we are going to work
together."

Feinstein, in contrast, said: "I do not believe that Mexico had earned
certification last March. By the standard of this report, I am not at all
sure they have earned it for this year. But there are still six months to
go until the certification report is due. That is six month to produce
results."

The report said corruption still hampers Mexico's antidrug efforts. But as
The Times reported Tuesday, it stressed the positive, praising Mexican
officials for earnestly trying to deal with the problem. It predicted that
Mexico will throw off the shackles of corruption as its political system
becomes more democratic.

McCaffrey devoted much of his news conference Tuesday to a plea for more
technology at border entry points to prevent trucks from transporting drugs
into the United States. He said a giant Xray machines will be delivered by
the end of the year and that his ultimate goal is to install the equipment
at each of the 39 U.S.Mexico border entry points.