Contact Info for The Charleston Gazette:
FAX: CHARLESTON GAZETTE CHARLESTON WV 13043481233;

WASHINGTON (AP) Drug trafficking threatens the
democratic core of Mexico, a crisis the United States helped fuel
with its appetite for illegal narcotics, the Clinton administration's
antidrugs chief said Sunday.

To desert the Mexicans now would smack of "creative
hypocrisy," retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey said.

"The level of violence and of assault on the institution
of democracy (in Mexico) is enormous," McCaffrey, head of the
National Drug Control Policy office, said on ABC's "This Week."

"The question is do we work with them over the coming
decade, or do we walk away from it."

Over strong opposition from many members of Congress,
President Clinton certified for another year that Mexico is
helping to fight illegal drugs. Friday's certification frees up U.S. aid
money.

"We had a tough show this week trying to think through
this proposition," McCaffrey said. But he cited an "element
of creative hypocrisy" on the part of Americans who condemn Mexico while
$6 billion every year in American drug money contributes to Mexican
corruption and violence. "Our money is fueling, in many ways, an
international crime wave," he said.

Asked about Mexico's withholding of news that a major
launderer of drug money had escaped just prior to the certification
decision, McCaffrey responded: "I think the story is going to get
worse before it gets better."

He added: "I think we have Mexican federal police
authorities under assault, and the institutions of democracy in Mexico are
creaking, and I think President [Ernesto] Zedillo and his senior
officers of government are fighting for Mexican democracy."

Clinton, in his weekly Saturday radio address, praised
Zedillo for his efforts to combat illegal drugs and said, "We must do
whatever we can to give [Mexico] the means to succeed. Stamping out the
drug trade is a longterm battle."

Time magazine, in its edition on newsstands Monday, said
Zedillo soon will announce plans to scrap the present drugfighting
apparatus tainted as it is by the recent arrest on drug corruption
charges of Gen. Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo, the nation's top drug
official. The magazine said Zedillo will create a new agency modeled
on the U.S.

Drug Enforcement Administration. McCaffrey also defended
the administration's new national drugfighting strategy outlined last
week by Clinton. It has been criticized by Republicans for putting too
much emphasis on drug prevention programs and not enough on interdiction and
the arresting of criminals.

The administration's proposed $ 16 billion budget is $800
million above the current fiscal year and includes a $ 350 million
primetime, public service TV ad campaign aimed at teenagers.

"I think we have to do it all," McCaffrey said of the
prevention versus punishment debate. "But I suggest to people: If
you want to fight a war on drugs, sit down at your own kitchen
table and talk to your own children."

<><>SECOND COPY OF BODY FOR HyperMAP<><>

WASHINGTON (AP) Drug trafficking threatens the
democratic core of

Mexico, a crisis the United States helped fuel with its
appetite for

illegal narcotics, the Clinton administration's
antidrugs chief said

Sunday.

To desert the Mexicans now would smack of "creative
hypocrisy," retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey said.

"The level of violence and of assault on the institution
of democracy

(in Mexico) is enormous," McCaffrey, head of the
National Drug Control

Policy office, said on ABC's "This Week."

"The question is do we work with them over the coming
decade, or do

we walk away from it."

Over strong opposition from many members of Congress,
President

Clinton certified for another year that Mexico is
helping to fight

illegal drugs. Friday's certification frees up U.S. aid
money.

"We had a tough show this week trying to think through
this

proposition," McCaffrey said. But he cited an "element
of creative hypocrisy" on the part of

Americans who condemn Mexico while $ 6 billion every
year in American

drug money contributes to Mexican corruption and
violence. "Our money

is fueling, in many ways, an international crime wave,"
he said.

Asked about Mexico's withholding of news that a major
launderer of

drug money had escaped just prior to the certification
decision,

McCaffrey responded: "I think the story is going to get
worse before

it gets better."

He added: "I think we have Mexican federal police
authorities under

assault, and the institutions of democracy in Mexico are
creaking, and

I think President [Ernesto] Zedillo and his senior
officers of government are fighting for Mexican democracy."

Clinton, in his weekly Saturday radio address, praised
Zedillo for his

efforts to combat illegal drugs and said, "We must do
whatever we can

to give [Mexico] the means to succeed. Stamping out the
drug trade is

a longterm battle."

Time magazine, in its edition on newsstands Monday, said
Zedillo soon

will announce plans to scrap the present drugfighting
apparatus

tainted as it is by the recent arrest on drug corruption
charges of

Gen. Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo, the nation's top drug
official. The

magazine said Zedillo will create a new agency modeled
on the U.S.

Drug Enforcement Administration. McCaffrey also defended
the administration's new national

drugfighting strategy outlined last week by Clinton. It
has been

criticized by Republicans for putting too much emphasis
on drug

prevention programs and not enough on interdiction and
the arresting

of criminals.

The administration's proposed $ 16 billion budget is $
800 million above

the current fiscal year and includes a $ 350 million
primetime, public

service TV ad campaign aimed at teenagers.

"I think we have to do it all," McCaffrey said of the
prevention

versus punishment debate. "But I suggest to people: If
you want to

fight a war on drugs, sit down at your own kitchen
table and talk to your own children."