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FOR THE BETTER PART of a decade, a Bay Area drug ring sold tons of cocaine to the Crips and Bloods street gangs of Los Angeles and funneled millions in drug profits to a Latin American guerrilla army run by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, a Mercury News investigation has found.

From: Daniel X, Meldrich (xavier@techline), Elma, Washington
Date: Friday, September 6, 1996
Comment: I heard Gary Webb on the Dave Ross show(KIRO 710
and could hardly wait to get home and bring it up on the
internet.
For many reasons I was not surprised by the Just say
no in one hand and the CIA handing out
cocain in the other, but would be real
curious to get William Bennett's reaction to this.

From: Dave Borja (dab@vnet.ibm.com), Sunnyvale
Date: Friday, September 6, 1996
Comment: It's encouraging to hear that the investigative machinery is
starting to kick in thanks to the articles by Gary Webb. At the same time it is NOT
encouraging that the CIA is going to investigate itself. We all need
to keep the pressure on and make sure that the truth comes to light. I'm
a conservative, but I have to agree that all responsible must be
heald accountable, even if this lead all the way up the
chain of command to Bush, Reagan, et al. The conservatives
in Congress should be leading the investigation.
At the same time, lets not let our vision be cloudede by all the left wing smog
of which is floating around in this forum). What we need is answers, not
progaganda bout CIA conspircies, or conspircies to
promote drug addiction in the inner city. What we know is that
Blandon et al engaged in cocain trafficing, and funneld the
profits to the contras. The CIA seems to have known about
it and at best looked the other. Those who allowed this to go
on should be brought to justice.

From: Dave Borja (dab@vnet.ibm.com), Sunnyvale
Date: Friday, September 6, 1996
Comment: It's encouraging to hear that the investigative machinery is
starting to kick in thanks to the articles by Gary Webb. At the same time it is NOT
encouraging that the CIA is going to investigate itself. We all need
to keep the pressure on and make sure that the truth comes to light. I'm
a conservative, but I have to agree that all responsible must be
heald accountable, even if this lead all the way up the
chain of command to Bush, Reagan, et al. The conservatives
in Congress should be leading the investigation.
At the same time, lets not let our vision be cloudede by all the left wing smog
of which is floating around in this forum). What we need is answers, not
progaganda bout CIA conspircies, or conspircies to
promote drug addiction in the inner city. What we know is that
Blandon et al engaged in cocain trafficing, and funneld the
profits to the contras. The CIA seems to have known about
it and at best looked the other. Those who allowed this to go
on should be brought to justice.

From: Steven R. Frisch (PassageOO@aol.com), Truckee Ca.
Date: Saturday, September 7, 1996
Comment: After reading your stories I am convinced that there should be a thorough investigation of the allegations included.
The investigation should not be limited to an internal CIA investigation, and should probably be led by the U.S. Congess.
I feel that sufficiant information exists to warrant FULL investigation.
If this turns out to be accurate the CIA should be held accountable for their actions.
This includes full prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
If this is true, by the way, it will be the story of the decade. And the San Jose Mercury News will
be due a Pulitzer for it.
If this is true we will have to question the very basis of our government and
current power structure. What have we done to our country that we can even consider that a government agency
would do this to it's own people. It would be the most despicable act I can even imagine.
Investigate this and hope it is not true.
For if this is true I am no longer a citizen of my country. I am a free agent.

From: Steven R. Frisch (PassageOO@aol.com), Truckee Ca.
Date: Saturday, September 7, 1996
Comment: After reading your stories I am convinced that there should be a thorough investigation of the allegations included.
The investigation should not be limited to an internal CIA investigation, and should probably be led by the U.S. Congess.
I feel that sufficiant information exists to warrant FULL investigation.
If this turns out to be accurate the CIA should be held accountable for their actions.
This includes full prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
If this is true, by the way, it will be the story of the decade. And the San Jose Mercury News will
be due a Pulitzer for it.
If this is true we will have to question the very basis of our government and
current power structure. What have we done to our country that we can even consider that a government agency
would do this to it's own people. It would be the most despicable act I can even imagine.
Investigate this and hope it is not true.
For if this is true I am no longer a citizen of my country. I am a free agent.

