BORDER DRUG WAR: EX-ENVOY FORECASTS 10-YEAR FIGHT TO SECURE MEXICO, BORDER

EL PASO -- A former U.S. ambassador to Mexico said Thursday in
Washington, D.C., that it will take 10 years for Mexico to break free
from the violence that has taken hold and killed about 23,000 people.

John D. Negroponte, ambassador to Mexico from 1989 to 1993, told a
joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global
Counterterrorism and the Committee on Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on
Western Hemisphere, that fixing Mexico and in turn securing the border
will take about that long.

"This is a project that will take a decade," Negroponte said. "That is
what it took in Plan Colombia (a program to help Colombia fight drug
trafficking in 2000). I hope the politicians on both sides have the
patience to see this through."

He was one of seven panelists who testified at the
hearing.

A direct telephone and online link to the hearing was provided to the
El Paso Times.

Negroponte urged Congress to keep cooperating with Mexico and helping
it because that country is serious about solving its drug-trafficking
problem.

"Mexico has already spent $13 billion of their funds to carry out the
mission," he said. "The U.S. has a national security interest in
dealing with the drug trafficking, and we cannot pass up this effort
to help a good neighbor."

The subcommittees joined to host the hearing titled "U.S.-Mexico Security
Cooperation: Next Steps for the Merida Initiative."

The U.S. is providing Mexico $1.3 billion to help it get rid of the
drug cartels that have waged war since 2007. The initiative also
offers Mexico and other nations money to improve judicial systems and
improve training for law enforcement officers.

Since a vicious drug war began in Juarez in 2008, more than 5,000
people have been killed, including about 30 from the U.S.

Congress is now conducting hearings to see whether the Merida
Initiative is worth funding again.

Among those who testified was Bill McDonald, a rancher from Douglas,
Ariz.

McDonald was the neighbor of Robert Krentz, a prominent Arizona
rancher and cattleman who was slain March 27 while on his ranch at
Douglas. Arizona officials have said Krentz was killed by someone from
Mexico who fled back to Mexico. Arizona law enforcement suspect that
the shooter had ties to Mexican drug cartels.

McDonald's ranch sits along the U.S.-Mexico border in southern
Arizona. He told Congress members that he is not sure he wants his
children and grandchildren to continue living and ranching along the
border.

"Our area has become a de facto demilitarized zone," McDonald said. "I
respectfully request that the federal government do its job now and
protect the citizens of this country."

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., told officials from federal
agencies that in Arizona one can drive for hours along the border
without seeing a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

When Mariko Silver, deputy assistant secretary for policy, Office of
International Affairs, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, responded
that agents were working hard along the border, Giffords
interrupted.

"In my opinion that is not enough," Giffords said. "We are out-manned,
out-gunned and out-resourced. We need to do more."

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., asked federal agencies present to
make sure they talk to people living along the U.S-Mexico border
before they implement any new programs.

"Perception is reality, and the perception right now is the feeling
that the border is no safer today than before," Thompson said.
"Knowing that, what do we need to fix the problem?"

The $500 million that President Barack Obama wants to send to the
border for new agents and equipment will go a long way toward helping,
said Alonzo Pena, deputy assistant secretary for operations,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the Homeland Security Department.

He said the 1,200 National Guard troops who might be sent to the
border would also help.

Thompson asked the federal agencies to report back to the committee
with a specific plan.