The story makes the allegation that beyond selling drugs in america in the 1980s, the u. Translation problem but what was being smoked south of the border a pastelike substance called base bahsay was very different from what californians were putting in their pipes, siegel. Jun 04, 2019 crack cocaine, swept throughout the us in the 1980s as an inexpensive and easily accessible drug. By nick schou, nick schou is an editor for oc weekly. We read every letter, fax, or email we receive, and we will convey your comments to cia officials outside opa as appropriate. Neighborhoods and families were severely impacted by this epidemic. Can the cia be held responsible for the crack epidemic. Hello reddit, i was doing a little research on the crack epidemic of the 1980s and from what i read the cia introduce crack cocaine to the u. 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. Feb 10, 2014 the article suggested that the cia and other agencies of the united states government were responsible for the crack epidemic that ravaged black communities across the country, and that the. These conditions were further strained during the 1980s and 1990s by the widespread use of crack cocaine.
Plumlee flew weapons into latin america for decades for the cia. In fact, the cialed campaign to discredit webb is an interesting well documented story all by itself. Timothy alexander guzman, silent crow news the reagan administration and the cia also collaborated with nicaraguan cocaine traffickers to support the contras led to the crack epidemic of the 1980s. Crack epidemic united states history 1980s britannica. This resulted in a number of social consequences, such as increasing crime and violence in american inner city neighborhoods, as well as a resulting backlash in the form of tough on crime policies. Peter dale scott at least since the irancontra hearings in the 1980s, the mass media has refused to take. These claims have led to investigations by the united states government, including hearings and reports by the united states house of representatives, senate, department of justice, and the cias office of the inspector general.
The crack epidemic had particularly devastating effects. Can the cia be held responsible for the crack epidemic that swept across the united states in the. On august 18, 1996, the san jose mercury news published the first installment of a threepart series of articles concerning crack cocaine, the central intelligence agency cia, and the nicaraguan contra army. It is one of the most highly additive and destructive drugs in the world. Did the cia really introduce cocainecrack to the u. The crack epidemic had particularly devastating effects within the african american communities of the. Discuss cia involvement in the nicaraguan revolution.
Cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking wikipedia. Dont you think if they are responsible for the epidemic that all cocaine convictions from 19802000 should be vacated. Nie 1879 soviet capabilities for strategic nuclear conflict through the late 1980s volume i of 3 volumes, 17 march 1980 29 pages. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia in. Nie 1579, mh prospects for posttito yugoslavia, 1 february 1980 5 pages. For many, crack use became an obsession, dominated their lives, and.
The crack epidemic in the united states was a surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across the united states between the early 1980s. Did the cia place crack in urban areas in the 1980s. The crack epidemic the history of crack cocaine drugfree. While much of the ciacontradrug story had been revealed years ago in the. There has, on the other hand, been a lot of conjecture. Part ii from the cias dirty war in nicaragua timothy alexander guzman, silent crow news the reagan administration and the cia also collaborated with nicaraguan cocaine traffickers to support the contras led to the crack epidemic of the 1980s. How the cias crackcocaine controversy destroyed journalist gary webb, will be published in october.
The igs report cleared the cia of complicity with the innercity crack cocaine trade. You will see the opioid epidemic is also government incompetence. The cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb in 1996, journalist gary webb began looking into links between nicaraguas drugrunning contra rebels and the cia. The cia, contras, gangs, and crack institute for policy studies. The crack epidemic the history of crack cocaine drug. Evidence does not support allegations of cia participation. First published by global research in july 2016 the heroin epidemic resembles the days when crack cocaine became the major drug that destroyed communities across the united states and other parts of the world including the caribbean that began in the early 1980s. The nugan hand bank of sydney was a cia bank in all but name. Shadowy origins of crack epidemic role of cialinked agents a wellprotected secret until now. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia.
Aaron dixon, the former seattle chapter captain for the black panther party, is writing a book on the impact of crack cocaine on black communities. The federal governments impact on the crack epidemic in the district of colombia cutler fisher amst 3950w april 15, 2012 the term epidemic is typically used in relation to the spread of a disease however. Dark alliance how the cia created the crack epidemic in the. Our estimated crack incidence remains surprisingly high over time in the year 2000 crack remains at 6075 percent of its peak level.
Dark alliance how the cia created the crack epidemic in the 1980 s earlier one of our younger duers asked why reagan was so bad. While the cias heavy involvement in the drug trade, and especially the crack cocaine trade, has been well documented by scholars such as dr. By 1985, cocainerelated hospital emergencies rose by. Key figures in ciacrack cocaine scandal begin to come forward.
Can the cia be held responsible for the crack epidemic that. According to one article, the cocaine that flooded in through blandons drug ring helped spark a crack explosion in. The cia dropped crack into the inner cities in the 80s. In july 1995, san jose mercurynews reporter gary webb found the big onethe blockbuster story every journalist secretly dreams aboutwithout even looking for it. Crack kingpin of the 1980s the following article, by jeffrey steinberg, appeared as the lead article of an indepth feature in the sept. After comedian richard pryor nearly immolated himself during a cocainesmoking binge in 1980, the national institute on drug abuse hired ucla drug expert ronald k. The crack epidemic coincidentally began around the same time when the irancontra scandal was. Evidence does not support allegations of cia participation in. The heroin epidemic resembles the days when crack cocaine became the major drug that destroyed communities across the united states and other parts of the world including the caribbean that began in the early 1980s. Numerous african american families have struggled for generations with persistent poverty, especially in the inner city.
