It said dark alliance caused many americans to believe the cia was guilty of at least complicity, if not conspiracy in the crack cocaine outbreak in u. Dont bother about crack cocaine effects or what crack cocaine made of. Later in the same region, while the cia was sponsoring a secret war in laos from 1961 to 1975, it was openly accused of trafficking heroin in the area then known. Cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking wikipedia. The cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion. In 1996, a bombshell report by journalist gary webb claimed that the central intelligence agency cia supported cocaine trafficking into the u. A widely read newspaper series leads many americans to believe cia is guilty of at least complicity, if not conspiracy, in the outbreak of crack cocaine in americas inner cities. Sep 20, 2019 here are 10 things to know about gary webb and his report that linked the cia to crack cocaine. Report of investigation central intelligence agency. Oct 10, 2014 in his report, webb who had won a pulitzer in 1989 for a different story claimed that the cia was partly responsible for bringing crack cocaine to the united states in the 1980s. On august 18, 1996, the san jose mercury news published the first installment of a threepart series of articles concerning crack cocaine, the central intelligence agency cia.
With cocaine deaths on the rise in the early 1900s and health officials alarmed at the drugs addictive side, cocaine for legal use was finally made unlawful in 1914 and banned in the usa thereafter. Manufacturing crack cocaine how crack cocaine works. Ive spent a fortune buying and wasting cocaine trying to make crack. The cia has been one of the worlds biggest illegal drug trafficking organizations in the world for decades, a leading american analyst has warned. On august 18, 1996, the san jose mercury news published the first installment of a threepart series of articles concerning crack cocaine, the central intelligence agency cia, and the nicaraguan contra army. Kill the messenger tells the story of the tragic death of gary webb, the controversial newspaper reporter who committed suicide in december 2004. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia in. In his report, webb who had won a pulitzer in 1989 for a different story claimed that the cia was partly responsible for bringing crack cocaine to the united states in the 1980s. Back in 1996, gary webb of the san jose mercury news broke a story stating not only that the nicaraguan contras supported by the united states in a rebellion against their leftleaning government were involved in the us crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, but also that the cia knew and turned a blind eye to the operation. Mar 21, 2015 it said dark alliance caused many americans to believe the cia was guilty of at least complicity, if not conspiracy in the crack cocaine outbreak in u. It refuted charges that cia officials knew that their nicaraguan allies were dealing drugs. Cocaine is a hydrochloride salt in its powdered form, while crack cocaine is derived from powdered cocaine by combining it with water and another substance, usually baking soda sodium bicarbonate. I want to know who invented crack cocaine out of curiosity and knowledge. Oct 11, 2014 back in 1996, gary webb of the san jose mercury news broke a story stating not only that the nicaraguan contras supported by the united states in a rebellion against their leftleaning government were involved in the us crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, but also that the cia knew and turned a blind eye to the operation.
The cia, contras, gangs, and crack institute for policy. In his report, webb who had won a pulitzer in 1989 for a different story claimed that the cia was partly responsible for bringing crack cocaine to. Hello reddit, i was doing a little research on the crack epidemic of the 1980s and from what i read the cia introduce crack cocaine to the u. Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum. Did the cia really introduce cocainecrack to the u. The cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion is a 1998 book by journalist gary webb. The central intelligence agency has involved itself in drug trafficking since the spy agency was formed in 1947, journalist and political analyst stephen lendman claims. Jan 05, 2015 ross was a source for webb, who alleged that the cia had a role in the introduction of crack to the u. Crack is made by adding baking soda and water to cocaine and cooking the whole thing, usually in a spoon. His articles asserted that the cia was aware of the cocaine. The crack epidemic coincidently began around the same time when the irancontra scandal was being exposed.
