House Slaps Mexico on Drugs

The House vote to give Mexico 90 days to shape up in the drug war or lose its certification (and funding) as a U.S. partner in the battle will have little effect. The Senate is expected to go along with President Clintons desire to put his stamp of approval on Mexico despite repo rts of widespread corruption among government officials charged with anti-drug efforts. Even if the Senate follows the House in voting to deny certification, Clintons expected veto of such legislation would stand. The February arrest of Mexicos dr ug czar, General Jesus Gutierrez, who allegedly has been on the payroll of drug lord Amado Carrillo Fuentes since 1993, points to the heart of what many U.S. drug enforcement officials see as the major problem: inadequate law enforcement. "Wheth er or not our leaders can work together is less important than whether our cops can work together," said Senator Dianne Feinstein, a vocal opponent of recertification.