After a D.C. breakfast meeting this morning with the Mexican ambassador to the United States, Gov. Bill Richardson said he's been assured that the Mexican military won't be backing down from its duties at the U.S.-Mexico border any time soon.

"Our meeting was productive and I am pleased that the Mexican government's commitment to help stem the flow of drugs and violence into New Mexico," Richardson said in a statement.   "I praise the Mexican government for their cooperative attitude."

During the meeting with Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan and other officials, Richardson pledged the state under the Merida Initiative would chip in needed hardware and software to combat drug related crime. That initiative is a plan of cooperation between the United States and the governments of Mexico and Central America to combat drug trafficking and other international crime.

The Mexicans sent more than 2,000 troops to the border in recent days, in the wake of drug-related violence, including about 100 who are stationed across the border from Columbus, N.M.

State Police have also been sent to the area for recent operations.