Dark alliance, gary webbs landmark 1996 newspaper series alleging cia involvement in the crackcocaine epidemic, created a firestorm of controversy that ultimately drove webb out of. Freeway rick ross on how he introduced crack to the u. The cocainecia conspiracy theory involves the fact that many of the same personnel used by the cia to smuggle arms into leftist countries in central america and south america, also made money smuggling coke, because the arms business wasnt exactly full time. The igs report cleared the cia of complicity with the innercity crack cocaine trade. The charges of cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking were revived in 1996, when a newspaper series by reporter gary webb in the san jose mercury news claimed that the trafficking had played an important role in the creation of the crack cocaine drug problem in the united states. Oct 18, 2017 during the 1980s, the war on drugs became defined by cocaine and crack. Crack appeared in the early 1980s as an alternative to chewing, drinking, injecting, or inhaling the drug. Key figures in ciacrack cocaine scandal begin to come. In october 1998, the cia released a declassified version of hitzs twovolume report, and the cia was cleared of its alleged complicity in the spread of crack cocaine in to the innercities.
The investigation provoked massive protests and congressional hearings, as well as overt backlash from the mainstream media to discredit webbs reporting. Aug 30, 2012 in october 1998, the cia released a declassified version of hitzs twovolume report, and the cia was cleared of its alleged complicity in the spread of crackcocaine in to the innercities. Crack cocaine, also known simply as crack or rock, is a free base form of cocaine that can be smoked. Hence, we do not easily give out pictures of crack cocaine because some people can misuse these pics online. Ive heard the cia first synthesized crack cocaine, and ive heard albert neiman, the german chemist who discovered cocaine, but i doubt it was albert neiman. Here are 10 things to know about gary webb and his report that linked the cia to crack cocaine. With jeremy renner, robert patrick, jena sims, robert pralgo. Aug 31, 2018 dark alliance, gary webbs landmark 1996 newspaper series alleging cia involvement in the crackcocaine epidemic, created a firestorm of controversy that ultimately drove webb out of. Back in the 70s, people were smoking cocaine freebase aka paste before they would salt it into what we know as cocaine and before crack was even a thing. Ross was a source for webb, who alleged that the cia had a role in the introduction of crack to the u. Webb is the former san jose mercury news reporter whose 1996 dark alliance series on the socalled cia crack cocaine connection created a firestorm of controversy and led to his resignation from the. A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yesand the charge. The investigation, headed up by webb revealed ties between the cia, nicaraguan contras and the crack cocaine trade ravaging africanamerican communities. Here, he writes about freeway rick rosss connection to selma and a generation of prisoners.
During the korean war, the first allegations of cia drug trafficking surfaced after 1949, stemming from a deal whereby arms were supplied to chiang kaisheks defeated generals in exchange for intelligence. Crack cocaine is a form of smokeable, or freebase, cocaine that was developed in the mid1970s. It is the impurities in the coke that you actually hear popping or crackling when you smoke it and likely give it its namesake. The book is based on dark alliance, webbs threepart investigative series published in the san jose mercury news in august 1996. In this episode, chris calton explains how the potent mix of politicans and fake news created the myth of the crack baby. During the 1980s, the war on drugs became defined by cocaine and crack.
Then suddenly it happened and ive never got it wrong since. Thus, this is because a lot of people now consume this great product. More explosively, the stories implied that the central intelligence agency cia was aware of these activities and either attempted to protect the drug dealing of these contra supporters or turned a. A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yes. Pablo escobars son reveals his dad worked for the cia.
