Chuck Grassley: “there is no dispute that a lot of drugs reach this country through Mexico. Not we, not the administration, not Mexico…”

“there is no dispute that a lot of drugs reach this country through Mexico. Not we, not the administration, not Mexico challenge this fact. Just as clearly, we must be concerned about this traffic in illegal drugs. We must be concerned for what this poisonous trade is doing to our country and to our kids. We must be concerned for what the drug money that results from this trade is doing to build criminal empires able to challenge and corrupt whole countries. For these reasons, the United States and Mexico have a shared interest in stopping an illegal trade that is so damaging to both our peoples and our institutions. Mexico acknowledges its responsibility to help in combating the production and transit of illegal drugs. The production and transit of these drugs are illegal under Mexican law. Mexico is a party to a variety of international agreements to stop these practices. It also has bilateral agreements with the United States to the same effect. Thus, by solemn agreement, Mexico, along with most others countries, is committed in principle and practice to taking effective action to stop illegal drug production and transit. The United States has a long and deeply intertwined relationship with Mexico, a relationship that is very important to both countries. Whether for good or ill, we are linked to Mexico and Mexico to us. Thus, we must be particularly thoughtful in how we treat that relationship.”