MEXICAN EFFICIENCY AND AMERICAN COMPLACENCY

According to the AP a few hours ago...

A portrait is emerging of a slow and confused response by Mexico to the gathering swine flu epidemic. And that could mean the world is flying blind into a global health storm.

Despite an annual budget of more than $5 billion, Mexico's health secretary said Monday that his agency hasn't had the resources to visit the families of the dead. That means doctors haven't begun treatment for the population most exposed to swine flu, and most apt to spread it.

So things are proceeding in the usual Latin manner. Meanwhile, our Homeland Security Czarina has health inspectors hiding behind the airports drapes on the lookout for peckish looking arrivals. This, they describe as a robust response.

And of course we mustn't close the border. That would be insensitive.