From: Scott Gaulke (smgg@aol.com), Los Angeles
Date: Saturday, September 7, 1996
Comment: Bush, while he was vice president in the Reagan administartion (1981-1989), presided over the Contra operation that was responsible for flooding the streets of South Central Los Angeles with crack cocaine. Bush's cohorts in crime were none other than Lt. Col. Oliver North, National Security Adviser Donald Gregg, and "ex"-CIA officer Felix Rodriguez.
At a recent Schiller Institute conference in Reston, Virginia Lyndon LaRouche asked "How many thousands of federal prisoners are doing former Vice President George Bush's prison-time?" A serious war on drugs can not be won unless these men, who can not remain above the law, are brought to justice.
What kind of sick message is sent to the American people when the former president can send tons of cocaine into our cities and lock up his opponents, lock up thousands of small time accomplices but remain free himself?
Bush has to be brought to justice for all his dirty crimes--from the murder of 3,500 Panamanians, in El Chorillo, when he personally ordered the overthrow of Gen Manuel Noriega, in order to turn control over that country, especially its banking system, to the Cali Cartel--to the ten of thousands of American victims of his drug-pushing.

From: Ron Reed (bf306@scn.com), Seattle
Date: Saturday, September 7, 1996
Comment: How utterly plausible that the CIA as well as other govt agencies-known but unnamed-would shamelessly and covertly engage in "unofficial" activities that contain & control the least politically influential groups in the society. (Usually people of color, and usually dismissed as "coincidental but not targeted" victims.)
As a 40yr old black male in America who, as such, is blackmailed by America, I am quite concious of a prevailing thought underlying black consciousness: "they are out to get us". As in other historically documented aspects of afroamerican psychological/social oppression, the interpreters of Americana (govt, mainstream press, educators) repeatedly deny the reality of external (of blacks) manipulation of our social & economic disenfranchisement; in fact, as a race, we are the original Oliver Stones: supposedly obsessed with unreal , nondocumented conspiricy theories.
Sadly, the San Jose Mercury expose will be denied, revised, reviled, and generally discredited as has been other attempts to prove anything other than the distorted picture of black existence as a scab on the body of the Republic.
If the contradiction of Nancy's "Just Say No" vs Ronnie's, Contrs @ any cost is so easily continued with Dole's attempt to blame Bill for America's youth wanting/needing to get high (as opposed to over a decade of political mean-spiritedness and social disenfranchisement of children, women, & minorities), then we call only expect the spin doctors & status-quo maintanance crews to make it all seem alright. I mean, they were only poor, black people. And even the rightousness of the PC crowd shies away from minority issues.

From: Dana Beal (cnw2@cures-not-wars.org), New York City
Date: Saturday, September 7, 1996
Comment: The following is a brief description of Cure Not Wars, an organization dedicated to the "Harm Reduction" approach to drugs. We advocate Medical Marijuana, Needle Exchange and the African rainforest herb , Ibogaine. Ibogaine is a promising potential "cure" for drug addicition.
Let's stop arresting the poor and develop the cure. Ibogaine!!!
For more information: Dana Beal 212-677-4899
For more in formation check out the Cures Not Wars web page at:
http://www.cures-not-wars.org/

From: John Magneson (jmagneson@muhsd.k12.ca.us), Ballico
Date: Saturday, September 7, 1996
Comment: It seems that Oliver North, Elliot Abrams, and others had found
other ways of financing the Contras then shaking down the country club
donors. The Republican silence is telling. Especially from the dedicated
anti-drug crusaders. Imagine Alponse D'amato being quiet as a church mouse
about this story!!

From: Paul DeRienzo (pdr@echonyc.com), New York City
Date: Sunday, September 8, 1996
Comment: Check out my web page for information about CIA drug involvement.

http://www.dorsai.org/~wbai/derienzo../../index.html

From: Leo Rodriguez (leebert@io.com), Austin, TX
Date: Sunday, September 8, 1996
Comment: Wait a minute:
1. CIA not only complicit, but instrumental in crack cocaine trade (your Dark Alliance series)
2. Richard Secord served in Air America, which was notorious for similar drug-for-guns barter arrangements.
3. Ollie North's oft-forgotten hand-written note that missed the shredder: Drug profits went to Iran.
4. The media campaign that portrayed BLACKS as the source of the American drug scourge, even though the
majority of drug users are white.
5. Contemporaneous rhetoric about WELFARE MOTHERS (crypto-racist code-word for BLACK WOMEN WITH TOO MANY KIDS).
6. Gov. Bill Clinton got favorable loans from the Mena, Ark. bank that laundered CIA drug money while the
state police ignored the obvious drug running in Mena.

Add these all up, and we have not only strong evidence that the CIA organized the drug smuggling, but also that
the War on Drugs (WOD) was the first major psychological war campaign perpetrated against the American people. Implicit
throughout the article is that history WILL repeat: the US Gov't. can very easily exploit 'drug terror' and
scapegoat blacks for political gain. Since the US Gov't did it once, it is likely to do it again. 'Drug terror'
and crypto-racist psy-war ploys are very convenient weapons in the 2-party system's method of divide and conquer.

