U.S. Weighing Anti-Drug Aid for Mexico
By SUZANNE GAMBOA
Associated Press
August 9, 2007
Page 2 of 2
Rep. Silvestre Reyes, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said an aid package will likely not resemble ongoing efforts to combat drug production in Colombia, in part because the Mexican government has not asked for that, Reyes said.
''This is a whole different scenario,'' Reyes said.
Cuellar did not have specifics on the U.S. anti-drug package, but media reports have said the package would include telephone tapping equipment, Blackhawk helicopters, training, radar to track drug shipments, and training.
Reyes said the training is likely to include judicial and law enforcement officials, but deferred to the White House on specifics.
Cuellar was uncertain how the package would be funded, but said Bush could present it as an emergency appropriation or Congress may have to fit it into a current appropriations bill. It's also possible the money would not be provided until next year, he said.
''It all depends on the sense of urgency the president will provide. To me there is a sense of urgency, being from the border and seeing what is happening,'' said Cuellar, also a House Homeland Security Committee member.
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Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington and Alicia Caldwell in El Paso contributed to this report.
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