From: Mark Hull (mhull@sjmercury.com), Mercury Center
Date: Saturday, August 17, 1996
Comment: Discuss the series and ask questions in our forum moderated by the reporter of this series, Gary Webb.

From: Larry (lar-jen@interaccess.com), Chicago
Date: Sunday, August 18, 1996
Comment: The story of the CIA using cocaine the Contras is over
a decade old. Though evidence is abundant, few Americans
are aware of the crimes.

The San Jose Mercury News articles show that CIA Contra
cocaine continued flowing into the USA after the Sandinistas
lost power in Nicaragua.

The US government has done nothing to stop it. Neither
President Bush, President Clinton nor Senator Dole have
ever done anything to stop the CIA-assisted drug pipeline.
As a matter of fact, evidence exists that all three hindered
investigations into the crimes. Why?

With crack cocaine from the CIA-Contra operations flooding
the streets of America, raising violence and destroying
lives, America can tolerate the crimes no longer.

As an election approaches, the candidates remain silent
on the problem. Americans cannot allow the silence to
continue. We must raise our voices and demand our government
to bring the guilty to justice and stop CIA drug pipelines.
Unfortunately, the guilty are in power.

Thank you, San Jose Mercury News! You have done a great
service to our nation.

Larry

From: Ken Cook (kencook@tiac.net), Chelmsford, MA
Date: Sunday, August 18, 1996
Comment: I am part of a group of citizens on the Internet who have been following the allegations surrounding Iran/Contra and it's alleged drug connections with great interest.
We have been talking for years of how the CIA circumvented the Boland Amendments (which prohited U.S. aid to Nicaragua) by bringing drugs into this country and using some of the profits to fund their covert operations.
We have been able to document, through books and other sources, the massive drug smuggling that went on at Mena, Arkansas during the mid-80s under Bill Clinton's nose. Contra pilot training occurred there also as well as millions of dollars in drug money being laundered through Bill Clinton's Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA).
Let me make the point however that this scandal is strictly bi-partisan. For George Bush, Oliver North and possibly even Ronald Reagan himself knew of these goings-on and aided and abetted in the coverup.
The lives of many good people who tried to expose this have been destroyed.
I am extremely pleased that the San Jose Mercury News has the courage to expose this sickening scandal and I look forward to the next two installments.

Regards,
Ken Cook

From: Gary Webb (garywebb@aol.com), Sacramento, CA
Date: Sunday, August 18, 1996
Comment: From what I could tell, the Mena, Ark. situation was connected to the Contras' East Coast cocaine operation, which was exposed in the mid-1980s by a pair of enterprising AP reporters, Bob Parry and Brian Barger, who were almost universally trashed for their efforts. John Kerry's Senate Subcommittee did an credible job of nailing down that operation and there were a number of cross-pollinations between that drug operation and the one we're writing about. Anyone interested in the details of the East Coast operation should read the Kerry Committee report. That might be something we could post here if enough people were interested in seeing it.
Additionally, the CIA inspector general announced an investigation into the Mena connection last week. Better 10 years late than never, I suppose.

From: Brenda Grantland (fearno1@nbn.com), Mill Valley, CA
Date: Sunday, August 18, 1996
Comment: In 1992 I heard the rumor that the Iran Contra conspirators were smuggling cocaine into the country, but I never thought it would be confirmed as the truth. Now this whole phony drug war makes sense. This allows a sick bureaucracy to achieve several of their evil goals at once -- generate revenue for their illegal war, wipe out the black community with a massive drug epidemic, and create a national emergency to justify the repeal of the Constitution -- all at once. This is sick! Thank you Gary Webb for having the guts to write this story, and thank you Mercury News for publishing it.

From: John (75454.374@CompuServe.com), Corvallis
Date: Sunday, August 18, 1996
Comment: Do you remember the Christic Institute about ten years ago when they filed charges against the "Secret Team" (which included Secord)under the RICOH statute. It never came to trial because the Miami judge threw it out? You never hear of the Institute anymore. My question is, what was the final disposition of their suit and does the Christic Institute still exist?

From: Bill Enloe (enloe@mediacity.com), menlo park
Date: Sunday, August 18, 1996
Comment: I just want to thank you for the in-depth
coverage of the recent article "Dark
Alliance'. While the story itself, and most
of the information contained in it, is over
ten year old, and therefore hardly news to
those with access to information about what
really goes on in the world, it is refreshing
to see thistype of story coverved in the
mainstream press.

Keep up the good work.

Sincerely,
Bill Enloe

From: Shooshie (shooshie@onramp.net), Dallas
Date: Sunday, August 18, 1996
Comment: It is indeed a good thing to see this information
presented in such an organized way. The timeline
and the pipeline (animated maps) lay out over
two decades worth of information more clearly
than I have ever been able to understand it.

After fifteen years of wading through conspiracy
theories, lies, and fragments of the stories, I
believe The Mercury might yet tell me the whole
story.

Now, what is the connection to the BCCI, the
Iran/Contra story, and other activities of the 80's?
Is the S&L scandal involved? However big the
cocaine story is, it seems like the tip of
a much larger iceberg. Will we someday be able
to see the whole picture, complete with names
of US public figures involved?

From: Dr. Lawrence Hunter (hunter@intr.net), Potomac, MD
Date: Monday, August 19, 1996
Comment: Gary Webb's breathtaking revelations
demonstrate the evil locus between
the scourge of crack and the CIA's
immoral "secret" wars. It is the
obscene profits that prohibition
brings that set in motion the process
that has led to so much death and
misery.
It is time to end drug prohibition and
with it, the profits and violence that
attract the CIA and the Crips and the
Bloods. As Webb shows so convincingly,
only the little guy goes to jail; the
leaders not only go unpunished, but get
fabulously wealthy.
Compare the failure of fifteen years
of expensive and destructive "war on
drugs," with the amazing success of
anti-smoking efforts over the same
fifteen years. Clearly, the answer
is to end prohibition and take a public
health approach to reducing drug abuse.

From: Dr. Lawrence Hunter (hunter@intr.net), Potomac, MD
Date: Monday, August 19, 1996
Comment: Gary Webb's breathtaking revelations
demonstrate the evil locus between
the scourge of crack and the CIA's
immoral "secret" wars. It is the
obscene profits that prohibition
brings that set in motion the process
that has led to so much death and
misery.
It is time to end drug prohibition and
with it, the profits and violence that
attract the CIA and the Crips and the
Bloods. As Webb shows so convincingly,
only the little guy goes to jail; the
leaders not only go unpunished, but get
fabulously wealthy.
Compare the failure of fifteen years
of expensive and destructive "war on
drugs," with the amazing success of
anti-smoking efforts over the same
fifteen years. Clearly, the answer
is to end prohibition and take a public
health approach to reducing drug abuse.

From: Matt Smith (dalem@condorsys.com), San Jose
Date: Monday, August 19, 1996
Comment: I am grateful for the truth I have discovered in this article, and I thank the MN for printing it. I had never before supposed that the government of my country would be responsible for the destruction of its citizens. To me, this seems like a can of worms that should have the power to rock Capitol Hill and have the people of this country screaming for the heads of those responsible. I want accountability! I want justice! I hope and pray the apathy that pervades this country will not keep this story from shaking them to their core. This should scare people. This should anger people, especially those whose lives were destroyed or aotherwise affected by the actions of their government.

From: j h woodyatt (jhw@wetware.com), san francisco
Date: Monday, August 19, 1996
Comment: Gary Webb and his associates have done a
very good job exposing the connection
between crack cocaine and the Nicaraguan
contras.

Add me to the list of people who would
like the URL for the Kerry Subcommittee
report on this "East Coast" drug
operation that appears to be connected
to all this rattling around about Mena,
Arkansas.

From: Debra Evans (devans@netscape.com), Mountain View
Date: Monday, August 19, 1996
Comment: For years the Black community
has complained that it has been sacrificed
by politicians and the police as the area
where drugs were allowed to exist.
Mainstream society always dismissed the
protests as the ravings of extreme
militants. Now on the front page of
the local paper is proof that what
people have been saying has actually been
going on. Hopefully, in the future,
the dominant culture will listen when
people from ravaged neighborhoods
have something to say.

From: A. Hopping (wren@pacbell.net), B.C. Canada
Date: Monday, August 19, 1996
Comment: Whether it wants to or not, the U.S. gov
is allowing drugs to be sold. I only
have faith that time will solve the prob-
lem. And replace it with a new one.

Don't buy drugs. Fight to keep the souls
of your kids. Stand for right things.
Honor yourself and others.

Simplify.

Don't worry too much about it.
You'll be dead soon enough.

From: Reporter Gary Webb (garywebb@aol.com), Sacramento, CA
Date: Monday, August 19, 1996
Comment: First of all, I discovered that our ruthlessly efficient online editor, Mark Hull, has already posted some of the transcripts of the Kerry Committee hearings. They're available in the Library section here.
Second, thanks to everyone who has called, e-mailed and written so far. Your response to this project has been very encouraging. Since I've been living with this story for so long, it ceased to shock me long ago. I'm glad to see it still has some punch.
As for some of the specific questions: the Christic Institute, as far as I can tell

From: Matt Robbins (mrobbins@dl.com), Cupertino, CA
Date: Monday, August 19, 1996
Comment:
To me the root of this issue is the alliance between the CIA and organized crime. This alliance which was spawned at the end of WWII when the
OSS went into Europe (mainly to work with the remains of the branch of Hitlers SS Intellingence that already had a network of spies throughout
Eastern Europe and Russia). This is when the Mob first was allied with US Intelligence in Italy to help control elections and the shipping
docks.

The problem is that this alliance has gotten far out of hand because of the the cloak of secrecy and "National Security" that can be invoked by
the CIA. This brings me to my main point which is: Of all the major world events since WWII it has been discovered by somebody somewhere that
the CIA had a hand in it.( i.e.. Korean War, Vietnam War, Kennedy assassanation, Watergate, Contra-Gate, hundreds of assassanations, and now
the crack epidemic to mention a few! There is also an overwhelming body of evidence to support this statement.)

Which brings me to my next point. Unless your employer, the mainstream media, Vietnam and Korean Vets, the Kennedy family, the black citizens,
and the rest of the people of the USA, combine their will to change the power of the CIA, nothing will change and the CIA will conitinue as
before. So if your article is just to sell some newspapers and not change anything, then all you are doing is making a dime to pay the bills,
which is not far from what the CIA and all drug dealers are really doing.

I challenge the Editors and owners of the SJ Mercury to use this story as a springboard to publicly tell the US and World all about the real
history of America and the CIA since WWII.( I also suggest starting with the JFK story and the ongoing work of the JFK Assassanation Records
Review Board). Do this and you will spark the change neccessary to restore our once great democracy. Otherwise nothing will change no matter
who you vote for in Congress or as President. It is the CIA that is the greatest National Security threat to our Democracy and our society.
(Not to mention our well earned tax dollars.)

