These insinuations of a dark alliance between the highest levels of the united states intelligence services and illegal narcotics trafficking were the substance of gary webbs explosive 1996 series that first appeared in the san jose mercury news, and were further expounded upon in his book. James e sabow both could have used a fearless investigative reporter like gary. He never gave a second thought to whether this was a good use of his time. Col james e sabow both could have used a fearless investigative reporter like gary. And then, of course, he wrote the best selling book, dark alliance. Author and investigative journalist nick schou published numerous articles on the controversy and was the only reporter to significantly advance webbs stories. Webb, meanwhile, continued researching and reporting on his own, and published his work in the 1999 book. And then, of course, he wrote the best selling book. State legislature, published a book based on the dark alliance series in 1998. Gary webb was a pulitzer prizewinning american investigative journalist. Gary stephen webb august 31, 1955 december 10, 2004 was an american investigative journalist he began his career working for newspapers in kentucky and ohio, winning numerous awards, and building a strong reputation for investigative writing. Dark alliance by gary stephen webb 622 words bartleby. Eighteen years after it was published, dark alliance, the san jose mercury.
In 1996, pulitzer prizewinning journalist gary webb 19552004 wrote a shocking series of articles for the san jose mercury news exposing the cias link to nicaraguan cocaine smuggled into the us by the contras, which had fueled the widespread crack epidemic that swept through urban areas. The cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion. Stobern sie in bestsellern als handliche pocket bookausgabe. Dark alliance the cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion. Recently, narco news sat down with members of gary webbs family sue, ian and christine in sacramento to talk with them about the upcoming major motion picture based on gary webbs life, kill. The history of the cias relationship with international drug dealers has been documented and published, yet it is almost completely unknown to. I applaud the filmmakers for trying to make a movie about an important issue in a commercial marketplace full of comic book. Gangsta rap is a moneyspinning genocidal subgenre of hip hop particularly created to reflect, glorify, perpetrate and project subliminal and conscious implants of criminal, sadistic and demonic imaging of the black innercity. According to gary webbs book dark alliance, the campaign included covert shipments of arms to manleys opponents, the use of selective violence, bombings, and assassinations, covert financial aid. We dont think people are bringing cocaine across the border, to a large extent, in a car from.
Freeway ricky ross and the cia cocaine conspiracy sanjiv b. The dark alliance gary webbs incendiary 1996 sj mercury news expose aug 22, 1996 cocaine pipeline financed rebels evidence points to cia knowing of highvolume drug network by gary webb san jose mercury news for the better part of a decade, a san francisco bay area drug ring sold tons of cocaine to the crips and. This book of garys previously unpublished material edited by garys son, eric webb, shows that gary was on the trail of the robert vesco connection to the u. For example, while blandon claimed to have been a used car salesman in. Schous book also straightened out another smear about gary webb. The cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion is a 1998 book by journalist gary webb. Several of webb s critics were merely acting as gatekeepers.
Gary webb is the san jose mercury news journalist that was run out of his job and blacklisted from the industry for daring to report what he found out. He was shotgunned in the face something that the major newspapers arent reporting. The cia directly aided the drug dealers to raise money for the contras. Webb is best known for his dark alliance series, which appeared in the. Apr 07, 2015 one car is dropped off as an escape option if things go bad, the others take up surveillance positions. The cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb. Mar 21, 2015 the cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb.
Gary stephen webb august 31, 1955 december 10, 2004 was an american investigative. Ceppos was given the 1997 society of professional journalists national ethics in journalism award for the editorial. The cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion seven stories press, revealed that for the better part of a decade. The same year the book won a pen oakland censorship award and a firecracker alternative book award. Author and investigative journalist nick schou published numerous. Recently, narco news sat down with members of gary webbs family sue, ian and christine in sacramento to talk with them about the upcoming major motion picture based on gary webbs life, kill the messenger. The cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion, but an acquaintance has advised me to read terry reed and john cummings book. Webb, meanwhile, continued researching and reporting on his own, and published his work in the 1999 book dark alliance. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. According to the report, it used webbs reporting and writing as key.
