U.S. legislators critique “Plan Mexico”

Some members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee expressed their doubts over a major U.S. counternarcotics strategy for Mexico dubbed “Plan Mexico.” During the session on Wednesday, assistant secretary of state Thomas Shannon praised Mexico’s government for their anti-crime efforts and emphasized how the aid would serve as “a new paradigm for security cooperation.” However, Democrat and Republican legislators on the committee did not entirely agree with "Plan Mexico":

"We first learned of the initiative from the media. For an administration which is not particularly noted for its bipartisanship, this cavalier disregard of congressional concern is deeply disturbing," said committee Chairman Tom Lantos (D-Burlingame)…

Twelve years ago, Lantos said, the U.S. gave 73 helicopters to Mexico. "They were used and did not work well, and we ended up with the Mexicans giving them back to us," he said.

Republicans focused on concerns about corruption.

"I read that two girls crossed the border for a concert and were kidnapped by the police and taken to the traffickers as a gift -- by the police," said Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.). "It's very worrisome for me that we're going to give them money and expect them to spend it correctly."

Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) displayed a photograph that he said showed traffickers dressed in Mexican military garb crossing the Rio Grande with AK-47s and "backpacks full of cocaine."

The Merida Initiative (a.k.a. the official name for “Plan Mexico”) cannot take effect unless it’s approved by Congress. If approved, “Plan Mexico” is expected to take three years and cost $1.4 billion.

Sources- Department of State, Los Angeles Times, IPS, Christian Science Monitor

Image- economist.com