From: Kenneth Spain (kenneth.spain@sybase.com), NYC
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 1996
Comment: Congradulations on your excellent expose'. This is what the First Amendment and its spirit of the law was meant to convey; namely just what your newspaper has done. Please call Nightline, 60 Minutes, and the other credible news shows.

Further, I wish to convey the sentiments of our citizenry, in that there should be some significant form of accountability. Some significant restitution needs to be addressed to those caught up in this nightmare. For those in prison, serious indoctrination, first on this article series, then on becoming a citizen (in a productive fashion), perhaps some serious Boot Camp discipline, and finally some sort of sentence readjustment (read reduction or parole based on participation and personal commitment to change). This is one, but not necessarily the only way, for our society to appologize for the State Sanctioned crimes against humanity (and since this was one or two communities, as your article stated, it qualifies for the acutal term GENOCIDE) to those who were targeted and abused and have had their lives corrupted by our penial system, as well as those who willingly or unfortunately were victims of this crime.

Perhaps, this was the notion and objective behind the term "getting treatment".

Who's to say, but something NEEDS to be done to restore these victims to whole.


(NOTE: it is terribly dificult to type out or review or correct spelling errors in this micro-text window)

From: Kenneth Spain (kenneth.spain@sybase.com), NYC
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 1996
Comment: Congradulations on your excellent expose'. This is what the First Amendment and its spirit of the law was meant to convey; namely just what your newspaper has done. Please call Nightline, 60 Minutes, and the other credible news shows.

Further, I wish to convey the sentiments of our citizenry, in that there should be some significant form of accountability. Some significant restitution needs to be addressed to those caught up in this nightmare. For those in prison, serious indoctrination, first on this article series, then on becoming a citizen (in a productive fashion), perhaps some serious Boot Camp discipline, and finally some sort of sentence readjustment (read reduction or parole based on participation and personal commitment to change). This is one, but not necessarily the only way, for our society to appologize for the State Sanctioned crimes against humanity (and since this was one or two communities, as your article stated, it qualifies for the acutal term GENOCIDE) to those who were targeted and abused and have had their lives corrupted by our penial system, as well as those who willingly or unfortunately were victims of this crime.

Perhaps, this was the notion and objective behind the term "getting treatment".

Who's to say, but something NEEDS to be done to restore these victims to whole.


(NOTE: it is terribly dificult to type out or review or correct spelling errors in this micro-text window)

From: Chris Despopoulos (cud@adobe.com), Santa Cruz, CA
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 1996
Comment: The story of Nicaragua is unbearably tragic. A murderous
dictatorship is installed by the US. When the citizens
rid themselves of Somaza, the US responds by
claiming they must destroy the Sandanistas to save the world
for Democracy. And how do they -- er, I mean WE -- do
that? By sacrificing untold numbers of American citizens to the
nightmare of Crack.

How many people have suffered addiction? How many
families broken by gang violence? How much
vitality has been sucked from communities that
could otherwise have contributed to the culture,
knowledge, and yse, even the tax base of America?
How can a cost be assigned to this miserable policy
of ours to "save the world for democracy"
no matter what?

How can Bush, Secord, North, and Poindexter
sleep at night? How can any American sleep
at night knowing these traitors are free,
and even hailed as heros?

How can anybody take seriously the current shrieks for personal
accountability after we all allowed Regan and
Bush to hide behind plausible deniability?

How can any thinking person say he is proud to be an American?

From: Chris Despopoulos (cud@adobe.com), Santa Cruz, CA
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 1996
Comment: Part of the indictment against Bush included
evidence that Bush, Secord, and North
were involved in suppl;ying a fleet of
airplanes to the biggest opium magnate in
the Vietnamese theater.

Do those names sound familiar?
I hope so.

Just another harmless co-inkie-dink?
I doubt it.

From: Bret Bailey (bailey@corp.sgi.com), Sunnyvale
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 1996
Comment: Thank you for having the courage to print this story.
I've had little to no respect for the Merc(and all MAINSTREAM media) for years now because of the biased journalism.
For once I agree with your biases!! Imagine that!

p.s. What happened to all the content that was in the forum yesterday?

-Bret

From: Mark Hull (mhull@sjmercury.com), Mercury Center
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 1996
Comment: Hello there. In response to the thread about Sen. Kerry and the subcommittee questioning,
selected transcripts can be found in the library, or by heading directly to http://www.sjmercury.com/drugs/library/25.htm

Also, while the three-day main series is over, the story is only beginning. We'll continue to update this page with new stories
that Gary Webb files. Tomorrow, we'll feature new content and there should be another new story this weekend. Keep an eye out, and thanks
for the input.


Mark Hull
Mercury Center

From: Mark Hull (mhull@sjmercury.com), Mercury Center
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 1996
Comment: This is a test.

From: Sylvanus Bent (sylvanus-avis.bent@worldnet.att.net), Cupertino, Ca
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 1996
Comment: I don't know whether to cry or to scream.
I've heard these rumors before, but now there's no denying it.
This is treason and genocidal murder.

This could rock the '96 elections and dominate the Capitol Hill agenda for years.

I congratulate the Gary Webb and the Mercury News for breaking this story.
When will Gary be on Nightline, NBC, NPR or any other major TV / Radio news program?

From: Eric Forbes (keystone@znet.com), Santa Cruz, CA
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 1996
Comment: Unfortunately, I am not surprised by the
information in this series of articles. But
I am grateful for the MN as a mainstream paper
for publishing it.
One of the issues that grabs my attention
is the inequality of sentencing for those who
have information to share with the prosecution.
This strategy seems to be used most often with
organized crime in the mostly vain hope that the
guys who have been caught will implicate the guys
who have yet to be caught. Evidently, what ends up
happening is that the guys at the top are rarely if
ever caught, the guys in the middle are given light
sentencing in return for all their help, and the guy
who knows nothing gets hit with the full force of the
law. Are we supposed to think this is fair?
I agree with one of the other contributors to this
forum who said that these kind of problems will only
reoccurr as long as the intelligence wing of the US
government is unaccountable to the public. Obviously, we
can't trust the Congress or the Presidency to stop
things like this from happening.
I also agree with another contributor who noted that
the temptation to deal in drugs lies with the huge profits
that can be gained from them for whatever ultimate purpose
you could dream up. Prohibition does not seem to be working.
Neither does the lopsided reliance on enforcement.
Does the DEA know what the CIA is doing? Talk about
bureaucratic conflict! (All humor aside, is it ever going to
stop?)
Hopefully, more of this kind of information escapes into
the public awareness, enough to force a thorough rethinking
of the Drug War.
Thanks for the good work, Gary Webb and the MN, keep it up.

From: Candyce Gleason (clg@microweb.com), Richmond, CA
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 1996
Comment: After reading bits and pieces of stories
regarding this conspiracy over the past decade,
it is really shocking to see the story
presented in such a format. This is what
journalism used to be about...the truth.

This is not only a story of racist conspiracy, but
one of how much we are at the mercy of the powerful
elite in this country. Racism is detestable,
targeted genocide is unforgivable.

I's time to demand answers and accountability for
these crimes.

That our own leaders would do this to us, and I do mean
"us," makes me shake with anger and fear.

I'll be back here for updates. Again, thank you.

Candyce Gleason

From: Susan Guberman-Garcia (susan@belize.com), Fremont, Calif.
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 1996
Comment: This is an excellent series. I am glad
to see a representative of the corporate
media publishing what those of us who
listen to Pacifica (KPFA) have known
for years: That the US government is
nose deep (you should pardon the
expression) in dope dealing...and that
the "war against drugs" is in fact, a
war against young people of color...a
way to perpetuate racism, destroy a
community, and desensitize the American
people to a loss of their civil liberties
all at the same time.

I hope your series does not fail to
implicate Oliver North, George Bush
and yes: COLIN POWELL in what we know
was a narcotics conspiracy run at the
highest levels of the US government.

I hope you also do not fail to discuss
the abuse of the "classification" stamp
as a way to keep the American people
from knowing the sordid deeds of their
"leaders."

May this story become a first step in
repealing the National Security Act of
1949 and reinstating the right of the
American people to know what their
government is doing.

From: S. Kramer (ar912@lafn.org), Encino, CA
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 1996
Comment: ...while all this was happening. And he
has the nerve to blame Clinton for the
increase in teenage drug use?

From: Altaf Bhimji (altaf@wco.com), San Jose
Date: Tuesday, August 20, 1996
Comment: Thank you for the excellent coverage of this subverting of deomcoracy...I highly doubt it that other media outlets will actually pick up on the story, or that it will have any impact on the corrupt CIA, the two so-called "major parties" or on the elections...this story, like others will probably be ignored and life will go on, until we Americans actually decide we want a change...and I don't just mean a change from one special interest party to another... Altaf

From: Lucio Benedetto (lucio@ix.netcom.com), Chevy Chase, MD
Date: Wednesday, August 21, 1996
Comment: This is an enlightening series and inspiring
series. I and a friend run a Website dedicated
to exposing what's left out of much of so-called
investigative journalism, focusing on the
Washington Post. It is exciting to see a
major news daily focus on an issue that for so long
has been either derided or utterly ignored by the
Eastern Big Boys like the Post or The New York Times.
The story of the CIA's collusion with drug dealers
during Reagan's war against the people of Central
America must be told, with the proviso, of course,
that Iran-Contra is only one small piece of a larger
and darker panorama of corruption and violence perpetuated
by the National Security State (skeptics should check out the
fine bibliography included in the Library). I hope your
series is only the beginning and that, unlike your more cowardly
establishment colleagues, you choose to further probe
these activities, revealing that they are not "aberrations",
to use the favored term of the government investigators,
but part of a deeper historical continuity that for too long
has been hidden from the eyes of the American public. Bravo!

P.S. I am going to link readers of PostMortem directly to your
site so that they may read this wonder series. It's about time
we had an example of informative investigative journalism to celebrate.

Lucio Benedetto
PostMortem - Probing, puncturing, and dissecting the Washington Post
http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/1848/

From: JD (aaa@bbb.com), Boston
Date: Wednesday, August 21, 1996
Comment: Sadly, I'm not surprised by what has
been uncovered. Even just reading the
Federal Register, I'm frequently shocked
by the things that the President orders
to be done. I can only imagine that the
things that remain secret are even
worse. Your article has helped uncover
the nature of those things.

Sadly, too, change is unlikely to come
soon. The Democrats and Republicans have
a stranglehold on American politics, and
neither party has the least interest in
telling the truth.

From: David Borja (dab@vnet.ibm.com), Sunnyvale
Date: Wednesday, August 21, 1996
Comment: I commend you for you excellent research
and ariticles detailing the contra/"crack"
connection and the CIA's colusion in this
criminal activity. Like Matt Smith of San Jose,
I want accountabilty and justice! I encourage the
Merc news to stay with this story and take it
whereever it leads. All citzens of good will,
no matter which way they lean politically,
must demand that the government stop hiding
criminal activity behind the veil of "national
security".
At the same time, we must avoid the lynch
mob mentality that manifests itself in the
hysterical left wing rhetoric ("Trageted
genocide", "Reagan's war against the people
of Central America", etc etc) of so many
of the responses in this forum. The details
on CIA invovlement, who ordered what, who
knew what, are still missing or hidden. What
is known is that the contras smuggled cocain
into the US to finance their war and the
CIA (and possibly others) allowed this go
go on. For the paranoid left, evidence isn't necessary
before they burn Reagan, Bush, et al at the
stake. Responsibility and criminal activity
may indeed have taken place at the very hightest
levels but until we have evidence, let's
avoid tossing out names and accusations.

From: Bruce Tennant (bruce433@erols.com), Lanham/Seabrook,MD
Date: Wednesday, August 21, 1996
Comment: So the Republicans saved America from
the communists. Who will save
America from the Republicans?

From: Brian Roberts (BRoberts@Sky.Net), Kansas City, MO
Date: Wednesday, August 21, 1996
Comment: My congratulations to Mr. Webb and the
San Jose Mercury News for having the
courage to publish this most disturbing
piece. Quite unusual in these days for
a mainstream commercial paper to go that
far out on a limb to reveal disturbing
truths to the public.
My question to Mr. Webb is: Given the
obvious complicity of the US Government
--apparently at the highest level--do
you feel that the upcoming race between
Clinton and Dole represents little more
than a sad farce? Do the *people* have
*any* true democratic control in this
country--or are we simply pawns in the
hands of nefarious and powerful
international cartels?

From: Michael Bender (qadir@pacbell.net), Santa Cruz
Date: Wednesday, August 21, 1996
Comment: I would like to commend the Mercury News staff for having done such a fine job in handling the Dark Alliance expose'. The editorial boards willingness to print this story gives comfort in that even a Knight -Ridder paper maintains the journalistic independence to challenge our Executive Branch of Federal Government. Over the many years since Viet Nam and Watergate I fear the mere mention of "conspiracy" and the CIA causes our national eyes to cloud over as we anticipate the ramblings of the paranoid or disenfrachised left. What better an atmosphere for real violations of our national character to abound. Additionally I would like to compliment Gary Webb for his sober handling of the facts at his disposal and the obvious diligence of his research efforts. Finally I very much enjoyed the way the informations was layed out both on paper and on the Web.
I believe an important point, perhaps tactfully understated by Mr. Webb, is the fact that the CIA is an arm of the Executive Branch and the Reagan- Bush administration should easily be held more responsible for this debacle than was the Kennedy administration for the Bay of Pigs. Kennedy whose administration was merely three months old accepted responsibity for his CIA's ineptitude. Reagan -Bush despite more time in office and Bush's close association with the CIA could only admit blame as a function of memory loss or owing to rogue underlings. These then are the forbears of those who cry for character and christianity from San Diego.
Shamefully this duplicity is not the ken of one party. When Johnson called for the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution based on intelligence analysis we as a nation largely believed and signed on for war. Years later the rumors and noises from the fringe turned out to be true. The entire affair a fiction as much as democracy in South Viet Nam or Freedom Fighters in Nicaragua. We invaded Panama to catch another Latin American drug dealer formerly on our payroll and how many thousand Panamanians do they claim died. What dies in all these fiascos is the credibility of our leaders and with them that of the offices they soil. So when the reports come out about Pan Am 103 or TWA 800 how can we believe in "Operation Just Cause" and be sure that this is not just a hi-tech lynching for yet another uppity nigger?

From: Michael Kaplan (KaplanMike@aol.com), Burbank, CA
Date: Thursday, August 22, 1996
Comment: I join in the overwhelming applause for the Mercury News and reporter Gary Webb.

But I find it saddening that so few of the Los Angeles stations are giving this story much, if any, coverage. Larry FortenskyÕs arrest for marijuana is big news; the biggest government scandal in a generation isnÕt.

It reminds me of a story from a Texas paper, picked up in the USA Today, about CIA links to a failed Savings & Loan during the Ō80s. Apparently, they were funneling money from that to the Contras and other black-box projects. The story was as shocking (and apparently almost as well documented) as ŅDark Alliance.Ó But the story disappeared without a trace.

Hopefully that wonÕt be the case here.

Further kudos to the electronic presentation of the story. With a wealthy of supporting materials and feedback options, this is truly the news medium of the future (though I still donÕt like reading lots of text on a screen!)

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

From: Angela Wilson (wilson@teleport.com), Portland
Date: Thursday, August 22, 1996
Comment: Webb should certainly get the Pulitzer for this series--and the MN serious applause for supporting his work. Both parties should be proud of upholding the standards of good journalism, especially in the face of the personality non-news our dailies are filled with.
To think that millions of Black
Americans are now addicted to a lethal drug because of a secret war run by the U.S. government blows my mind.
Surely reparations are called for. After all, how many Black men and women are spending years behind bars because they were small cogs in the wheels of greed, duplicity and war-mongering?
The mind reels at the damage--financial and otherwise--that has been done in the name of honor, democracy, nation-building.

From: tom sailors (tcs@flinet.com), miami florida
Date: Thursday, August 22, 1996
Comment: It's about time someone, even if it must
be a left wing pub such as the San
Jose Mercury, has had the courage to
report this story. It's been around for
a long time. I hope you go all the way
and show America how pervasive this
situation really is. You could take the
next step by showing how your darling
Clinton conspired with the CIA to train
contras at a base in Mena, Arkansas where
thousands of kilos of coke were imported
and distrubuted to organized crime. This
was Oliver North's (aka John Cathey)
project, but it could not have happened without
Clinton signing off on the laundering of
the money through his Arkansas Development
Finance Authority. You see, I am a conservative
Republican, but I want the truth. If that
means Bush, North or whomever was involved,
I want to know. We'll see how much you
lefties really want to know the truth when
and if you expose the Clinton Dixie Mafia.

From: Wendy Webb (wendy.webb@macsch.com), Alhambra
Date: Thursday, August 22, 1996
Comment: For years I've heard stories about the CIA running their own airline during the Viet Nam war as a means to import heroin. Perhaps, now, the story can be confirmed.

I'm proud to share the WEBB name, even if I don't know Gary. Fantastic series--I look forward to more.

From: Jim Romandy (adipus2@ibm.net), Orange, CA
Date: Thursday, August 22, 1996
Comment: How could Clinton and the Arkansas Mena Airport not make it into your story? I see an arrow on the map that looks like it points to Arkansas. I think you better re-read "Compromised: Clinton, Bush and the CIA" by Terry Reed. This story has been in book form since 1992. Clinton and Bush are as dirty as hell - it's time to get the word out.

From: Jane Marcus (jmarcus@leland.stanford.edu), Palo Alto
Date: Thursday, August 22, 1996
Comment: When I went on vacation two weeks ago I knew I would
miss the Mercury News' excellent coverage
of the "drug war." Little did I know I'd
miss Gary Webb's Pullitzer-quality series.

But thanks to technology I've been able to
read the whole story AND MORE! The web
version that you've put together is REMARKABLE!
The links to the source documents, pictures,
and audio make this a full-blown hyper-media
masterpiece. I hope you will make it possible
for others around the country to access the
URL of this important collection of information.

Also, could you keep us local readers appraised
of other papers across the country that run
the story? I'd be curious to know whether
other editors and publishers have the courage
and responsibility that the Mercury's staff
has shown.

THANK YOU!!!!

From: Karen (ka@cooper.cpmc.org), Corte Madera
Date: Thursday, August 22, 1996
Comment: The CIA has done more damage to this country than all the communist governments it has supposedly opposed. It is a criminal institution hiding behind the black cloak of secrecy known as "national security" and receiving uncounted billions of tax dollars to boot. How much longer will we allow it to stay in operation? When will enough people open their eyes to the fact that the CIA is destroying democracy (not saving it) so we can at long last close it down?!

From: Matthew Amster-Burton (mamster@u.washington.edu), Seattle, WA
Date: Friday, August 23, 1996
Comment: The idea that the CIA, NSA, and FBI are
out of control clouds the real issue:
none of this would have happened if the
Reagan administration hadn't prosecuted
an illegal war in Central America.
Blaming the CIA for doing what it could
to fund this war makes no sense. Our
government is complicit in a crime as
foul as what Saddam Hussein perpetrated
on the Kurds. The question should not
be "How can we reform the CIA?" but
"How can we completely rebuild our
evil government?"

From: Jeff Pulliam (jpulliam@earthlink.net), San Jose
Date: Friday, August 23, 1996
Comment: Good writing, but in order to make the sale
you need to give us more of your background
data. The substantiation that would turn this
into more than a Clancy Novel, could determine
whether this series of articles is an interesting
anamoly, or a significant start to fixing
the ethical standards of our country.

Bob Dole, Jack Kemp, and all the rest of
the Washington Insiders should beware. IF this
gets any momentum, the guilty will be held accountable.

RE Clinton and Mena - Do you really think
the CIA would bring in a draft dodging
liberal into a secret operation like that?

From: Meekail Shaheed (mshaheed@montereybay.com), Presidio of Monterey
Date: Friday, August 23, 1996
Comment: Hats off to Mr Webb and the supporting staff! As a member of our Armed Forces..I find it embarassing that elements of our Federal Government are involved in such activities...embarassed but not surprised. I feel that the American people have a right to see that guilty parties, no matter how high on the 'Federal Totum Pole" are exposed and prosecuted. We all see how quick our Federal Prosecuters go after the small fish..what about when it's one of their own. As a side note, being an African American Muslim, I see for our communities one solution. Live as God intnded and fight injustice wherever we see it....from our own backyards to the backyard of OUR White House!

From: Hiram Clawson (hiramc@sco.COM), Santa Cruz, CA
Date: Friday, August 23, 1996
Comment: Those of us that used to display this
"Cocain Import Agency" bumper sticker
many years ago have been familiar with
this story for quite some time.

These CIA-Drug connection stories go
quite a bit back in time. Try reading:
"The Politics of Heroin in South East
Asia" by Alfred W. McCoy, 1972 for some
older history of this age old
CIA problem.

I'm happy to see this story reaching
a new audience. The outrage of the
freshly exposed readers is refreshing
to see. Congratulations to Gary Webb
and the Mercury News on this series.

--Hiram

From: John Farabee (farab001@metvax.metro.msus.edu.), Minneapolis
Date: Saturday, August 24, 1996
Comment: The U.S. government shouldn't make any
covert moves until real and effective
checks and balances are in place. These
congressional oversight committees are a
sham. We need to realize that the
Democrats and Republicans see eye to eye
on this type of thing, and work in
orchestration. Therefore, better
representation in Congress. That will
happen when we all get hopping mad. By the
way, how long will Koppel and co. dance
away from this one?