Fort lauderdale boat broker, was found at the local airport stuffed in her cars trunk. The washington post article quoted webb as saying, weve never pretended otherwise. The cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion reprint by gary webb, maxine waters isbn. Gary webb is the former san jose mercury news reporter whose 1996 dark alliance series on the socalled ciacrack cocaine connection created a firestorm of controversy and led to his resignation from the paper amid escalating attacks on his work by the mainstream media. Washington post article, gary webb, the reporter who wrote the dark alliance. The cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion outlines how ciabacked contras smuggled cocaine into the u. Linked by nicaraguan police to colombian drug dealers since 1972. Oct 17, 2014 jeff leen is the washington posts assistant managing editor for investigations. When webb told the whole story in the book dark alliance, some of the same. Despite the fact that the sordid tale of government. As ross trial unfolded, webb unravelled a staggering conspiracy. His book demonstrates that the original expose was on the right track.
The threeday series of articles, entitled dark alliance. This collection of texts, images, and audio files is a copy of the online library that accompanied the publication of gary webb s dark alliance series and his followup reporting for the san jose mercury news from 199697 about the cias role in the crack cocaine epidemic in the 1980s. In august 1996, pulitzer prizewinning journalist gary webb stunned the world with a series of articles in the san jose mercury news reporting. The dark alliance gary webb s incendiary 1996 sj mercury news expose aug 22, 1996 cocaine pipeline financed rebels evidence points to cia knowing of highvolume drug network by gary webb san jose mercury news for the better part of a decade, a san francisco bay area drug ring sold tons of cocaine to the crips and.
Jul 31, 2016 in his series, written in 1996, dark alliance. Gary webb pushed his investigation even further in his book, dark alliance. This is why webb s dark alliance series is an essential source, a primary text that every journalism student should study. This book is an incredible expose of cia drug trafficking throughout the u. How the cia watched over the destruction of gary webb. He even had the tuckedin shirt with no belt, like my dad used to wear. Oct 01, 2014 gary webb pushed his investigation even further in his book, dark alliance. Dark alliance was published in 1998 by seven stories press, with an introduction by u. In 1996, gary stephen webb was best known for his three part article series, dark alliance. In july 1995, san jose mercurynews reporter gary webb found the big onethe blockbuster story every journalist secretly dreams aboutwithout even looking for it. Owns properties including motels, restaurants, a canning factory, used car dealerships and homes in costa rica, nicaragua, san francisco, florida and elsewhere. Gary webb was certainly one of the greatest investigative journalists of his time. Webbs research is impeccablenames, dates, places, and dollar amounts gather and mount with every page, eventually building a towering wall of evidence in support of his theories. Some of this is mentioned in gary webbs famous book dark alliance.
Major motion picture based on dark alliance and starring jeremy renner, kill the messenger, to be be released in fall 2014 in august 1996, pulitzer prizewinning journalist gary webb. In the first document, smith thanks casey for his letter the one that isnt public, and he writes. Jeff leen is the washington posts assistant managing editor for investigations. This collection of texts, images, and audio files is a copy of the online library that accompanied the publication of gary webbs dark alliance series and his followup reporting for the. Allegedly ran a ring that stole luxury cars from the u. In july 1995, san jose mercurynews reporter gary webb found the big. Dec 15, 2004 he was one of the main sources for gary webb, pulitzer prize winning author of the book, dark alliance cia drug series, in the san jose mercury news. The cia, the contras and the crack cocaine explosion by gary webb isbn. Reporter played by jeremy renner honed journalism skills in cleveland and columbus.
