This morning's killing of Mexico's Acting Chief of Federal Police, Edgar Millan Gomez, has put the emphasis back on the Bush Administration's Plan Mérida. Millan Gomez was the highest-ranking official to be killed since President Felipe Calderon began the crackdown on Mexican drug cartels in 2007.
His death highlights the gravity of the war on drugs in Mexico. Shortly after his election, Calderon deployed 30,000 federal police to combat drug cartels. Despite this, over 2,000 Mexicans have been killed in drug-related violence. President Calderon was attending the funeral of another high-ranking police official when he learned of the death of Millan Gomez.
To aid our Southern neighbor, the Bush administration proposed Plan Mérida, a 3-year, $1.5 billion program to train, equip, and fund antinarcotics and anticorruption police and legal forces. Despite the plan's importance and dollar amount, the Bush administration has been rather tight lipped about the details of the plan. When it was revealed last fall, Congress was shocked that few members had been consulted in negotiations and were expected to fund $500 million in the first year.
With the concurrent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it is unlikely that Congress will fully approve the Administration's request. The ranking Republican on the House Armed Services committee, Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-California) is a case in point. This morning, Hunter wrote President Bush to argue the plan paled in importance to the global war on terrorism. Similarly, Democrats argue that providing $500 million to the Mexican government is unrealistic.
Whether or not the full amount will be delivered by Congress, it is important that President Bush work with, not against, Congress to bolster anti-drug forces in Mexico. A comprehensive strategy is needed to address the drugs problem that not only affects Mexico and undermines the rule of law, but also funds gangs in the United States and destroys areas affected by illicit drug use.