From: John Farabee (farab001@metvax.metro.msus.edu.), Minneapolis
Date: Saturday, August 24, 1996
Comment: The U.S. government shouldn't make any
covert moves until real and effective
checks and balances are in place. These
congressional oversight committees are a
sham. We need to realize that the
Democrats and Republicans see eye to eye
on this type of thing, and work in
orchestration. Therefore, better
representation in Congress. That will
happen when we all get hopping mad. By the
way, how long will Koppel and co. dance
away from this one?

From: Gil Gault (brogil@aol.com), Mill Valley,CA
Date: Saturday, August 24, 1996
Comment: What really amazes me is that no one else seems to be even slightly interested in this story.
This is to me genocide on the scale of the Nazis and
all we read about in the other papers is that Ted Koppels hair
is still in place. God Bless you for at least doing what you
can to report the truth even though many actually don't want you to do that. Keep up the
good work and maybe some day the American People
will see it. PEACE AND LOVE!

From: Bob Gonsalves (pinknoiz@pinknoiz.com), Crockett, CA
Date: Saturday, August 24, 1996
Comment: Thanks for mentioning two of my web pages in your Links section. I have
a few other pointers for your readers. For those who are
interested in more research on the CIA, I also host
a 'trial-size' version of former CIA officer Ralph McGehee's
CIABASE, at http://www.pinknoiz.com/covert/ciabasesearch.html.

Another book that is relevant is Jack Terrell's "Disposable Patriot".
Terrell was harrassed by North and the FBI as he tried to blow the
whistle on the contra operation. There are about 2 dozen references
to drugs in the index of his biography. Also, Alfred McCoy's classic
"The Politics of Heroin: CIA Complicity in the Global Drug Trade" was
republished in 1991 by Lawrence Hill Books and is readily available.

The series has had some effect in the journalism world, though little
political change is to be expected. Here's a story: Dick Armey
was recently holding a press conference and was going on about Clinton
and drug policy. A reporter asked about his reaction to the Merc's series.
All Armey could do, I've been told, was sputter as his face turned red.

Insofar as Mena goes: Having read the Kerry report, I don't recall much
about the Arkansas base, beyond the discussion of Barry Seal and
his betrayal by North and the phony "Frederico Vaughn" caper. I find it
fascinating that people are trying to use it to beat up Clinton, especially
since it was leftist columnist Alexander Cockburn who raised the issue
_before_ the 1992 election. I look forward to the CIA IG's report, though
I expect it to be a whitewash.

Companion series on Guatemala's G-2 & the Salvadoran generals (what _really_
went on at Ilopango air base) would be quite intersting.

Bob Gonsalves, Research Director, Pink Noise Studios

From: Angel Dominguez (teodom@ix.netcom.com), Canyon Country, CA
Date: Sunday, August 25, 1996
Comment: While I'm not surprised, I question how many of our government representatives would be if they received overwhelming amounts of e-mail (linking this SJ Mercury web site, of course) regarding their views and action they plan to take on behalf of citizens regarding such a dangerous agency as the CIA, as it now exists. I personally plan to immediately e-mail "Buck," and any other government officials I can locate on the internet, and plead with and encourage others to do likewise. Any and every radio or television news station with an e-mail address should be written attaching this website requesting extensive coverage. We should not stand for silence on this issue.

From: Dave Strom (davstrom@aimnet.com), Santa Clara
Date: Sunday, August 25, 1996
Comment: A sentence from Noam Chomsky: "U.S.
foreign policy is, in fact, based on the
principle that human rights are
irrelevant."

It appears that the U. S. domestic policy
for U.S. citizens with black skin is
based on the same principle.

From: Steve Winston (xee@psnw.com), Visalia, CA
Date: Monday, August 26, 1996
Comment: Your series reminds of something out of the 60's and early 70's.
I lived in a small town in northern New Mexico. Militancy was growing
there. Hippies and pot were common. Majority of the people were hispanic.
A flood of heroin swamped that town like it flowed into ghettos and barrios all over the US
in the early 70's. The word was that it came from the Nixon administration.
People believed the feds were loosing the shit on us to control
the angry militants.

From: Bob Ragland (Rags@prostar.com), Seattle WA
Date: Tuesday, August 27, 1996
Comment: "America, we need you now we can't fight alone against
the monster. Don't you know dah dah dah dah don't you
care about your sons and daughters????"

Apparently not.

From: Rev. Wes Rehberg, Ph.D. (wrehberg@igc.apc.org), Burdett, NY
Date: Tuesday, August 27, 1996
Comment: It's long been held that a drugs and arms conspiracy with Contra connections has been part of another conspiracy, to disenfranchise other oppressed peoples in the U.S. Congratulations to Mr. Webb for his excellent investigative work, and for once again confirming deeply held observations that the U.S. government has a very dark side that continues to violently and savagely abase and suppress and oppress people who seek alternative ways of living out lives of justice in the midst of the most brutal injustices. We certainly need more of this kind of courageous and diligent work from the press.

From: Rev. Wes Rehberg, Ph.D. (wrehberg@igc.apc.org), Burdett, NY
Date: Tuesday, August 27, 1996
Comment: It's long been held that a drugs and arms conspiracy with Contra connections has been part of another conspiracy, to disenfranchise other oppressed peoples in the U.S. Congratulations to Mr. Webb for his excellent investigative work, and for once again confirming deeply held observations that the U.S. government has a very dark side that continues to violently and savagely abase and suppress and oppress people who seek alternative ways of living out lives of justice in the midst of the most brutal injustices. We certainly need more of this kind of courageous and diligent work from the press.

From: Robert B. Turk (inconspicuous@megalith.com), Austin, TX
Date: Tuesday, August 27, 1996
Comment: Thank you so much for the well-organized
web resource and articles about this terrible
racist/genocidal policy. I've long believed
the "War on Drugs" of the Reagan/Bush
administrations was just another front
for their criminal activites in Iran, in
Central America, and of course in the US.

It is a War on Citizens, and it always has
been. The billions of dollars spent to imprison
non-violent "offenders" should have gone
towards disarming criminals, educating everyone
about the perils of substance abuse AND of
trusting the government. The CIA, the NSA,
the FBI, etc. have been granted blank checks
by Congress to wage every single war they've
wanted. And what happens? George Bush pardoned
every crooked one of 'em!

What'll happen now? Will people finally
fight back against the horribly corrupt war
machine? Will they demand medical treatment for
addicts and legalization of the so-called
"bad drugs" in order to flatten out the profit
motivation behind all this criminality? Will
they blithely continue to believe "The Powers
That Be" that use violence, intimidation,
extortion, and blackmail to maintain the
status quo that is clearly NOT RIGHT!!??

Please continue to inform and challenge us all
to be more than we currently are!

From: Robert C. Schleyer (rkelly05@interserv.com), Houston
Date: Tuesday, August 27, 1996
Comment: Have we so soon forgotten that the CIA
financed its secret wars in Cambodia
and Laos by operating the largest
herion distribution system in the World.
The dope was distributed all over the
World by the CIA's private airline,
Air America. Continental Airlines, (yes,
the BIG one) is reputed to maintain
strong ties with the CIA. This is common
talk amongst professional pilots.
Continental flew for the CIA during the
Viet Nam war and today, Continental
is making semi-secret flights "down
South," carrying "unknown" cargo. Keep
scratching....

From: jesse kolstad (kramer1@isomedia.com), seattle
Date: Tuesday, August 27, 1996
Comment: look at the money that is to be had seling something that america wants anyway.
whether its moral or not is not the goverments job to enforce.
people use "i was on drugs "too often as an exuse,,,and america excepts it.
after this becomes common knowledg among americans i think ppeople will have to rethink their outlook on drugs and the people who do them
to the government,my mom who smoked pot would have been a filthy drug addict who deserves to lose her kids.im sorry but that seems far mor immoral than the act of doing drugs!
the fact that the gov. sold drugs does not suprise me i just wish they'd quit putting people in prison for buying it!

From: Robert Turner (BOBT3IXNETSCAPE.COM), NY,NY
Date: Tuesday, August 27, 1996
Comment: I always hoped that some day somebody
would get the truth out about drugs.
Thank so much

From: Les Butler (les@calweb.com), Cameron Park, CA
Date: Tuesday, August 27, 1996
Comment: Enough lives have been lost in our search for a Manifesto Destiny type of political phhilosophy. If this is the truth, we should be ashamed as American's.

From: Bob Ragland (Rags@prostar.com), Seattle
Date: Tuesday, August 27, 1996
Comment: I've spent the better part of the last two days surfing various conferencing sites and online newspapers
trying to get a feel for how much exposure this scandal is getting and the answer is NOT MUCH!!

We have to raise hell!!! Watching the DNC cool Willie show makes me ill. We can't let them (rep+dem)
get away with covering this up!!

Write, phone or email (send the URL for this site) your Senators, Reps and their leadership.
Write and email your local news people!!!

Raise hell!!!

From: Robert Rodgers (rsr@msn.com), Bowie
Date: Wednesday, August 28, 1996
Comment: There's lots of allegations here, but no content. I notice that, for instance, to substantiate the story the sidebar contains pointers (e.g., to Reagan's orders to support the contras) but there is no actual evidence (except from an admitted criminal and drug dealer) connecting point A (the US government, the contras) to point B (the drugs).

On the other hand, the sleazy way in which the sidebar *implies* that there is a conenction (e.g., reagan's orders -- few people are going to read them and notice the lack of a connection) is usually indicative of having no leg to stand on.

Be interesting to see if anyone follows this up and provides the actual background data. If it's true, it's too bad that SJ Mercury handled it so incompetently.

From: James Gibbons (jgibbon@pacifier.com), Vancouver, WA
Date: Wednesday, August 28, 1996
Comment: When the Wall Street Journal (June 29, 1994; October 18, 1994) published stories about drug running in Mena the left wing called it a conspiracy theory. Yesterday, Tom Leykis put down a caller that lived in Mena during those times for spreading rumors about drug running. Now that a left wing author (I assume Webb is left but correct me if I'm wrong) discovered a west coast CIA-drug connection, it suddenly becomes important enough to investigate.

If either story is true, we have no where to turn for the truth. Both sides of government and the press are possibly corrupt. I don't think Clinton will investigate it because of his history in Mena.

This may all be conspiracy crap. I remember an issue of a Freak Brothers underground comic book from the 70's with a story on government drug running. Either it was true then or it was someone's acid trip on paper. I'm sure that there are some drug dealers that will say the CIA made them do it just to try to make a get out of jail deal.

I will admit, Webb's documentation is quite impressive. So is Roger Morris in his Partners in Power book on the Mena drug running. Terry Reed is another story, however. I most of all trust Sen. Kerry, and plan to read more of his documents soon. If this is true, we are all in deep trouble.

