Neighborhood Watch

House appropriators are calling for the inclusion of $310 million in the fiscal year 2009 wartime supplemental bill to bolster the ongoing counternarcotics campaign led by the Mexican government. The funding called for in the House bill would be used to finance efforts to "expand aviation support" for Mexican anti-drug operations against that country's increasingly violent drug cartels.

"The committee strongly supports Mexico in its war against organized crime and drug trafficking and supports a coordinated security strategy to address mutual concerns," House appropriators wrote in their report on the bill. Specifically, the funds would go toward the purchase of three CN-235 Persuader maritime patrol aircraft and an unspecified number of HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters, according to the bill.

Inside the Pentagon first reported in April a Defense Security Cooperation Agency proposal to sell Persuader aircraft to Mexico to support counterdrug efforts.

"The provision of such additional equipment in an expedited fashion will greatly assist the Mexican government, by enhancing the air transport ability and maritime aerial surveillance of the Mexican navy to conduct counternarcotics and counterterrorism operations," the bill states.

During an March appearance on NBC's Meet the Press, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the Pentagon was ready to begin providing military support to Mexican antidrug efforts. Along with equipment and materiel support, Gates said DOD would also conduct training for Mexican counternarcotics officials.

However, the original FY-09 supplemental request forwarded to Capitol Hill by the White House that month did not include funding for Mexico.