U.S. RELEASES DRUG-WAR AID

Funds For Mexico Comes As It and Colombia Wonder About Future
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MEXICO CITY - The U.S. government finally released the first part of
a $400 million aid package Wednesday to support Mexico's police and
soldiers in their fight against drug cartels.

The money comes at a critical time: Mexico's death toll from drug
violence has soared above 4,000 so far this year, and drug-related
murders and kidnappings are spilling over the U.S. border as well

U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza formally released $197 million at a signing
ceremony in Mexico City. The rest will be disbursed throughout the
year. Garza said the Merida Initiative aid will enable the U.S. and
Mexico to work more closely, sharing information on the cartels in
real time.

But many questions remain about the direction of this drug war, and
both Mexico and Colombia, where 90 percent of U.S.-bound cocaine is
produced, worry they'll be handcuffed by concerns about human rights
and corruption once Barack Obama is president.

"If the United States strips us of those resources, what will be done?
Where will they come from?" Andres Pastrana asked. The former
Colombian president worked with U.S. President Bill Clinton to launch
Plan Colombia, which has spent more than $6 billion in U.S. aid since
2000 to fight drug trafficking and leftist rebels.

The aid to Mexico, which includes no cash, includes helicopters
and surveillance aircraft, airport inspection equipment and
case-tracking software to help police share real-time intelligence. It
also supports Mexican efforts to weed out corrupt police, improve the
judicial system and protect witnesses.