Certification Of Mexico Essay, Research Paper

Certification Of Mexico

Throughout many years the U.S. has tried battling drugs in various ways. President Clinton had recently enforced an anti-drug plan that consists of five parts: education; decreasing the number of addicts; breaking the cycle of drugs and crime; securing the nation s borders; and reducing the drug supply. U.S. officials also have sought to make alliances with drug-producing countries worldwide by way of certification.

By March of every year, the president must certify to Congress whether the nations that produce drugs or serve as transshipment points for their entry in the U.S. are fully cooperating in the drug war (Jensen, A16). Decertification could lead to trade sanctions and restrictions on U.S. aid. Although more than 30 countries are subject to certification, its eye is always on Mexico. Mexico is not very comfortable with this situation. Mexico has been certified for the 13th time since U.S. Congress created the law in 1986 (Cevallos).

Though certification has been granted to Mexico, Drug Enforcement Agency and U.S. Customs Service officials feel Mexico is not worthy of certification and should be decertified. Mexico not only failed to reduce drug trafficking and corruption in 1998 but actually did worse than the previous year. Even in 1997 when Mexico s top drug-fighting general, Jesus G. Rebollo, was found to be on the pay roll of a cocaine cartel, Mexico was certified (Jensen, A16). Rebollo s corruption charges sparked calls in Congress to decertify Mexico, but decertification is seen as an insult to many Mexican politicians that contend they should not be blamed for the cravings of American addicts (Jensen, A16). It is also known that the Mexican drug cartels spend $6 billion a year to bribe Mexican government officials (Seper).

In terms of corruption Mexico is heavily influenced by the powers of money. Who said people can be bought? So it is seen as clear as water that the major hold on Mexico in the drug war is corruption within its government. Mexico is ranked 6th worldwide in terms of corruption (Cevallos).

So why was Mexico certified? I believe certification was granted due to U.S. political interest in order to maintain a tight relationship that has been conciliating with Mexico.

Many feeling that granting certification would patch things up between two nations, but if not met the relationship would crumble. But on the other hand many White House officials are said to agree Mexico is doing what is at their reach to battle off the trafficking of drugs.

Mexico has far to go to the end all drug trafficking. On the plus side Mexico has arrested several drug king-pins, has sent Mexican prisoners to testify in U.S. drug trials, and is making credible efforts to end government corruption. Mexico has also declared total war on drug trafficking by unveiling a new armada of high-tech weapons from satellites to radar-equipped speedboats. Mexican officials said that this nation will spend over $500 million on an array of satellite communications technology, aircraft, naval vessels and training of new police and military agents (Sandoval). Aims include beefing up communications among local police and the 13 Mexican federal agencies with drug enforcement responsibilities, as well as interdicting drugs before they enter Mexico from Central and South America. Due to success at interdiction, Mexico has forced traffickers to seek new routes to make their illegal cargoes into the U.S. Such examples prove to show Mexico s involvement in the drug war.

Though it seems that Mexico does whatever is necessary to earn certification, the Mexican government strongly protests the process to which it is subject yearly by the U.S. The annual process also provokes anti-American sentiment in Mexico. Mexico feels the U.S. is acting very childlike looking over its shoulder at every move they make, when they think they are doing their best to end the drug conflict. Many Mexicans reject certification based on principles of sovereignty due to the fact that they feel the U.S. wants to control their every move.

The U.S. has the power to waive economic sanctions, which would result an insult to the Mexican government. But who sanctions the United States for their high drug consumption? Another question that flies into the air is who certifies the U.S.? If the U.S. is pointing fingers who s pointing back? All these question have brought about sarcastic acts against the certification process. One of the most popular activists in Mexico, Superbarrio (a famous wrestler), certified the U.S. as the world s top drug consumer posting a diploma on iron bars outside the U.S. embassy in Mexico City (Cevallos). Many of these acts state the belief that the drug problem is one of demand not of supply, and that the U.S. should not focus its eyes on Mexico but on itself.

Many Mexican officials [and I] share the feeling that fighting drugs should be a shared burden, with as much on the United States to stop consumption as there is on Mexico and other Latin American countries to stop production and trafficking (Cevallos). Therefore I suggest the certification process be vanished because it is very inappropriate to many. Drug fighting should and could be done hand in hand without the threatening economic sanctions the U.S. has proposed. If Mexico is seen with a bit of trust and not obligation, Mexico I think would do its job with much enthusiasm and get it done.