Rice, Mexican leaders discuss border security

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, acknowledging the difficulty of monitoring the porous southern border, said Thursday the United States would work with Mexico to thwart Al-Qaida and other terrorist groups rather than trade accusations.
Rice, on her first visit to Mexico since taking over at the State Department in late January, echoed concerns raised by government officials in congressional testimony last month about the motives of the terrorist network blamed for the Sept. 11 attacks.
"We and the Mexicans had a robust dialogue about border security, and I believe we're going to continue to have that," she said. "This is not a matter of pointing fingers. This is a matter of really trying to get the best possible coordination and work that we can so that there's safety for citizens in both countries, on both sides of the border."
Recent intelligence from current investigations, detentions and other sources suggests that Al-Qaida has considered using the Southwest border to infiltrate the United States, according to testimony from a top Homeland Security Department official last month before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Rice cited the borders with Mexico and Canada.
"Indeed we have from time to time had reports about Al-Qaida trying to use our southern border but also about them trying to use our northern border," Rice told reporters. "There is no secret that Al-Qaida will try to get into this country and into other countries by any means they possibly can.
"That's how they managed to do it before and they will do everything that they can to cross the borders," she said.