This doesnt prove the cia targeted black communities. Mar 30, 2000 these insinuations of a dark alliance between the highest levels of the united states intelligence services and illegal narcotics trafficking were the substance of gary webbs explosive 1996 series that first appeared in the san jose mercury news, and were further expounded upon in his book. In an october 2, 1996, washington post article, gary webb, the reporter who wrote the dark alliance series, asserted that the article had not claimed that the cia knew about blandons drug trafficking. Ciacontracrack cocaine controversy department of justice. He was one of the main sources for gary webb, pulitzer prize winning author of the book, dark alliance cia drug series, in the san jose mercury news. First exposed by webb in 1996 in the san jose mercury news, and then fleshed out in his book. So they were shipping him millions of pounds of cocaine into america. Sep 12, 20 gary webb s dark alliance broke an old story. Gary webb is the former san jose mercury news reporter whose 1996 dark alliance series on the socalled ciacrack cocaine connection created a firestorm of controversy and led to his resignation from. The cia didnt really need to lift a finger to try to ruin gary webbs. Drawing from then newly declassified documents, undercover dea audio and videotapes that had never been publicly released, federal court testimony, and interviews, webb demonstrates how our government knowingly allowed massive amounts of drugs and money to change hands at the expense of our communities. Journalist gary webb and the cia guardian liberty voice. Drawing from then newly declassified documents, undercover dea audio.
Evidence begins to indicate gary webb was murdered bsnews. Gary webb published on october, 2014 gary webb isbn. Dec 21, 2004 when gary worked on the dark alliance story, he spent months working nights and weekends, staring at pages deep into the night, going to libraries, talking to people. When gary worked on the dark alliance story, he spent months working nights and weekends, staring at pages deep into the night, going to libraries, talking to people. Today, it is hard to say how webb will be remembered by history.
It served as part of the basis for kill the messenger, a 2014 film based on webbs life. Dark alliance by gary webb penguin books australia. They also talked about garys life, his journalism and his dark alliance series. The most comprehensive allegations were reported by investigative journalist gary webb in a series for the the mercury news of san jose, calif. The guardia, as corrupt and deadly an organization as any in central. In august of 1996, the san jose mercury news published webbs dark alliance, a 20,000 word, threepart investigative series which. Dark alliance and over 2 million other books are available for amazon kindle. Within the this audiobook version of dark alliance, webb produces a massive amount of evidence that suggests that such a scenario did take place, and more disturbing evidence that the powers that be that allowed such an alliance are still determined to ruthlessly guard their secrets. Thats the outlines of the story that gary webb told with his dark alliance series. Kill the messenger sheds light on dark time for late. These articles were first written for the san jose mercury news before later being published into a book. The cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion author. Movie about gary webb, dark alliance reporter who died.
In august 1996, pulitzer prizewinning journalist gary webb stunned the world with a series of articles in. Gary webb faced a storm of criticism for his threepart series, dark alliance, in the san jose mercury newspaper. And it just so happened that he found an outlet this young man named ricky ross, who was a black all this is in the dark alliance, a book. Crack in the system premiering on al jazeera america in early 2015. Books go search best sellers gift ideas new releases whole foods todays deals amazonbasics coupons gift cards customer service free shipping shopper toolkit registry sell. Arts automobiles books diversions job market real estate travel. This is why webbs dark alliance series is an essential source, a primary text that every journalism student should study. The crack epidemics impact on black communities 91. Ridiculed when he wrote the book much of the content has be verified. The book is based on dark alliance, webbs threepart investigative series published in the san jose mercury news in august 1996. Now gary webb has pushed his investigation even further in his book, dark alliance. The story behind the crack explosion, webb enacted his right to freedom of speech, resulting in a ferocious smear campaign fed by the cia.
Oct 24, 2014 gary webb sums up the story in his last major interview just days before his death. One car is dropped off as an escape option if things go bad, the others take up surveillance positions. But if there is any justice, he will be remembered favorably. The history of the cias relationship with international drug dealers has been documented and published, yet it is almost completely unknown to most. Drawing from then newly declassified documents, undercover dea audio and videotapes that had never been publicly released, federal court testimony, and interviews, webb demonstrates how our government knowingly.
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