October 22, 2007

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

Early this morning President Bush spoke to President Calderon and shared with him that he was moving forward on a Congressional request for $500 million as part of a $1.4 billion program to fund security cooperation with Mexico. Several minutes ago President Bush made public that intention. The President also requested $50 million to confront the same narco-trafficking dangers in Central America. This initiative, born out of the meetings between President Bush and President Calderon in Merida, represents a fundamental shift in strengthening our strategic partnership and is the single most aggressive undertaking ever to combat Mexican drug cartels and the associated violence they pose to citizens in both the U.S. and Mexico.

President Bush has stressed that all countries in the region, including the United States, have a shared responsibility to put an end to the crime and violence that plague our citizens. In Mexico, President Calderon’s administration has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to combat drug trafficking and associated violence in Mexico. If approved by Congress, these funds will support the procurement of additional tools, training and techniques to defeat organized crime and transnational threats. Cooperation and coordination across our borders will allow us to combine our strengths by working together and to stand united against our security challenges.

Click here to read more about the security cooperation package

As always, I appreciate the opportunity to share with you information about the important bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States. May God bless both our great nations.

Sincerely,

Antonio O. Garza, Jr.

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