From: Davis Oldham (daviso@u.washington.edu), Seattle, WA
Date: Wednesday, August 28, 1996
Comment: I enthusiastically commend the MN for its reporting on
this issue. The mainstream press has largely ignored
the matter over the past 10 years (see Norman Solomon's
column at the Colombia Support Network's site,
http://www.igc.apc.org/csn/war.html, which you can find
at the weblinks page of this site). Kudos to the MN
for finally taking it on, thoroughly and determinedly.

I take issue with one comment early on in the first
article, however. Webb, whose reporting is generally
excellent, writes that the contra war is "barely a
memory" today. Perhaps for most American readers it is,
but for thousands of Nicaraguans living with its aftermath--
economic devastation, environmental destruction, lost limbs,
dead relatives, indelible memories of torture and atrocity--
it remains a palpable reality. To dismiss all this with a
phrase is to succumb to the narrow perspective that has
allowed the story itself to be ignored for too long. Just as
the Nicaraguan reality is deemed irrelevant, so for 10 years
the black community's experience and knowledge, and the marginalized
left press's reporting on this topic were deemed irrelevant.
It's time the mainstream press--even the courageous reporters
like Webb--got over themselves and stopped treating the rest
of the world as a footnote.

All in all, though, an excellent piece of work.

From: Joe Russo (Sunnsea@aol.com), Jersey City, NJ
Date: Thursday, August 29, 1996
Comment: Thank you Mr. Webb and Mercury News for publishing this series.
We should not be surprised, however. The so-called War on Drugs is nothing but a massive cover-up for all these activities at least si ce the Vietnam War....next time probe the bank accounts off-shore of Nixon, Reagan, Bush and Bennett....
It is refreshing to see some real courage in the media not just obessession with trivia....
It takes someone outside the Beltway these days to do the work....
I fear this series is only exposing the tip of a hugh iceberg....

Now here are some more suggestions for futre investigations:

1) Didja ever notice how the urban riots of the 60's began in WAtts in '64 and then came to end in '68 (expect for a few sporadic outbursts in Miami and Houston)...did CIA and Nixonian elements have anything to do with these?

2) Didja ever notice how the '68 riots at t the Demo. convention really involved only a relative handful of cops and rioters (may 100 to 150 max. but because of the way the
TV cameras were positioned, it appeared like all of da Loop was in flames....check out the ABC-TV documentary on this whihc ran in the early 80's it analyzed the films and tapes produced at the time and had other tapes filmed at wide angles showing how small the "police riot" really was....Nixonian dirty tricks?

3) Will someone please research Kenny O'Donnell's claim in his book "Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye" about JFK's executive order to start pulling out troops from Vietnam beginning in Late 1964 but which was mysteriously rescinded by Johnson just three days after the Assassination....surely there must be documnetaiton on this if such an order was issued and then rescinded....

Thank you again for the series!

From: Bob Bondi (bondi@ix.netcom.com), Seaside
Date: Thursday, August 29, 1996
Comment: All people put in prison for
crack/cocaine use should be released
immediatly. The CIA shuold be
investigated. Ollie North re-prosecuted
with the new evidence.

From: Benjamin (benjamin@rosenet.com), Portland
Date: Thursday, August 29, 1996
Comment: This incident is yet another case where the CIA has gone beyond its charter and intention - to provide knowledge and data for national security. It should be an EAR (HUMINT), not a fist, or a disease to our country.

The CIA has clearly shown that we have a rogue clandestine power in our government that does not have the welfare of our people in its best interests.

I demand that the CIA be disassembled and abolished. The politicians and officials and unofficials who are responsible for the atrocities listed here should be made accountable and given no lenience. I have no patience and no respect for these operations and the people who have carried them out. It is a matter of national security that they be defeated.

As to the need of an intelligence gathering agency - there is little doubt of its importance even in the post cold war world. However, the rot runs so deep that exorcising the demons by fire seems far more plausible than healing via superficial crowd pleasing band-aids of reform.

I say we should start over. We should abolish the existing powerbase. We should look for new talent who have the welfare of every American citizen in their very best interest.

From: Tim Henningsen (timh@everett.com), Seattle
Date: Thursday, August 29, 1996
Comment: The prospects for any justice here is nearly
unattainable. The corners of the CIA that promote
and fund this type of behavior are so entrenched
that there will never be any real answers.
The drug trade is a dirty business for both those who
try to enforce and those who promote it.
It makes us ask questions like,"Where does
all that product go when these huge bust are made?"
The agents,dealers,producers and informants
all have their own agenda. No informant should
ever be trusted. The only thing we can do is
teach our children the evils of substance abuse.
Regardless of who was pushing what, we must remember
that there was a demand also.

From: Michael Hoffman (michael@cybtrans.com), Palo Alto, CA
Date: Thursday, August 29, 1996
Comment: GOVERNMENT FOUND GUILTY OF CREATING THE ENTIRE CRACK DEALING SCENE

U.S. GOVERNMENT FOUND GUILTY OF CREATING THE "DRUG EPIDEMIC" AGAINST WHICH THE GOVERNMENT'S OWN "WAR ON DRUGS" IS DIRECTED

The Self-Destruction Of The War On Drugs: It was bound to happen, now it is happening. The WOD is now exploding

How can the government justify the totalitarian War On Drugs when it turns out that the *number 1* dealer and supplier is the government itself? The whole thing stinks, is fishy, and collapses.

I predict that the WOD will continue escalating until it blows up of its own lack of foundation.

The government is the drug dealer that it protects us against. Total corruption. Total hypocrisy. Totally surreal.

This article is only about crack -- but the entire WOD is *precisely centered* around LA crack. The very epicenter and Origin, the Genesis, of the "drug epidemic" -- that is, the LA crack scene -- is very high level government pushers in charge of "national security".

In the movie Brazil, the government turns out to be the very terrorists that it cites as justification for the totalitarian state. Soviet-style posters warn to "Mind That Parcel!" These parcels turn out to be government-manufactured "terrorist" bombs, probably. In our real world, these mysterious parcels from the government turn out to be kilos of government-supplied cocaine. Mind That Parcel, CIA.

Uncritical minds are short-sighted about this revelation of CIA drug-dealing. They change their attitude toward the CIA (they are shocked to find that it is corrupt) but they uncritically keep their same attitudes about drugs and the WOD that has been hammered into them by unknown PR powers (drugs = evil, WOD = good).

More critical thinkers see that this implication of the government in promoting drugs *completely* collapses every aspect of the WOD into one huge farce. The *whole gig* is off. This is not just a new element in the WOD -- rather, the entire WOD collapses as a circular: One arm of the government promotes drug use, and the other incarcerates for drug use. Around they go, a demonic enslavement machine fueled by robbing free citizens of their most precious possession, freedom.

From: Michael Hoffman (michael@cybtrans.com), Palo Alto, CA
Date: Thursday, August 29, 1996
Comment: This thread is presumably in response to the question posed at the top:

"Should the government have limits on who it hires as an informant or
cooperating witness? Where do you draw the line?"

I think the government should not have limits on who it hires as an informant or cooperating witness. However, it should set up a proper and moral arrangement with these people, not encourage them to commit crime while fighting crime.


This is the first major news to be published on the Web since the CDA (Citizens for Decency Amendment?) that tried to censor the Web down to a conservative child's level. The WOD involves the Web in that the Web can break the WOD by introducing a new element: reasoned discussion and individuals' points of view rather than government and corporate PR agents' points of view.

The WOD is really *driven by* power and money, not health and morality. To end the WOD you must treat it as a thoroughly corrupt power-driven establishment.

The Web is the only place you can find individuals and thinkers having a reasoned discussion about drugs. Do not underestimate the power of the Web! The WOD cannot go on as before, in the face of the Web.

The phrase "War on Drugs" must really be interpreted " 'War', on drugs", as in "The Idea of War, Drugged". This usage of the term "War" has been distorted into an altered state.


Add LSD to heroin and cocaine as drugs that Uncle Sam has pushed onto the citizens.

Jay Stevens - _Storming Heaven_
_Acid Dreams: LSD, the CIA, and the American Dream_
Article in the zine _High Frontiers_ (now _Mondo 2000_) -- 60s into 90s issue (about 1987)

These books and the article argue that the government in the 60s was worried about the political activism of hippies and youth, so promoted and pushed recreational drug use as a distraction. Hippies and New Agers lost in wishful fantasy and escapism are no political threat.

From: John Gant (gg1190@main.worldreach.net), Norfolk Va
Date: Thursday, August 29, 1996
Comment: As an American who is also a black man I have been in my mind
a beleiver in my nation. Even with racisim as big a problem as it
is I remain a beliver in the american dream. However I am
a realist also. A look at history will prove to most
that we are under attack from outside.
This does not stop here for if you look you will see also that when
something happens to us such as this then in time it
also happens to the white community. This is normally when they stand up to protest
loadly. Example school bussing we thought that young black children would
get good educations mixed with whites
who knew they would through the children of poor whites unable to afford
private school in with us and let us all find the lowest common denominator.
We as citizens need unity among us all black ,white or who ever
we are in this together. sorry for the comes across but I am very angry
This is my country to....

From: Lawrence (dilworl@cvg.baxter.com), Los Angeles
Date: Thursday, August 29, 1996
Comment: This has been known in the African American community for years. Have you ever heard the saying or gester "We don't have any planes ro boats to bring the dope in America". I remember when cocaine started getting big. All I wanted to be when I grew up was to be big time, Making a thousand dollars a day. The police was taking dope dealers money instead of taking them to jail. The office would ask the dealer if he wanted to go to jail or give up the days earnings. I remember the people calling on the police for help. The answer Cheif Gates, the Batta Ram, K-9's, and the Choke hold. the poeple of LA stopped asking for help from it's self and started asking for help to get the police off thier backs. i just wish they would leave us alone. Viruses, Hangings, Slaviery, Rap of Slaves, welfare, Jim Crow Laws, and now this. GOD BESSED AMERICA BUT HE FORGOT ABOUT US.

From: Bob Stanton (sparky@cwo.com), Sacramento
Date: Friday, August 30, 1996
Comment: Just to share, I sent this today, and hope everyone is doing something similar:

"Dear Mr. President,

The San Jose Mercury News published an article called "The Dark Alliance" which can be found on the web at
http://www.sjmercury.com/drugs/

This very well-documented story shows the pivotal role that the CIA played in setting up Nicarauguan nationals with a crack cocaine and arms distribution ring on the West coast that eventually went nationwide. It seems that the CIA was the driving force behind the crack cocaine epidemic that still haunts our inner cities and fills our prisons. All for the sake of Central American Democracy.

I am appalled, outraged, and sickened, all at the same time. Mostly sickened.

The "War on Drugs" is such a huge farce in its own right. The fact that our government is also a drug supplier is just too sick for words.

DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

Sincerely,

Bob Stanton
Sacramento, CA"

Would anyone like to talk about other peaceful, non-paranoia-inspired ways to get the word out on this? Please email me.

From: william burnette (billburn@bellatlantic.net), Takoma Park,Md.
Date: Friday, August 30, 1996
Comment: The government has always proven that the ends justify the means,but is that to say that the public has no right to decide those means. In the end we all pay the price of the pied-piper.How many Americans can we afford to lose so that a few can be satisfied in their beliefs.The justice here is not in man,but in what God holds in store for these very savages.Thanks for enlightenment,we do have some people who do really care about all people.

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.

One thing I did want to respond to directly is the writer who claimed there wasn't any "proof" of CIA involvement in this thing. That's like saying there's no proof of General Motors involvement in making Chevrolets.
I also heard a great line while I was doing a radio show in Florida yesterday: Now we know what CIA really stands for: Crack In America.

From: Drexel Delaney (Drexel_Delaney@Xerox.Com), Los Angeles
Date: Sunday, September 1, 1996
Comment: They have done this, they have done that, and trust me, they will do more. It's time to draw the line. It's time to stand up. It's time to take responsibility for your own actions, thoughts, and choices. Just because the drugs, behaviors, habits, life-styles, mental suggestions are imported into our Black environments, does not mean that we are required to partake of them. Yes they bring all of this garbage into our communities, but we don't have to get involved in it. We do have choices. we just don't make the choice that is the most life supporting. This responsibility is ours. We must learn to make the correct choice. The choice that is most life suporting, and supported by the forces of Nature. I was involved with all that we are talking about. The garbage was presented to me, and I Made the choice to get involved with it. I was not forced, or tricked. I made the choice myself. As easy as I made the choice to get involved with the garbage, I also made the choice to no longer participate in the garbage. We have choices. We may not be free, We may not be rich, but, We do have choices. It's is truly our RESPONSIBILITY, to make sure we are making the right choice.

From: robert lewis (bobdevo@Aol.com), akron, ohio
Date: Sunday, September 1, 1996
Comment: If you remember, during the Iran-Contra hearings two individuals interrrupted Col. North's testimony by yelling "Ask Ollie North about the cocaise coming into US Air Force Bases. The two were restrained and arrested - and from what I understand wound up doing 18 months in a Federal slammer - while Ollie got off scot-free on technicalities.
Anyway, I am very thankful someone has finally blown the lid off of this sordid but of AmericaN history. We can only hope that Deutch will actually try to get to the bottom of this - but let's not bet on it.

From: robert lewis (bobdevo@Aol.com), akron, ohio
Date: Sunday, September 1, 1996
Comment: If you remember, during the Iran-Contra hearings two individuals interrrupted Col. North's testimony by yelling "Ask Ollie North about the cocaise coming into US Air Force Bases. The two were restrained and arrested - and from what I understand wound up doing 18 months in a Federal slammer - while Ollie got off scot-free on technicalities.
Anyway, I am very thankful someone has finally blown the lid off of this sordid but of AmericaN history. We can only hope that Deutch will actually try to get to the bottom of this - but let's not bet on it.

From: Nnamdi Azikewe (75454.3277@compuserve.com), Washington, DC
Date: Sunday, September 1, 1996
Comment: The criminals who supported the importation of drugs ought to be tried as traitors. Gary Webb is a hero. I hope the full truth about these atrocities is made public as soon as possible. I have never been so angry in my life. I have sent e-mail to the President, Senate and House letting them know how I feel about this. Gary if you are ever any where near Wash, DC let me know. There are a few radio programs here who would certainly want to give you some airtime.

From: Forrest Covington, Jr. (forrestc@nando.net), Chapel Hill, NC
Date: Monday, September 2, 1996
Comment: Drugs are a permanent part of the Americanlandscape. We all know this by now. We
also know that the answer during Prohibition
was legal alcohol in ABC stores.
Knowing that we cannot stop drugs, why don't
we reduce the harm by legalising and regulating
them, taking the money out of the hands of
criminals, and putting an end to the war
on our streets?
Because someone is profiting from the status
quo, that's why. And now we know who.
Events such as these deligitimise our
own government. It's time to ge5t over it
and legalise drugs, so we can get on with
other, more serious problems than whether
or not people get high. They always have,
always will, and don't deserve to go to jail
for it.
Forrest Covington, Jr.
Chapel Hill, NC

From: Janice Stroud (JStroud@gnn.com), Durham, NC
Date: Monday, September 2, 1996
Comment: The Raleigh N&O published part of your
great story Sunday,9/1, but did not give
us the local angle: Sen. Helms' intense
support for the FDN and especially Calero.
If even "Morrison" had access to Menses'
DEA file, how ignorant could Helms have
been? Usually the N&O interpolates the
"local angle" in any national story they
print. Wonder what happened this time?
To their credit, they did publish your
web page URL. Thanks for all the info
there; shows how useful the web can be.

From: Pamela Rice (vivavegi@novalink.com), New York City
Date: Tuesday, September 3, 1996
Comment: I want to thank Gary Webb, profusely, for his incredible story "Dark Alliance," and the Mercury News for running it. I am passing the word about it in every way that I can.

One of your reader's expressed the sentiment: indeed, this information "should have the power to rock Capitol Hill."

Unfortunately, "denial" threatens to be our biggest enemy here.

The fact that this information is so incredibly mind-boggling, will definitely work against us.

Though not a scientific study, I tried it out on my landlord today. His reply? "That's too hard to believe. Why would they do that to raise just a few million dollars?"

Only if this story gets picked up by the TV networks and leading media organizations -- on the scale of Watergate -- as it should, will average people see the legitimacy of it I'm afraid.

That is why everyone needs to publicize this expose at every turn. We all need to send letters to editors and networks to urge them to cover this story. Flooding our representatives with pressure to investigate further has been suggested and is also extremely necessary.

And of course, we all need to upload to the Internet every chance we can. I have a ready made BBEdit file in my hard drive ready for upload everywhere I go on the WWW

If we don't get the word out there, this story will get relegated to the "conspiracy theory" trash heap.

From: Allen Hagen (allenh@creative.net), San Francisco
Date: Wednesday, September 4, 1996
Comment: A previous writer's request that President Clinton take action in this matter is laughable. Like him, I also once believed in Clinton. But then I began to learn of his complicity in this "Dark Alliance." People who believe that Clinton is on our side in the investigation of these crimes owe it to themselves to read Partners in Power by Roger Morris (a respected biographer with impeccable credentials as a liberal Democrat). Clinton PERSONALLY and POLITICALLY profited immensely from his connections to this CIA cocaine/arms dealing. His BEST FRIEND in Arkansas, Dan Lasater, used his bond brokerage to launder tens of millions of dollars in profits from this operation, a significant share of which ended up under Clinton's control. The real story here is that not one but three Presidents have been actively involved and probably personally profited in this grand scheme. One is left with the impression that our federal government has been corrupted beyond the point of reform.

Our President is not going to help us on this one, nor are the established political parties or beltway media because, as Morris explains, the Dark Alliance is only one egregious example of a political system that is now fundamentally corrupted by corporate interests.

From: James Ransdall (james_ransdall@qm.taylormade.com), Pleasanton
Date: Wednesday, September 4, 1996
Comment: The CIA's precursor, the WWII-era OSS first became involved in the drug business by turning a blind eye towards the Mafia's international herion trafficking in return the Mob's assistance in organizing anti-Mussolini groups during the war and in organizing anti-communist groups after the war. This Blind Eye eventually matured into the notorious French Connection. The CIA's involvement in trafficking southeast asian heroin is also an old story. As an outgrowth of its "anti-communism at any price" ethic, the CIA became directly involved, via its private airline Air America, in flying heroin out of the infamous Golden Triangle -- heroin that eventually found its way to US addicts. So, am I surprised at this latest manifestation? Hardly. In fact, I suggest a follow-up to your courageous series. Provide readers with some of this history. It would help put this latest instance of CIA malfeasance in context.

From: Michael Hoffman (michael@cybtrans.com), Palo Alto, CA
Date: Wednesday, September 4, 1996
Comment:
Reno wrote the following -- I've added emphasis:

"..I see thousands of young men being sent to jail for five, ten, twenty years, with no hope of parole or another chance -- because of relatively small-time drug use and possession. ...our own government may
have been a key initiator... in bringing THIS KILLER into our neighborhoods. ... the millions of young people who see THEIR COMMUNITIES DESTROYED BY THIS FOREIGN SUBSTANCE. ... A story like this, and the terrible example it sets for THOSE WHO STRUGGLE EVERY DAY AGAINST A DRUG CULTURE desperate for converts, can ruin years of work to imbue a sense of self-respect and trust in government efforts to BREAK THE DRUG CYCLE in our communities."


Notice how the violence and destruction *connected with* crack is all attributed to crack itself, rather than prohibition. Crack doesn't cause violence -- prohibition causes violence. The situation in these communities is largely or mainly caused by the inflated prices resulting from prohibition. Crack may be somewhat dangerous, as many things in life are, but it's a gross distortion to imply that crack makes people fire guns at random people. Actually, money is making dealers fire at other dealers. There are many factors woven together causing this problem -- crack, guns, money, *and* prohibition. Why call it a "crack epidemic"? The driving force is prohibition, and LA suffers from a PROHIBITION EPIDEMIC.

So many attitudes expressed in this forum and site are not progressive -- they still keep slamming crack itself, blaming a molecule for all the violence associated with the crack scene as we have known it. This violence is not caused by the crack molecule -- this violence is caused by prohibition and the corruption that prohibition spawns.

Crack is not bad; crack does not cause violence and government corruption. Prohibition is bad; *prohibition* causes violence and government corruption. Stop hating crack, and start hating prohibition. Place the blame where blame is due.

Reno want to "break the drug cycle" -- she can start by pointing the finger at prohibition, not crack itself. The biggest factor perpetuating the drug cycle is the attitude of demonization of recreational chemicals and the crazed, heavy-handed, authoritarian attitude called "prohibition". The way to break the drug cycle is to break the War On Drugs cycle. The attitude of "war" is precisely what keeps the violence and corruption in place year after year.

Crack doesn't cause "crack-related" violence -- the War On Drugs causes "crack-related" violence.

From: Michael Hoffman (michael@cybtrans.com), Palo Alto, CA
Date: Wednesday, September 4, 1996
Comment:

Correction: Waters, not Reno, wrote the above passage (referring to crack as a killer that destroys communities) that I responded to.


"In the widest-ranging call yet for an official investigation, South
Central Los Angeles Congresswoman Maxine Waters is
requesting both federal and Congressional probes of the role U.S.
goverment agencies may have played in sparking the crack
cocaine explosion of the 1980s.

Waters, a Democrat, sent out a series of letters Friday to U.S.
Attorney General Janet Reno, Central Intelligence Agency
Director John Deutch and Republican and Democratic
Congressional leaders..."

