The CIA-coke connection was detailed long before Dark Alliance — and the evidence keeps coming
“The CIA continued to work with about two dozen Nicaraguan rebels and their supporters during the 1980s despite allegations they were trafficking in drugs…. [T]he agency’s decision to keep those paid agents, or to continue dealing with them in some less formal relationship, was made by top officials at headquarters in Langley, Va.”
In other words, top officials at the CIA knew the agency was working with Contra drug traffickers and didn’t do anything about it. But the story, even with that shocking headline, quickly disappeared. None of the other major papers, news magazines, or TV networks reported the NEW YORK TIMES’ findings.
How did it come to this? The paper of record running a story, perhaps leaked purposely by the CIA itself, that admits what many have charged for years…and then the story disappears as quickly as it came.
A look at the twisted history of the CIA/Contra/cocaine story:
If you’ve heard about the CIA/Contra/crack allegations, it’s probably because of Gary Webb, who in August 1996 authored several stories for the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. Titled “Dark Alliance,” the series linked drug smuggling by CIA-trained Contras to the crack epidemic that has ravaged America. It never actually said the CIA knew about the drugs, but it did strongly imply it (the logo for the series — yes, it had a logo — showed a person smoking crack, superimposed over the CIA seal.)
The series ignited a firestorm of controversy. And the major papers, specifically the NEW YORK TIMES, LOS ANGELES TIMES, and WASHINGTON POST, all ran lengthy pieces questioning the accuracy of Webb’s reporting. (These stories were themselves criticized for being hell-bent on proving Gary Webb wrong, rather than attempting to follow up on his stories.) Even Webb’s own editor retreated from the story’s conclusions.
But the story of the CIA-funded Contras trafficking coke isn’t new. And neither is the surprising lack of media interest in getting to the bottom of it:
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3 comments:
Cool. I see you are a little interested at least. There is a lot to this case and I have a lot of reading to do to get up to speed with it. Two movies and a documentary are coming out soon about this. I am in contact with one of the Marines that worked with this Colonel and there is still an effort to get Justice for him. Appreciate any help.
The only part of the article which should be changed (to reflect the actual TRUTH) is this:
The Contras worked FOR the CIA as drug smugglers.
They were in the employ of the intelligence agency, as opposed to the agency was "working with drug dealers".
There would have been NO DRUG BUSINESS were it not for the CIA and its lucrative American market which had been cultivated since the era of the Viet Nam War. Remember, all of the stories about heroin being smuggled into the US in the body bags of heroes? Yes, that is the business of the intelligence agencies and military. It is a very profitable business. And the War on Drugs is used to keep competition in check. What a racket.
Now, allow one's self to ponder the situation in Afghanistan where the troops are ADMITTEDLY "guarding the poppy fields so the drug war lords can't get them".
The US Government is a criminal racket with world wide reach and markets.
It is a business with a military apparatus.
The definition of Tyrannical Government.
September 16, 2017 at 12:01 PM
Contact Mother Jones and ask to be the copy editor, spelling and grammar checker, journalist, fact checker, and anything else you think you are qualified for.
Thank you for your comment and sharing your lengthy opinion. I would have liked a little more useful information and even an opposing viewpoint rather than this.
If you find errors in an article, by all means, offer a correction but also try to include some kind of factual discourse or expansion of current facts.
An editorial opinion is great sometimes but it should also include something for the reader to think about and add to the conversation.
Thank you for your participation.
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