His gripping new book, richly researched and documented, deserves an even wider audience and discussion. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia in. The center for disease control cdc reported back in 2015 that heroin use in the united states increased 63% from 2002 through 20. Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum. The reagan administration is directly responsible for the. Reagan is heralded for her just say no antidrug campaign, the truth of the matter is that her husbands administration is singlehandedly responsible for the drug epidemic that created the need for her famous slogan.
Crack epidemic united states history 1980s britannica. What is beyond doubt is that cia was directly responsible for the importation of tons of. The cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb. Black gangs used their profits to buy automatic weapons, sometimes from one of the cialinked drug dealers. In the interview notes with filmmaker levin, blandon confirms his support of the contras and his role in drug trafficking, but downplays his significance. The crack epidemic dramatically increased the number of americans addicted to cocaine. The big lie is that we started it all the crack epidemic we were just a small part. Donna warren lives with the scars of americas crack cocaine epidemic every day of her life. Ciacontra connection recent central american history. Allegedly fueled by cia involvement stemming from the irancontra affair, the drug. A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yesand the charge. The biggest surge in the use of the drug occurred during the crack epidemic, between 1984 and 1990, when the drug spread across american cities. According to the article, contra financiers had allegedly met with cia agents both before and while cocaine, in crack form, was being sold in.
Crack cocaine was popularized because of its affordability, its immediate euphoric effect, and its high profitability. In the memorial of nancy reagan, a dark and twisted plot has resurfaced. Did the cia play a role in launching the crackcocaine epidemic. Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum 11 oct, 2014 01. A number of writers have alleged that the united states central intelligence agency cia was.
The full story of the 1980s crack epidemic is still yet to be told. This was accomplished, but the disregard for the inevitable result, our countrys crack cocaine epidemic, was not justifiable. The means used by the cia was the saturation of cocaine in our country. Operation indigo sky massive cia heroin smuggling operation based in lagos, nigeria. The crack epidemic coincidently began around the same time when the irancontra scandal was being exposed. In 1996, a bombshell report by journalist gary webb claimed that the central intelligence agency cia supported cocaine trafficking into the u. The first article also made other specific allegations of cia knowledge of, or involvement in, the drug rings activities. It is one of the most highly additive and destructive drugs in the world. Other newspapers, including the times, have disputed the mercury news.
Showtime drama to chronicle origins of crack cocaine. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia. Drugs are packed in shrimp containers and shipped to various points in the u. Here are 10 things to know about gary webb and his report that linked the cia to crack cocaine. A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yes. Cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking wikipedia. The crack epidemic had particularly devastating effects. The reagan administration and the cia also collaborated with nicaraguan cocaine traffickers to support the contras led to the crack epidemic of the 1980s. Small doses of it are smoked into the lungs and delivered quickly to the brain. Crack is wack but did cia create it to kill off blacks. The cia, contras, gangs, and crack institute for policy studies. The crack epidemic the history of crack cocaine drug. Titled dark alliance, the headline ran beneath the provocative image of a man smoking crack superimposed on the official seal of the cia.
The cia was consequently not only involved in and ultimately responsible for the innercity crack epidemic. Evidence does not support allegations of cia participation. How one journalist linked the cia to the crack epidemic. In his report, webb who had won a pulitzer in 1989 for a different story claimed that the cia was partly responsible for bringing crack cocaine to. Snowfall is a onehour drama set against the infancy of the crack cocaine epidemic and its ultimate radical impact on the culture as we. Key figures in ciacrack cocaine scandal begin to come forward. Operation buy back operation involving cia front pacific seafood company. This creates a short high, followed by tiredness, depression, panic, anxiety, and brain damage. President reagans desired end was to finance the nicaraguan contras in their fight for democracy. This doesnt prove the cia targeted black communities.
The crack epidemic in the united states was a surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across. The true story of the 1980s crack epidemic is still untold. But, contrary to the suggestion of the mercury news, there is no evidence that they were singularly or primarily responsible for it. Key figures in ciacrack cocaine scandal begin to come. Crack epidemic, the significant increase in the use of crack cocaine, or crack, in the united states during the early 1980s.
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