From: Jim Carey (74274,231), New Lenox, IL
Date: Thursday, September 5, 1996
Comment: I looked out the train window, trying to digest the assertions I'd just read in your Dark Alliance articles. I saw deteriorating urban neighborhoods, not far from the one I grew up in. They looked like war zones, with evidence of communities having lost on many fronts: Elaborate graffiti,houses and autos in disrepair, leftover piles of rubble and debris from apathetic work crews, Kevorkian-ready tenements. Occasional shufflers and baggy-pantsed street entrepreneurs. Could some of this depression, this malaise, have been subjugated on our own citizens in the name of "national interests"? I'm afraid I understand the point of conscience where Germans under Hitler would rather hold back tears and deny the preposterous. The weight of your articles' claims could almost crush the reader. Or start another war. The blood in the 'hood cries out for justice.

From: Jim Carey (74274,231@compuserve.com), New Lenox, IL
Date: Thursday, September 5, 1996
Comment: After reading your article, did I hear correctly that the CIA is heading up an investigation into Mena?

From: Jim Carey (74274,231@compuserve.com), New Lenox, IL
Date: Thursday, September 5, 1996
Comment: As a conservative, I wonder why Dornan and other Republicans aren't demanding, that the assertions of DARK ALLIANCE, and the CIA, be investigated. If precious conservative icons (Reagan, North, Bush) must fall, then so be it. Poisoning our urban communities in a targetted fashion, using gang members as entrepreneurs, should be enough to call out bipartisan bloodhounds, pitchforks and torches.

From: Jim Carey (74274,231@compuserve.com), New Lenox, IL
Date: Thursday, September 5, 1996
Comment: Let's hear it for the sequel: MENA! MENA! MENA! Tell us there's something up your sleeve.

From: Jim Carey (74274,231@compuserve.com), New Lenox, IL
Date: Thursday, September 5, 1996
Comment: Let's hear it for the sequel: MENA! MENA! MENA! Tell us there's something up your sleeve.

From: Bob Gonsalves (pinknoiz@pinknoiz.com), Crockett, CA
Date: Thursday, September 5, 1996
Comment: Another acronym for CIA is "Cocaine Importation Agency."

Some readers have objected to the use of drug dealers as witnesses
in court, saying that they are unreliable and their testimony
is not be believed. In this particular case, Blandon has nothing
to gain and everything to lose by providing this testimony.
It's a funny thing - drug dealers testimony is found credible,
up to the point where US involvement is alleged. Another clear example
of this is Carlos Lehder of Colombia. His testimony about Manuel
Noriega helped convict the general, but his testimony that (paraphrasing)
apparently, yes, $10 million of my dollars did go to the contras" was
generally ignored.

Here's another example that doesn't rely on court testimony, just papers. It
is described in detail in the Kerry Cmte. report. Juan Ramon Matta
Ballasteros was on a DEA watch list as a major cocaine trafficker. At the
same time, he was being funded through the Nicaraguan Humanitarian Aid Office
to supply 'non-lethal' aid to the contras through one of his fishing companies.
Ballasteros subsequently was captured and convicted for his involvement in the
torture/murder of DEA agent Enrique Camarena, a very famous case.

From: sabiyha prince (rosabellfranklin@msn.com), columbia, md
Date: Thursday, September 5, 1996
Comment: I thank Gary Webb for this well-documented series. It both saddens and angers me, however, the primary response should be one of activism. I am saddened because this represents the continuation of the assault on African Americans which began in 1619. History indicates we were brought here to generate wealth as unpaid labor. De jure enslavement is over and many, for the powers that be (owners of multinational capital) blacks have outlived their usefullness with the exportation of manufacturing jobs to lands where labor is more easily exploited, i.e. Latin America, Asia and the Caribbean. Of course this is an old story for those in the know recognize the U.S. has pushed drugs in the black community as early as the 1960s they trafficed heroin during the vietnam war. What is the solution, hook them on drugs and lock them up indefinitely and better yet, lobby for state-sanctioned murder (even for selling drugs). I am angered by the double standard: arrest and prosecute blacks for things whites initiate and profit from. Let us stop the bickering and unite across all racial, class, gender, regional, sexual and belief system boundaries for that only benefits the small minority who own most of the land and resources inthis country. Agitate for social justice and this will improve the quality of life for all Americans. Remember folks, divide and conquer is a strategy which goes back to colonial times -- for those who doubt read Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, 1980.

From: Frank Young (Siebold) (frank.siebold@lmco.com), San Jose, CA
Date: Thursday, September 5, 1996
Comment: Even an old cynic like me was still amazed by the level of
reprehensible behavior which was perpetrated by our government
operatives!! The excuse that they were fighting communism has
no bearing on it whatsoever.

The hypocrisy of the "Just Say NO" drug war being pushed by
the same people angers me even more.

Drugs are not as harmful to society as drug laws. The drug
prohibition law allowed this situation to exist by limiting access
to the public and giving these scum the ability to price gouge
customers. This is another example of why the current drug laws
should be changed. Sending people to prison for marijuana is a
crime!
_______________________________________

However,

the scariest part of this whole crime is the lack of interest and
response on the part of the American public. I came to work
expecting this to be the topic of interest that week and could not
believe the lack of rage on the part of those people who had heard
about the articles. Many of those people said "Oh, it just the way
our crooked government works. Don't worry about it.".

Most seem to think there is no reason to care because they don't
believe they can do anything about it.

Wake up and smell the manure, America !!

From: Wil A. Ferguson (wafer@darwin.tti.net), Fremont, CA
Date: Thursday, September 5, 1996
Comment: To say that I feel outrage that the government of these United States knowingly, willfully introduced and sustained an epidemic that has virtually decimated entire communities and claimed the lives of countless young men and women in the name of democracy would have to be put down on record as an understatement.

I wonder now how our government can reconcile its War On Drugs and its own involvement in the crack trade.

From: Paul Gilbert (KewPandy@aol.com), Kew Gardens, NY
Date: Friday, September 6, 1996
Comment: For over thirty years many blacks have been saying that the availability of drugs in our neighborhoods
has been engineered by forces outside of our community on purpose to destroy black lives. This recent
report has now confirmed this to be true. The goverment of the US in association with the black gangs
are making our communities the "Drug supermarkets" of Urban America. Obviously, if we cannot rely on the
government to assist us in the fight against drugs we will have to do it ourselves. All people in America
of good faith should feel embarassed and angry about these events.
The real question is how will these oppressive forces try to lie their way out of these allegations, and how
easily will the general population of this country believe these lies.
I urge everyone with a computer connected to the web to E-Mail someone else and tell them to go to this site
to view these documents. We must educate the public on this matter.

From: Rebeca Keck (Rainbogal@Aol.com), Sacramento, CA
Date: Friday, September 6, 1996
Comment: YOU are the solution. Not someone else. Call the media: your local newspapers, radio, TV and request follow-up stories to Gary's writings. What is happening in Washington on this issue. Contact Congresspeople, the White house requesting hearings. It's up to us to empower ourselves. Power is a perception, and together, we can be powerful, indeed!

From: Bob Royce (bomiki@aol.com), Seattle
Date: Friday, September 6, 1996
Comment: Congratulations on your excellent report.
It confirms what many of us have suspect-
ed for years. Now perhaps the full story
can be uncovered and the ClA brought to
heel, if not abolished.

To this end we have formed the interracial
Coalition for CIA Crack Reparations. Our
aim is to see that some of the damage
done to so many inner city communities
and thousands of black and latino
victims is redressed.

We would like to know what other cities
carried the Dark Alliance and what the
reaction is. Through the internet we now
have a chance to work together. Let's do
it!

From: Richard Conger (rconger@primenet.com), Scottsdale, AZ
Date: Friday, September 6, 1996
Comment: If you would let me print or down-load your story I would fax it to C-Span; since you wont, why don't you get the author in touch. He would be great!

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.

From: Walter Teague (wteague@igc.apc.org), Adelphi, MD
Date: Monday, September 9, 1996
Comment: Is it not a coverup if nothing about this
shocking expose has appeared in the major
media here in the Washington, DC area. I
have seen no comment, not even a rebuttle
in the Washington Post, on national TV news
coverage - three weeks after the story broke!

I think it might be both informative and help
stimulate a response, if the SJMN would run
an article listing the responses and lack of
responses in the mass media - which by now, must
know this issue has had a new, impossible to
deny resurgence of evidence and questions that
deserve to be investigated. Where is the national
media and why????

From: Michael Hoffman (michael@cybtrans.com), Palo Alto, CA
Date: Monday, September 9, 1996
Comment:

More quotes propagating anti-drug hysteria rather than clear, rational analysis:


"a drug that took countless lives"

Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator, in her letter to The Honorable Janet Reno, Attorney General, on August 30, 1996.



"pumping the most deadly and destructive drugs"
"the human devastation caused by crack cocaine use"

from Maxine Waters, Member of Congress, to Henry J. Hyde, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives on Aug. 30, 1996.



Did crack, the chemical, really "take countless lives"? Is crack really a "deadly and destructive" drug? Does use of crack itself really cause "human devastation"?


The violence caused by the War On Drugs is being unfairly attributed to the chemical crack. It's the usual old crying of "wolf". Absinthe is an evil, killer chemical. No, alcohol is. No, pot is. No, LSD is. No, cocaine is. No, heroine is. Whatever the recreational drug, the same old hysteria and accusations are tacked onto it. Does anyone really believe these assertions any more? If there were a drug that really *were* half as harmful as this tired old prohibitionist accusation has always claimed, no one would believe it.

They say pot is "deadly". Then they say crack is "deadly". But everyone knows pot is almost completely harmless. Therefore, the alarmists have forfeited their credibility by the time they proclaim the latest drug-of-the-week (crack) to be "deadly".

The dangers of crack itself have been greatly overstated and falsely portrayed. The main way of exaggerating the danger of crack is by lumping all the violence caused by the *War* On Drugs in with the effects of the crack chemical itself. How many people have died from the crack chemical itself? Probably very few, if any. The media sells alarmism and hysteria, not truth.



**************
HATING THE CIA IS A MISGUIDED REACTION -- SO IS FEARING CRACK AND RE-AFFIRMING THE WAR ON DRUGS

One reaction to the guilt of the CIA is to punish and morally discredit the CIA while continuing to promote the failed scam of the War On Drugs, which is the real root of the problem.

Had crack been legal, the CIA could not have committed their "crime". It takes two to tango: the ghetto crack epidemic was not caused just by the CIA -- it was caused by the combination of the CIA and the War On Drugs. If there were no anti-drug alarmism and exaggeration, if drugs were legal, the CIA wouldn't have had a reason to become a supplier.

The crack chemical itself is not deadly dangerous, though the combination of the CIA as cut-rate supplier and the War On Drugs *has* been deadly dangerous.

