Pubdate: Sat, 26 Mar 2011
Source: Austin American-Statesman (TX)
Copyright: 2011 Austin American-Statesman
Contact: http://www.statesman.com/default/content/feedback/lettersubmit.html
Website: http://www.statesman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/32
Author: Michael McCaul
Note: McCaul, a Republican, represents District 10, which stretches 
from Austin to Houston, in the U.S. House of Representatives.

AMERICA NEEDS A PLAN TO COMBAT MEXICO'S CARTELS

On Feb. 15, Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila pleaded for their lives in 
Spanish, identifying themselves as American federal agents moments 
after members of a Mexican drug cartel forced their vehicle bearing 
U.S. diplomat plates off the highway in Central Mexico. The cartel 
responded by firing more than 80 rounds from automatic weapons. That 
event instantly changed the landscape of our nation's involvement in 
Mexico's bloody war.

For the first time in 25 years, cartels are targeting American law 
enforcement. Avila recently described the ambush by the Zeta cartel, 
comprised of former Mexican military special forces as "pure evil." 
Even at the Mexican hospital, he feared that they would come back and 
finish the job.

President Felipe Calderon should be praised for his efforts to 
eradicate the cartels. When U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and I 
visited Calderon in Mexico City in 2008, he told us security was his 
top priority. He had boldly declared war against the narcoterrorists 
that were infiltrating his military and local police forces and 
killing anyone who dared threaten the free flow of drugs, weapons and cash.

After more than 35,000 killings in the past five years, increased 
spillover crime into the U.S. and the killing of Zapata, it is time 
for America to take decisive steps to end the rampant drug war. The 
solution goes beyond securing our borders.

In 2007, Cuellar and I built bipartisan support to increase funding 
to fight international narcoterrorism.

In 2008, Congress passed the Merida Initiative, directing $1.3 
billion in resources to help the Mexican government fight the 
cartels. To date, only one-quarter of that amount has been directed, 
and the violence in Mexico is only increasing.

Mexico is in danger of becoming a failed state controled by 
criminals. If that happens, Mexico could become a haven for 
terrorists attempting to enter the U.S. through the porous border. In 
the interest of our national security, trade with our third largest 
partner, and our rich cultural ties, we cannot afford for that to happen.

As the chairman of the Homeland Security Oversight, Investigations 
and Management Subcommittee, I am convening a hearing to ask: "What 
is the United States' role in Mexico's war against the cartels?" 
We'll explore what our plan is to deal with the crisis at our 
doorstep. We must examine what has worked, what has not and how to 
move forward.

In 1999, the United States entered into Plan Colombia, a joint 
military and intelligence operation with the Colombian government, to 
destroy that country's cocaine trade, eradicate its cartels and 
restore its economic and national security.

In the first five years, heroin poppy cultivation decreased 58 
percent. Homicides dropped by 60 percent. Kidnappings went down 254 
percent. Terror events fell 420 percent. Extraditions of drug 
traffickers increased exponentially, which destroyed the infamous Cali cartel.

Today, Mexico is on a dangerous path to where Colombia once was. A 
similar strategy may be needed.

In addition, the State Department should classify the cartels as 
foreign terror organizations. Mexican cartels kidnap and kill and 
mutilate innocent civilians, elected officials and law enforcement. 
Though their motives are different, cartels are as savage and 
cold-blooded as the terrorists that plot against America from the 
Middle East. Similarly, they use gruesome tactics to intimidate the 
Mexican government and citizens to abide by their rules.

Classifying Mexican cartels in the same manner as al Qaeda, the 
Taliban or Hezbollah, would make them a higher priority for American 
law enforcement and would subject them to laws that target their 
finances and networks in the United States.

There is no question that we must secure our borders and ramp up 
southbound inspections to seize weapons and cash that arm and fund 
drug trafficking operations. However, without attacking the cartels 
at their roots, our borders will continue to be an expensive Band-Aid 
on a wound that will not heal.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom