US To Give Mexico $1 Billion For The 'Increasingly Violent' War On Drugs

[babylonsister]

US to launch $1bn ‘Plan Mexico’

By Adam Thomson in San José, Costa Rica

Published: October 7 2007 19:53 | Last updated: October 7 2007 19:53

The US intends to supply Mexico with a $1bn aid package to help combat an increasingly costly and violent war against drugs, according to a top Mexican diplomat.

The agreement, which some experts have dubbed ”Plan Mexico” after the controversial multi-billion-dollar anti-narcotics package that the US established with Colombia in 2000, would be spread over two years and include the supply of intelligence, training and equipment such as helicopters and boats.

However, Carlos Rico, Mexico’s undersecretary for North American affairs, said the plan would not resemble the aid package with Colombia. In particular, he said, no US troops would be allowed to operate on Mexican soil, thus sidestepping the particularly sensitive issue of Mexican sovereignty.

”They talk about Plan Colombia,” Mr Rico said. ”Here, we have the operational capacity to do it ourselves.”

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