ADDRESS DRUG PROBLEM NOW

When the intense violence of illegal drug trafficking was causing a
commotion in places such as Colombia, Americans were not terribly
concerned. But now that it's killing about 100 people a week in
Mexico, spilling over the U.S. border with that country, being
branded a top national-security threat and disrupting vacation plans,
they are paying closer attention. Indeed, they are scared.

They should be. At any moment - particularly in Arizona, California,
New Mexico and Texas - Americans could come face to face with
narco-trafficking's wanton ugliness, including savage gunfights by
drug gangs battling for control. As they look to the Obama
administration for protection and hope, Americans must prepare
themselves: It is not enough simply to combat illegal drugs in the
production and smuggling dimensions. It's also necessary to combat
them on the demand side - that is, right here in the United States.

After receiving a briefing on the subject recently, President Obama
reportedly asked how the United States could do more to help. The
best approach, according to former U.S. Ambassador Myles Frechette,
who has served in Colombia and other Latin American countries, is for
Obama to look at the facts, ignore shrill voices warning that the sky
is falling and embrace constructive possibilities.

Frechette acknowledges Mexico has had to use troops because of
corruption, intimidation and the fact police are outgunned. Those
developments have tempted some to dig up former Secretary of Defense
Caspar Weinberger's scenario, which had Mexico tumbling into
lawlessness and chaos because of the influence of narco-traffickers.

In fact, the "failed state" label has begun circulating in some
quarters. But Mexico is hardly that, Frechette argues, adding such
epithets are "needlessly insulting and undercut opportunities for
cooperation." Actually, Mexico has a large, strong central
government, and is "here to stay, not teetering at the brink," he contends.

Washington should take advantage of an unusual moment in U.S.-Mexican
relations, realizing that the best time to combat narco-trafficking
is now, Frechette advises. Mexican President Felipe Calderon has
signaled his country is absolutely committed to confronting this
scourge. "He has asked for more U.S. help. We should take the opening
and run with it. Calderon is our best chance," Frechette insists.

It's also vitally important to accelerate joint efforts, from
information-sharing and training to reducing the flow of assault
rifles and other weapons from the United States into Mexico. The
latter problem causes the level of violence to escalate and
eventually could come back to harm us, Frechette says.

Finally, as part of a long-term solution to the threat, he recommends
that we put an end to complacency, as well as to the tired approaches
used with limited success for decades. Rather, Frechette offers, the
Obama administration should develop and adopt a serious
demand-reduction policy, treat drug addiction as a sickness and
greatly expand anti-drug education.

It's unfortunate Americans had to wait for the beast to lurk right
next door to come to their senses. Now that it's arrived, though, we
should take every reasonable, proactive step to avoid its menacing bite.