Gates reveals plan to counter drug cartels

MEXICO CITY, April 30 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with Mexican leaders in Mexico City Wednesday about a U.S.-Mexico initiative to counter drug cartels.

U.S. President George Bush proposed the so-called Merida Initiative that would pump $1.4 billion into Mexico over several years to combat drug cartels and other criminal organizations.

Gates said during a news briefing after his meetings it would be "a real slap at Mexico" if the funding weren't approved by Congress.

The State Department would handle the bulk of the U.S. duties under the initiative, Gates said, although the Pentagon would be involved in activities such as lending military equipment and the necessary training, as well as sharing of intelligence.

He stressed that the initiative's direction would be driven by the Mexican government.

"But we essentially will take the guide or the lead of the Mexican government on this in terms of what they think would be helpful," he said. "(It) is in our interest that our friends have greater capabilities to protect their own security and to take care of transnational criminal activities such as the drug cartels."