The Cold War was winding down, and our oligarchy needed to conjeur up a new "THREAT." But note (# 6), do not look
to the DEMOCRATS for too much help in rectifying the various crimes and treasons committed under the Reagan crew;
the Democrats were as much involved in the WOD psy-war scam as the Republicans.

The mass media is ignoring this, yet they have totally lost credibility with the majority of Americans. Does this
sound familiar: The institutional sources of information lack credibility, an oligarchy has lost touch with its people
and engages in pogroms against certain segments of the population, a large number of people are disenfranchised from
the system, yet there are unsuccessful attempts by both majority and minority racial & ethnic groups to gain representation
(Perot, race-based districting), which are ultimately thwarted, and there is a widening gap between rich and poor.

Because of a total distrust for the establishment media and leaders, people seek other means of information, where ultimately
rumor becomes fact, and fear becomes aggression. This leaves fertile ground for serious civil unrest,
even civil war.

I understood this formula 8 years ago when I first got wind of the drug machinations of our government. But for the first time
in my life, I'm truely afraid the worst possible scenario will truely come to pass.

Regretably yours,

Leo Rodriguez

From: Andy Hofner (Iasius@aol.com), Milwaukee
Date: Sunday, September 8, 1996
Comment: Lyndon LaRouche exposed the Contra drug-running in the 80s. His associates defeated Ollie North's senate bid by pointing out Ollie's treason to the citizens of Virginia and Ollie--in his typical Section 8 manner--self-destructed. That isn't enough. The whole crowd belongs in prison--North, Secord, Don Gregg, Elliott Abrams, and most of all the kingpin himself--George Bush. He needs to be locked up! Why should thousands of small players be locked away and the top masterminds of this drugs, gun running, and murder operation be able to stalk our streets? Doesn't that seem troubling to Al D'Amato? Hearings need to be convened and those in government that are calling for them supported and helped so that we can make sure this isn't covered up.

For more information on Bush's role:

http://www.clark.net/larouche/welcome/html

From: harrison chastang (kpoo@sfbayguardian.com), san francisco
Date: Sunday, September 8, 1996
Comment: This is an amazing series, but what's surprising is how many San Francisco Bay Area media outlets are ignoring this story. I'm news director at a station in San Francisco that had Gary Webb on to talk about this story. I covered the Republican convention and had the opportunity to ask GOP party chair Hailey Barbour the lack of Republican criticism of Michael Irvin light punishment on Irvin's cocaine possession conviction. Irvin received no jail time and a five game suspension from the NFL. Barbour and other Republicans were very vocal about a Clinton appointed federal judge who let of some suspected drug dealers on a technicality. The governor is Texas is Republican, as well as many close to Dallas Cowboy management. When asked about the GOP's silence about the Irvin case and it sent the wrong message to Americans about the drug problem, Barbour talked about Clinton's record of appointing judges but refused to talk about the Irvin case. This question was asked before the Dark Alliance series appeared.

From: ec randolf (ec@futureone.com), Scottsdale
Date: Sunday, September 8, 1996
Comment: What an expose! But don't think the
popular media is going to pick up on this.
They'd rather report on the enemy without
- Iraq, terrorists etc. We need to spread the
word around the Internet and maybe with
a massive email campaign demand every
Congressman respond to the Dark Alliance.
This topic is far more important than the
election.

From: Jane Marcus (mmfamily@ix.netcom.com), Palo Alto, CA
Date: Sunday, September 8, 1996
Comment: Subject: URGENT! READ IT *ONLY* ON THE INTERNET!

On Sunday, August 18, 1996 the San Jose Mercury News began a three
part series strongly implicating CIA involvement in the crack cocaine
market in Los Angeles. Subsequently both California Senator Barbara Boxer
and Representative Maxine Waters requested complete inquiries. The major
news media are not informing the public about this important story. But,
the series, complete with links to reference material, is posted on the
Internet at:

http://www.sjmercury.com/drugs/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
In the online forum linked to the series, Author Gary Webb writes:

>From: Gary Webb (garywebb@aol.com), Sacramento, CA
>Date: Sunday, September 1, 1996
>Comment: Sorry I haven't been here much, but I've been making sure (via
>radio mostly) that people on the east coast and midwest find out about
>this thing. It's rather amazing to me how cowardly the media can be when
>it comes right down to it. This story is still finding its way across the
>country. People on the East Coast are largely unaware of it.
>
>One thing I have been asked constantly is, "What can I do about this?"
>Well, if you're computer-literate, you can do quite a bit without breaking
>a sweat. The one writer who e-mailed Clinton has the right idea. All of
>the people in Congress have e-mail addresses. Let 'em know what YOU want
>them to do. I've covered politicians for a long time and I know that the
>one thing that really makes them uncomfortable is when average citizens
>(as opposed to lobbyists or PR agents) begin demanding answers. I've got a
>hunch Congressional hearings are in the offing here and if enough people
>want a national, public airing of this intelligence disaster, they'll get
>one.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

The New York Times (which has not run the story) runs this banner on
their Online Forum page:

"There are TWO revolutions taking place in this country: a dissatisfaction
with traditional politics and politicians, and the vast amount of
information available via the Internet. We owe it to ourselves to do all
we can to bring these two revolutions together."

