United Front:

BETTER STRATEGY NEEDED IN HALTING ARMS FLOW

Reports from the U.S. Government Accountability Office generally
aren't too cheerful, because they point out shortcomings in the government.

A recent GAO report is no exception, although perhaps it affects El
Paso more than some others.

The report brings up evidence of more lack of coordination in the
federal government. It came at the same time as the Department of
Homeland Security and the Department of Justice came to a cautious
understanding about who can investigate drug cases. This was
necessitated by turf wars between the Drug Enforcement Administration
and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The GAO report makes a startling and somewhat frightening statement:
"The U.S. government lacks a strategy to address arms trafficking to
Mexico."

What's been going on all this time we've been pouring many millions of
dollars to stop the flow of drugs coming this way, and to stop the
flow of weapons going south to Mexico? We just built hundreds of miles
of border fence. Yet we're being told government doesn't have a
cohesive strategy?

The report goes on to say, "Individual U.S. agencies have undertaken a
variety of activities and projects to combat arms trafficking to
Mexico, but they are not part of a comprehensive U.S. government-wide
strategy for addressing the problem."

Can we read "turf wars" between the lines here?

Arms trafficking is a huge part of the overall border security
picture. With drug cartel-related violence ramping up in Mexico once
more, it's essential to have a concerted effort to keep weapons from
the U.S. from getting into cartel hands.

Disparate agencies and efforts can both overlap and get in each
others' way by forging ahead with individual initiatives.

There's also the necessity of cooperating with Mexico on arms
interdiction. It's obvious that this should be done with a united
front of participants.

The GAO report may not be pleasant, but its conclusions shouldn't be
ignored.