US Nears Deal to Fight Mexican Drug Cartels

The Bush administration will send hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Mexico to combat drug cartels in a deal that's on the verge of approval, the Washington Post reports. The package, which would include equipment and training for anti-drug teams, represents a new level of cooperation. "The days of the finger-pointing are over," says a senior Republican aide.

Touchy details, like the level of US activity in Mexico, are still being worked out, and White House secrecy surrounding negotiations is already drawing fire from Democrats. Nevertheless, the deal is expected to be unveiled soon. The program would be the largest foreign anti-drug push by the US since a relatively unsuccessful program in Colombia that began in 2000. (More Mexico stories.)