In 1996 gary webb wrote a series of articles published in the san jose mercury news, which investigated nicaraguans linked to the cia backed contras who had smuggled cocaine into the u. Crack cocaine a crystallized form of the drugbecame popular in the 1980s. Cia is worlds biggest drug trafficking organization, expert. History of crack cocaine the recovery village ridgefield. Based on a yearlong investigation, reporter gary webb wrote that during the 1980s the cia helped finance its covert war against nicaraguas leftist government through sales of cutrate cocaine to south central. Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum rt. What is crack cocaine differences between crack and cocaine. An august, 1996, series in the san jose mercury news by reporter gary webb linked the origins of crack cocaine in california to the contras, a guerrilla force backed by the reagan administration that attacked nicaraguas sandinista government during the 1980s. Afghani heroine sales rise as the cocaine supply line is suddenly disrupted by dea and cia covert activities, that results in removal of both the columbian and later, the mexican cartels leadership, the cartels splintering into more manageable groups with each becoming dependent on arms trafficking to maintain their respective territory.
The cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb. The emergence of crack cocaine started in the 1970s and 1980s during the boom in cocaines recreational use. As the land border became more tightly controlled, cocaine would be shipped via the caribbean and the bahamas and end up in miami. The heroin epidemic resembles the days when crack cocaine became the major drug that destroyed communities across the united states and other parts of the world including the caribbean that began in the early 1980s. When the story first appeared in 1996 on the website of the san jose mercury news, it became an unprecedented internet sensation, receiving up to 1. Crack first saw widespread use as a recreational drug in primarily impoverished neighborhoods in new york city, philadelphia. The cia, contras, gangs, and crack institute for policy studies.
When asked if he thinks the cia was actively involved, he says, it doesnt matter if they. However, the better the coke, the better you just put it up your nose. The contra rebels were in full flow in nicaragua, and reportedly the cia turned a blind eye to the rebels exporting significant amounts of cocaine for funding. Crack in the system premieres tonight on aljazeera america. Crack cocaine is an easiertomanufacture form of freebase cocaine the only difference between cocaine and crack is that the latter has its hydrochloride removed, increasing the melting point and making the drug. The drug business is very different than what we dreamed, he continues. A complete history of crack cocaine drug rehab options. A washington post investigation into ross, blandon, meneses and the u. Based on a yearlong investigation, reporter gary webb wrote that during the 1980s the cia helped finance its covert war against nicaraguas leftist government through sales of cutrate cocaine to south central l.
Apr 26, 2007 crack cocaine that is consumed in the united states is generally made from cocaine that has been imported into the united states. Cia is worlds biggest drug trafficking organization. Justice report finds no cia link to crack cocaine trafficking july 23, 1998 contra leaders say cia not involved in drug sales november 26, 1996 deutch confronts angry l. Did the cia play a role in launching the crack cocaine epidemic. Did the cia play a role in launching the crackcocaine epidemic. When cocaine is made, it comes out as a freebase, and has to be then turned into a hcl salt. Nov 03, 1998 justice report finds no cia link to crack cocaine trafficking july 23, 1998 contra leaders say cia not involved in drug sales november 26, 1996 deutch confronts angry l. Others however argued that this is not true and that its some. Others however argued that this is not true and that its some sort of liberal agenda to demonize reagans term. Webb is the former san jose mercury news reporter whose 1996 dark alliance series on the socalled ciacrack cocaine connection created a firestorm of controversy and led to his resignation from the.
He discussed his book, headline news and responded to audience telephone calls, faxes, and. Webbs series, the dark alliance, has been the subject of. The reagan administration and the cia also collaborated with nicaraguan cocaine traffickers to support the contras led to the crack epidemic of the 1980s. In october 1998, the cia released a declassified version of hitzs twovolume report, and the cia was cleared of its alleged complicity in the spread of. Some people think there is a crack cocaine epidemic. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia. What the cia was doing was buying the controls to get the drug into. After cocaine and baking soda are combined, the mixture is boiled, and a solid forms. The manual of adolescent substance abuse treatment calls it the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack cocaine that is consumed in the united states is generally made from cocaine that has been imported into the united states. Crack cocainea crystallized form of the drugbecame popular in the 1980s. An awardwinning investigative reporter, gary webb 19552004 is best known for his dark alliance series that linked a northern california drug ring with the cia and the united states burgeoning crack epidemic.
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