U.S. MAY INCREASE SPENDING TO AID MEXICO'S ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is considering a substantial
increase in spending on the anti-drug war in Mexico, as well as other
improvements to its counternarcotics security program, in the latest
sign of its growing concern about rampant violence there.

Administration officials said internal debate on the issue continues,
and they are not yet at a point where they can estimate how much of
an increase may be requested. But they said the issue is considered
urgent even at a time when the administration is struggling with
costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The joint anti-drug effort with the Mexican government "remains a top
administration priority," said a White House official who declined to
be identified. "We are constantly evaluating our efforts to make sure
we are doing all we can on this issue."

The U.S. government has been assisting the Mexican government in a
pitched battle against well-financed and heavily armed drug cartels
that has raised questions about how much control the Mexican
government even has over large swaths of the country.

U.S. officials have been debating for some time how they will follow
up the Merida Initiative, a three-year, $1.6 billion program started
in 2008 by President George W. Bush to provide equipment, training
and intelligence information.

Administration officials already have begun adjusting the U.S.
program to place more emphasis on strengthening Mexico's civilian law
enforcement system and fighting Mexican poverty.