RICE VISITS A MEXICO FATIGUED BY DRUG VIOLENCE

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meets with her Mexican
counterpart today amid drug cartel attacks on U.S. facilities, a
brazen prison escape along the Mexico-Texas border, and increasing
talk in Mexico of legalizing drugs as an alternative to the ongoing
battle.

High on the agenda between Dr. Rice and Foreign Minister Patricia
Espinosa is the Merida Initiative, a $400 million U.S. aid package
signed into law by President Bush in June but hung up in Washington.

Earlier this month, President Felipe Calderon called for expedited
release of those resources -- mostly helicopters and surveillance
planes -- and analysts said Dr. Rice is likely to hear a similar
message privately during talks today and Thursday in Puerto Vallarta.

"It's not something that is going to be aired publicly, but behind
closed doors, yes, she is likely to hear, 'Let's hurry up on this,' "
said Jorge Chabat, a commentator and professor of international
studies in Mexico City.

George W. Grayson, a Mexico expert and professor of government at the
College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., said the U.S.
elections are likely to further delay the Merida Initiative despite
the Mexican government's prodding.

"The initiative is not in trouble, but the Congress is not focused on
it because of the election," said Mr. Grayson, who is finishing a
study titled "Mexico's Struggle With Drugs and Thugs." Mexican law
enforcement "is eager to see the Blackhawk helicopters and the
sophisticated surveillance equipment," he said.

The State Department said in a news release this week that it was
moving forward with the initiative "as expeditiously as possible."

Security for Dr. Rice is expected to be heavy following an Oct. 11
attack on the U.S. Consulate in Monterrey and a second incident, in
which shots were fired nearby. That led U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza to
shut the consulate for a day.

Consulate windows were shot up in the initial attack, and a grenade
was thrown onto the grounds but did not explode.

Mr. Chabat said the Merida Initiative and the U.S. encouragement for
Mr. Calderon's crackdown against the drug cartels increasingly will
make U.S. interests cartel targets.

"I think it's obvious that they are sending messages to those whom
they believe are responsible for the government's policies against the
narcos," said Mr. Chabat. "And this Calderon offensive is being
supported by the U.S. government."

More than 4,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence since
Mr. Calderon took office Dec. 1, 2006.

While the U.S. government has expressed displeasure with a Mexican
proposal to decriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs and
another to legalize marijuana, drug war fatigue among Mexicans is
fueling a national debate on the topic just as Dr. Rice arrives.

"Neither the options of negotiating with the narcos or fighting them
have worked because prohibition creates powerful mafias," Mr. Chabat
said. "The only option we have left is to legalize or decriminalize.
This is not a matter of right or left. If the same violence were
happening in the U.S., they would be discussing it, too."

Mr. Grayson said Mr. Calderon's proposal to decriminalize possession
of very small amounts of drugs for personal use will not fly with the
Bush administration and that the Mexican president's political timing
is off.

"Wait until after the election to raise this issue," said Mr. Grayson.
"It's just bad timing."

He also said the prison in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, from which five
alleged Zeta gunmen and 12 other prisoners walked out Oct. 9 with the
help of prison guards, "supposedly has revolving doors" and does not
help the government's fight against the Gulf cartel, which employs the
gunmen and operates along the Mexico-Texas border.