ON EVE OF BICENTENNIAL, MEXICO URGENTLY NEEDS HELP FROM U.S.

Thursday, Mexico will celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of Father
Miguel Hidalgo's "Grito de Dolores," which proclaimed Mexican
independence. Two hundred years later, Mexico's struggles are no
longer with Spanish colonialism or French occupation.

Today's generation is plagued by drug cartels and kingpins, organized
crime and brutal violence that threaten to undermine their country's
economy and political stability. It is time for a new generation of
Hidalgo's to call their countrymen and women to action.

It is also time to call this generation of Americans to help our
Mexican neighbors in taking back their country, restoring and
strengthening the rule of law and freeing themselves from fear and
corruption.

Mexico's proximity to the U.S. provides significant benefits to both
countries. Across our 2,000-mile-long border, the two countries
conduct an enormous two-way trade. For example, Mexico is our
second-largest supplier of oil.

Through the North American Free Trade Agreement, fully 80 percent of
Mexico's exports are destined for the U.S. Moving in the other
direction across the border, U.S. companies have offices, plants,
personnel and clients in Mexico.

There is also a darker side, involving the illegal transfer of drugs,
guns and people.

Mexican-Americans are a growing part of the U.S. population. According
to the Pew Hispanic Center, there are nearly 22 million U.S. citizens
of Mexican origin. The majority of illegal immigrants in America are
also from Mexico. After Mexico, the U.S. has the world's
second-largest Hispanic population. More than 60 percent of that
population has Mexican roots.

In Georgia, the Hispanic population is approximately 780,000, of which
64 percent is of Mexican origin. We have seen both legal and illegal
Hispanic populations boom in Georgia. The number of illegal
immigrants, largely from Mexico, has more than doubled in Georgia since 2000.

Our interdependence should be enough to warrant increased American
awareness of Mexico's challenges. Support for Mexican President Felipe
Calderon as he takes on the drug cartels is sensible policy.

But the sheer number of recent killings and kidnappings in Mexico --
especially in places like Ciudad Juarez but also in the industrial hub
of Monterrey -- must move us to action. Calderon has said that Mexico
"is in the middle of a criminal spiral." More than 28,000 people have
been killed in drug-related violence since his crackdown began in
2006, and the bloodshed continues.

The recent arrest of U.S.-born Edgar Valdez-Villarreal, known as "La
Barbie," is evidence of Mexico's resolve to go after drug kingpins. It
is also proof that the conflict is not contained to Mexico. La Barbie
has been wanted in Texas, Louisiana and Georgia on federal narcotics
charges that date back to 1998. The most recent charges in the U.S.
were announced in June right here in Atlanta.

Continued violence and uncertainty in Mexico undermines the Mexican
economy and increases the potential number of Mexican nationals
looking for a way out of Mexico and into the U.S. -- some legally, but
many more illegally and at great risk. Increased immigration from
Mexico would add even greater heat to the intense debate already
raging over immigration policy.

Comprehensive immigration reform in the United States is critical, but
until we have the political will to solve the problem, we should make
every effort to relieve the pressure that pushes immigrants across our
border. Our commitment to Mexico and the political, economic, and
national security imperatives of the U.S.-Mexican relationship cannot
wait on that debate.

The important "Merida Initiative," launched in 2008 during the Bush
administration and enhanced by the Obama administration this year, has
been one answer. It is a multiyear framework through which the U.S.
cooperates closely with Mexican authorities to provide Mexico with
equipment and training to support civilian law enforcement
institutions as well as technical assistance for long-term reform and
oversight of their security forces.

The plan also calls for resources to help rebuild Mexican communities
hardest hit by crime and poverty. Approximately $400 million will go
to Mexico this year for this effort. This is a vanishingly small sum
compared to the costs we regularly incur around the world to enhance
stability and peace.

The Merida Initiative is designed to complement our domestic efforts
to reduce the demand for drugs and halt the flow of weapons -- both of
which fuel the drug cartels and criminal violence south of the border.
A demand-reduction strategy that balances prevention, treatment and
law enforcement makes sense. Strengthening federal regulations over
firearms transfers would help, too.

But the resources and attention are not enough. We should be
dedicating more money to help the Mexicans beef up their security,
intelligence and judicial systems while at the same time taking the
necessary steps to tackle the issues of drug consumption and gun
control here at home.

The task in Mexico is great and the debate here in the U.S. is fraught
with thorny, politically sensitive issues. But let us agree this
Thursday that we should stand with Mexico in its new grito against the
illegal drug trade, organized crime and violence and for freedom, the
rule of law and the opportunity to live in peace.