Republican administration prepares to dump $1.4 billion down a Mexican toilet.

From The Associated Press, 10/24/07:

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/10/24/ap4258399.html

Corruption May Hurt Mexico-US Drug Plan

By E. EDUARDO CASTILLO

MEXICO CITY -

The U.S. government is vowing to spend $1.4 billion to help Mexico

battle violent drug gangs, but the money will be largely wasted if

authorities here don't cut the ties between police forces and

organized crime, security analysts say.

U.S. and Mexican officials on Monday announced the so-called "Merida

Initiative," which U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza described as

"the single most aggressive undertaking ever to combat Mexican drug

cartels."

The plan's success, however, may hinge on whether it includes an

effective strategy to tackle the corruption that has corroded large

parts of Mexico's local and federal police forces.

If it does not, Mexico will simply go from having "a corrupt and badly

equipped police force to a corrupt and well-equipped police force,"

said Jorge Chabat, a Mexican national security analyst and drug

expert.

The latest example of how deep-pocketed drug traffickers have warped

local law enforcement came earlier this month when agents detained 25

federal police officers in the northern border state of Tamaulipas on

suspicion of providing protection for the Gulf drug cartel.

Erubiel Tirado, a national security and diplomacy expert at Mexico

City's Iberoamericana University, said the Merida plan's emphasis on

equipment and training of Mexican forces sends a clear message.

"There's no confidence in our institutional infrastructure, which is

precisely the origin of the crisis we're going through," he said.

President Bush asked Congress on Monday to approve funding for the

plan's first $500 million installment.

If approved, it would make Mexico the second biggest recipient of U.S.

security and anti-drug aid after Colombia, which has received $5

billion under Plan Colombia.

Critics of the new plan have dubbed it "Plan Mexico."

Unlike the Colombia initiative, though, the Mexico proposal does not

involve putting U.S. troops on Mexican soil.

Instead, it would pay for such things as helicopters and surveillance

aircraft, "nonintrusive inspection equipment" and drug-sniffing dogs.

Mexican opposition politicians have nevertheless raised concerns that

it would violate Mexican sovereignty and pledged to oppose Mexico's

plan to spend $7 billion over three years to the fight against

organized crime.

Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa was to appear before the Senate

later Wednesday to provide lawmakers with details on the initiative.

___________________________________________________

Only $1.4 billion? My goodness. Petty cash. Republicans sure know how

to piss away taxpayer cash, don't they

Harry