The root of the problem is not the CIA, and punishing them will change nothing! The real root of the "devastation caused by crack" is the War On Drugs and the irrational fear of recreational drugs which perpetuate that War. The solution is not to take vengeance upon the CIA. That will accomplish nothing. The solution is to legalize or "decriminalize" drugs, returning to the state we had in the previous century before all this self-righteous prohibitionist alarmism began.

If people want to use drugs, they can take their own responsibility for using without abusing. This radical idea is called "freedom". No one ever said freedom is safe. The citizens of this free country can police their own chemical use well enough, individually.

From: Michael Hoffman (michael@cybtrans.com), Palo Alto, CA
Date: Monday, September 9, 1996
Comment:

Bob Smith makes an excellent point above.

Apparently, the CIA did not specifically choose to target blacks. The smugglers did, for purely profit motives.


Black users and dealers were certainly punished too hard, but that is true of recreational drug users in general. The oppressed victims of the drug wars are all users. The War On Drugs feeds off the lives, the freedoms, of all races of citizens. People are sentenced to bizarre lengths of prison years for using recreational drugs, whether they are white or black. You don't have to be black to be oppressed by the War On Drugs. Many whites have been put away for years for minor amounts of recreational chemicals.

It's likely there is systematic oppression of blacks, and this is reflected in the War On Drugs, but the War On Drugs oppresses *all* races to a great degree. The sacrificial victims can be of any color; the demonic War machine accepts all blood.

From: Walden Yale (Lstword2@eosinc.com), Petersburg, IL
Date: Tuesday, September 10, 1996
Comment: May I urge the San Jose Mercury News to waive the copyright restrictions on the "Dark Alliance" series by Gary Webb, and encourage the redistribution of the article to all government officials, clergy, and responsible citizens in an effort to force an investigation of this tragic part of our national history.

Sincerely,

Walden Yale

From: Marlene B. (blydema@texaco.com), Long Bch. CA
Date: Tuesday, September 10, 1996
Comment: You both appear to be trying to simplify an horrific subject.
Do you want to play down the possible role the government
played in a covert operation against it OWN citizens??
They did not do THIS specific act in the white suburbs of America.
Let's quit talking about the what ifs and talk about the WHAT IS.
(See sound clips July 21, 1990 between Blandon & Arman).
right to your opinions. But I suspect that you are not
black and have not had the experience of being so.
Life is not perfect for blacks or whites in America.
But particurlarly not for blacks.

Any urban ghetto in America east or west coast could have
been used. And if you studied the maps provided in this article
this is apparent seeing how they eventually spread this across the
country. America black and white has a drug problem. Please don't say
they sold to whom they could. Yes it was made cheap enough for these poor
people to afford. But what about the high priced drugs others can afford.
And it appears that crack has also made some inroads to the middle class like
doctors and lawyers.

To the people using this forum to promote the legalization of drugs
I say have your opinion. But what society can be productive and keep some
sanity with its citizens high all the time and not dealing with reality????
Drugs ARE a health hazard to the user and the people who have to live,work and
drive with them.

Enough said...I am going to do what I can to spread the word
and to help people. We Americans are very good at talking.
Its time to take some positive action.

Peace to All

From: Richard Blanchette (gold@wic.net), Clifton, CO
Date: Tuesday, September 10, 1996
Comment:
There is every reason to believe that the
government is one of the largest drug runners.
See "A Nation Betrayed" by Col. James "Bo" Gritz.
Also read the article By Randy Fitzgerald "A Whistle Blower's Ordeal"
in the June 1994 editon of Readers Digest.
It could be a way for the government to have huge amounts of
cash to by for things off budget and out of sight.
The so called Drug War is only a way to keep the price of drugs up and to
put more and more controls over the people.

From: Michael Hoffman (michael@cybtrans.com), Palo Alto, CA
Date: Wednesday, September 11, 1996
Comment: 1. The CIA did not cause the excesses of the Drug War and the overall "drug problem" -- but the Drug War motivated the CIA to its corrupt actions.

Reading about the drug war in America and Mexico, the head spins at the corruption running throughout the whole thing. The CIA is not the cause of the corruption. The Drug War itself is the mother of all corruption. If you clean up one agency, the overall situation doesn't change. The system breeds corruption, and another agency will become enticed just as quickly. As long as the Drug War drags on, there will be corruptions that drive the paradoxical condonement and distribution of drugs.

We should not isolate the CIA as one lapse, an isolated exception. Rather, we should treat it as an *example* of how the Drug War *causes* and *breeds* corruption. The Drug War is the mother of oppression and corruption; the CIA is merely one more instance of the govenment corruption that almost necessarily follows from the Drug War.

The CIA is guilty of breaking the laws that have been established, and they should be held accountable for this violation. Their guilt should be portrayed as a perfect example of the corruption that is the *typical* result of the criminalization of recreational chemicals.

The War On Drugs is *bound* to spawn such havoc as this.



2. Apparently, the government or "the CIA" in general did not choose to sell to blacks: a small group of smugglers decided to sell to blacks.

We should separate the motives and decisions of the CIA directors of the Mena airport, from the motives and decisions of the people who choose to sell to Freeway Rick. Maybe the CIA directors of this cocaine importation didn't care about whether they sold to whites or blacks -- the articles don't say. They might have been more willing to sell to blacks than whites, or to go on selling after they saw the destruction caused by the combination of the infusion of coke, the ghetto, and the Drug War. We have not yet verified that the CIA Mena directors were at all interested in what race, neighborhood, or segment of society the coke was sold to. We have no evidence that the Mena directors *chose* who the coke was sold to. As far as we know, that decision was made as an independent, personal decision by Rick's direct supplier or suppliers. Certainly, it warrants investigation, and is a plausible hypothesis, but we don't know yet whether the CIA directors deliberately chose or especially condoned the infusion of coke into the specifically black community.



3. Drugs *can* be harmful but that's not nearly a sufficient justification for criminalizing them and putting citizens in jail.

It's very well explained in the book _It's Nobody's Business if You Do: The Absurdity of Concensual Crime in a Free Country_ that if something is (or *can* be) harmful, that's not sufficient reason to put people in jail for doing it.

To be accurate about the *actual* degree of danger presented by recreational chemicals themselves, rather than portraying them as toxic poison, as absolutely harmful (which they are definitely not), we should say that drugs "can be" harmful, not that drugs "are" harmful. Drug *use* is not harmful -- drug *abuse* is harmful. But even if drugs really were as toxic as the extremist, alarmist view portrays them, that in itself is not sufficient justification for putting in jail the many people (citizens, including productive taxpayers) who choose to use them.

If crack were really so very dangerous, people would not use it so much. People can look out for themselves, without the unwanted assistance of Big Brother -- that is, the unwanted help of busybody prohibitionists poking their nose into other people's business and freedoms "for their own good".

Driving is inherently dangerous, and alcohol or (other) drugs makes driving even more dangerous. But preserving safety on our roads is not a sufficient reason to put people into jail for using drugs, and keeping our roads safe is not sufficient reason for putting a whole class of activities off-limits.

We must choose between accepting a certain amount of harm from the direct effects of drugs, or else, we must accept a certain amount of harm from prohibition itself. The War On Drugs has caused more violence and suffering than the free use of drugs would have caused. The laws and punishments breed more harm than the activities they were intended to prevent.

From: Michael Hoffman (michael@cybtrans.com), Palo Alto, CA
Date: Wednesday, September 11, 1996
Comment:

Giving the coke chemical to south-central LA is not in itself harmful -- it's coke *plus* prohibition that resulted in devastation. The devastation was not caused by coke itself, but by the coke in the context of the War On Drugs. If there had been no War On Drugs, then the CIA introducing crack into the ghetto would not have caused much harm. The harm caused by the CIA's supplying of coke is a function of the War On Drugs, not simply the coke itself.


People are mad at the CIA for bringing coke into the ghetto. But the coke itself is not so harmful and this act is not so morally reprehensible, in itself. The act *became* deadly only due to the context of the War On Drugs, which gave rise to the black market, the guns, the stealing, the violence, the state of seige. Subtract the War On Drugs, and the urban battles and the devastation go away

There *has been* devastation -- but how much of this is the results of the crack chemical, and how much of the devastation is actually a result of the War On Drugs?

The CIA is not singlehandedly to blame for this devastation. The news articles and politicians blame the CIA because they blame the crack chemical. They attribute the devastation too much to crack itself, and not to the War On Drugs, which is the *necessary factor* for the aspects of devastation which are due to the black market and turf wars which are caused by prohibition, not by the crack chemical.

You cannot singlehandedly blame the CIA for the urban devastation associated with crack. Neither can you singlehandedly blame the crack chemical for the urban devastation associated with crack. You must put a very large portion of the blame on the War On Drugs. Without the War On Drugs, the black market and turf war violence would disappear, along with the bulk of the stealing to purchase crack. The CIA's actions can *only* be held highly reprehensible in the context of the War On Drugs. People want to stop the CIA and continue the War On Drugs, but they will thereby continue to support the devastation caused by the black market scene which results from the War On Drugs. Busting the CIA is our moral duty, but it is also our moral duty to place blame for the entire situation where blame is really due. It is also our moral duty to reduce or end the devastation associated with crack: the way to end this devastation is to recognize that the devastation is mostly caused by prohibition, rather than the crack chemical itself and the suppliers of crack.

Causes of the devastation associated with crack:
0.8 -- the War On Drugs and the resulting turf wars, guns, and stealing
0.1 -- the CIA acting as supplier
0.1 -- the psychological and physical effects of crack

From: Michael Hoffman (michael@cybtrans.com), Palo Alto, CA
Date: Wednesday, September 11, 1996
Comment:

The CIA should be punished for breaking the laws, such as they are. But the laws are wrong, and the CIA's act only caused so much devastation because of the terrible side-effects of the laws, of prohibition. The CIA's act did not occur in a vacuum, and in itself would not have caused devastation; it only became an evil act given that there was already a network of violence-spawning laws in place. The devastation was not simply a function of the crack chemical itself or the agency that supplied it, but is *mostly* a result of the War On Drugs, an extremist and unwinnable effort that backfires and brings more devastation that it supposedly prevents.

Your articles should probably concentrate on the CIA's breaking of laws, not on the real root of the devastation, the evil of these laws. I hope your work does not attitibute all the devastation to the recreation chemical itself, but reminds people that *given* the War On Drugs, the CIA's introducing crack was reprehensible. As to whether that given circumstance (prohibition) was good, that is a distinct issue.

From: Brent Arnold (friction88@aol.com), Seattle, WA
Date: Wednesday, September 11, 1996
Comment: I have been hearing people discuss this idea for years, but I never figured there would be any proof to come to light.

So now here it is... where is the response of the rest of the media, the government, etc??

I have been waiting to see the NYtimes cover this... all I got was convention junk. The Seattle papers did run the story, for a sec...