U.S. Relations With Mexico

Re “How to Lose Friends and Alienate People,” Opinion, March 9: M. Delal Baer’s thoughtful column on U.S.-Mexico relations certainly illustrates that certification or decertification of Mexico is not the problem. The real problem is that we devised and instituted the certification process at all.

Our diplomats in the State Department and their legions overseas should be in charge of how we deal with each foreign country under broad policy directions, rather than be confined by a process such as certification, which at best is confusing and at worst offers a platform where politicians can sharp shoot for their own interests. Actions that may work in Tajikistan, for example, may not be the proper approach in a Latin American country.

There is a big difference between political posturing and conducting real foreign policy. I fear we have lost the ability to fathom the difference. Please, Madame Albright, an injection of the common sense Baer calls for!

CHARLES E. CARTER

Huntington Beach

* Re “Most Americans Don’t Inhale; Decertify Mexico,” by Richard Estrada, Commentary, March 10: I disagree that the United States should decertify Mexico without first considering the paramount interest of the U.S. It is obviously a very important interest to have a very stable relationship with our neighbors--especially our closest neighbors.

The U.S. routinely overlooks human rights, trade and voting rights violations when the best interests of our country comes first. Any other policy for a superpower would be asinine.

This isn’t a liberal idea but a common sense foreign policy idea. The best interests of the United States outweigh the U.S. drug addict’s interests.

DAN GUERRERO

La Habra