A. A. Tappman, 8/19/96
Campaign '96 Forum
http://www.nytimes.com/comment/

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

If you receive this message, you're already part of the information
revolution. To make that revolution part of the political process:

* read the story on the Web
http://www.sjmercury.com/drugs/
[or get paper reprints from the Mercury at (408)920-5999]

* email your elected representatives about this story
http://www.yahoo.com/Government/Legislative_Branch/Congressional_E_Mail_Addresses/

* email Newt Gingrich [georgia6@hr.house.gov] demanding a Congressional hearing into this issue

* email the news media about running this story
http://www.yahoo.com/News/Daily/General_News/

* FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO OTHERS!!!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SAMPLE MESSAGE:

Dear Representative XXX:

A story published in the San Jose Mercury News in August, 1996, strongly
implicates CIA involvement in the cocaine market in Los Angeles. I ask
you, my elected representative, to support a complete and PUBLIC
Congressional hearing on these allegations.

Yours truly,

John/Jane Q. Public

From: Quentin Lewis (bigqueue@tiac.com), Litchfield, NH
Date: Sunday, September 8, 1996
Comment: I have read about this very thing in several books that I have read in the past 3 years or so. One of them is a book called
Compromised, written by Terry Reed and John Cummings. Another is called something like Cocaine Politics.....and it actually talks
about the CIA drug adventures back to the days of Vietnam. I have also seen books by Nome Chomske (sp) refering to this very thing.
I just never thought this would ever see the light of day in a mainstream media publication. Keep up the good work....this sort of
stuff HAS to be made public.

From: Al Lee (76651.1605@compuserve.com), Orlando, FL
Date: Monday, September 9, 1996
Comment: The evidence should be brought in a court of law and the guilty should be punished. A drug dealer is a drug dealer Should I start breaking into my neighbors house to support my neighborhood watch program? Al Lee

From: Bob Smith (bobsmith@hyperscape.com), Roswell, GA
Date: Monday, September 9, 1996
Comment: The media is targeting readers in the same
way that the smugglers targeted black
neighborhoods in L.A. - It's easy money.

Blandon and Ross were nothing more than drug
smugglers, except that Blandon had a Master's
degree in Marketing. It doesn't take a
Master's degree to figure out that L.A. is
a big marketplace to sell drugs - and closer
to the supply than New York City. The Government
may have helped fund the Contras at the source,
but it was the SMUGGLERS who chose the market.

Is there anyone on the planet who thinks that
a white (or black) neighborhood in Fairbanks, Alaska is
just as good of a marketplace as L.A.?

Like I said, the smugglers selected the market and
I'm sure they considered who they could sell the
most drugs to.

From: Deloris Williams (dwilliams@juno.com), Washington, DC
Date: Monday, September 9, 1996
Comment: The Nation of Islam have been saying this for years now. I guess now that this information now appears in the white media we so call African American now believe. Wake up brothers and sisters the hunt is on and we are the prey!!

From: Barbara Harris (bharris@netrax.net), York, Pa.
Date: Monday, September 9, 1996
Comment: For many years now average citizens
have been asking the question, How did the
drug problem get so bad? The government
agencies, elective officical are trying
to solve the problem. But no one is looking
into the covert activities of the other
government agencies responsible for protecting
the country. The CIA is a good example of
this type of agency. No one person has
the take of auditing, monitoring, or over
seeing its activities. Is it no wander
the drug problem is so out of hand. Someone
on the inside is leading the support for
such a cover-up.
Someone out there is going to say the Pres.
is to oversee the CIA or a particular member of
Congress through the appointment of the Director.
But forget not, the gov't is so big and cumbersome
that no one person knows what is going on. Congress, the
Pres. and anyone else only knows what they
are told by someone in that department or
agency. I believe the CIA is given money in
many ways through the different budget
categories and no one questions how it is
spent-- in the name of NATIONAL SECURITY.
The United States gov't breaks its own rules,
regulations, and laws more than any individual
or company. No one holds it accountable.

Our founding fathers tried to setup a
check and balance system to eliminate the
self-centered greed of human nature but somehow
in today's world we all forgot that lesson.