Poverty can be much more than a lack of money or work or even motivation. The severelydistressed african american family in the crack. When the contra revolution took off in the 1980s, plumlee says he continued to transport arms south for the spy agency and bring cocaine back with him, with the blessing of the u. Just say blow in 1987, actress drew barrymore signed an antidrug pledge alongside first lady nancy reagan. It refuted charges that cia officials knew that their nicaraguan allies were dealing drugs.
The crack epidemics impact on black communities 91. Webb doesnt think that anybody got the idea to start a crack epidemic. This resulted in a number of social consequences, such as increasing crime and violence in american inner city neighborhoods, as well as a resulting backlash in the form of tough on crime. Dark alliance how the cia created the crack epidemic in. However, with limited staff and resources, we simply cannot respond to all who write to us. Mchenry claims that the films main character, nino brown. God, if we just had more kids his age asking this question in our schools. Titled dark alliance, the headline ran beneath the provocative image of a man smoking crack superimposed on the official seal of the cia. Based on a yearlong investigation, reporter gary webb wrote that during the 1980s the cia helped finance its covert war against nicaraguas leftist government through sales of cutrate cocaine to south central l. Measuring crack cocaine and its impact harvard university. Did the cia play a role in launching the crackcocaine epidemic. Did the cia play a role in launching the crack cocaine epidemic. The us governmentcia is responsible for the crack epidemic.
Crack is a cheap drug that would naturally be easy for low income minorities to purchase. The crack epidemic dramatically increased the number of americans addicted to cocaine. Our estimated crack incidence remains surprisingly high over time in. The crack epidemic in washington dc 4036 words 17 pages. The article suggested that the cia and other agencies of the united states government were responsible for the crack epidemic that ravaged black communities across the country, and that the. A powerful series by investigative reporter gary webb of the san jose mercury news says the answer may be yesand the charge. A number of writers have alleged that the united states central intelligence agency cia was involved in cocaine trafficking during the 1980s. Reagan declared that illicit drugs were a direct threat to u. The reagan administration and the cia also collaborated with nicaraguan cocaine traffickers to support the contras led to the crack epidemic of the 1980s. A series of expose articles in the san jose mercurynews by reporter gary webb told tales of a drug triangle during the 1980s that linked cia officials in central america, a san francisco drug. He wrote that the huge influx of cocaine happened to come at just the time.
The cocaine that flooded in helped spark a crack explosion in urban america. Siegel, the first scientist to document cracks use in the united states, traced the smoking habit back to 1930, when colombians first started it. Dark alliance how the cia created the crack epidemic in the 1980s earlier one of our younger duers asked why reagan was so bad. The crack epidemic coincidently began around the same time when the irancontra scandal was being exposed. For many, it is the circumstances resulting from a transgenerational social history filled with struggle against harsh conditions, structural impediments and limited opportunities as well as the continuation and evolution of cultural traditions, and the emergence of new subcultural norms in the face of. Crack user characteristics 16 epidemic crack popular among women and youth 17 section 2 18 health consequences effects of crack on the body, brain, and behavior 18 of crack use crack contributes to the spread of aids and other 20 sexually transmitted diseases special health problems for pregnant women and their children. Ni iim 8010017jx the soviet invasion of afghanistan. The perception that moscow had targeted central america for revolution led the reagan administration to pursue a policy not of containment but of eradication best et al. Allegations of a cia connection to crack cocaine epidemic select. Cooper was a journalist for the village voice, who had received acclaim for a 1987 story about the crack epidemic in detroit titled kids killing kids.
In 1996, a bombshell report by journalist gary webb claimed that the central intelligence agency cia supported cocaine trafficking into the u. According to the series, blandon was the johnny appleseed of crack in californiadistributing thousands of kilos of colombian cocaine to black dealers like ricky ross. Crack cocaine was popularized because of its affordability, its immediate euphoric effect, and its high profitability. This issue has raised interest to the point that a senate select committee on intelligence has begun hearings on it. 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. Crack cocaine, swept throughout the us in the 1980s as an inexpensive and easily accessible drug. Others however argued that this is not true and that its some sort of liberal agenda to demonize reagans term. Yet, under his watch the cia was actually funding some of the very drug cartels responsible for flooding innercity america with cocaine. By 1985, cocainerelated hospital emergencies rose by 12 percent, from. The reagan administration and the cia also collaborated with nicaraguan cocaine traffickers to support the contras led to the crack epidemic of the 1980 s. On august 18, 1996, the san jose mercury news published the first installment of a threepart series of articles concerning crack cocaine, the central intelligence agency cia, and the nicaraguan contra.
In the memorial of nancy reagan, a dark and twisted plot has resurfaced. Central intelligence agency a number of writers have alleged that the united states central intelligence agency cia was involved in cocaine trafficking during the 1980s. On october 14, 1982, president ronald reagan declared a war on drugs, doublingdown on an initiative that was started by richard nixon. Webb alleged that profits from these crack sales were funneled to the ciasupported contras. The backstory to why crack is destroying american lives to this day is astounding. The crack epidemic in the united states was a surge of crack cocaine use in major cities across the united states between the early 1980s and the early 1990s. Crack is a cheap drug that would naturally be easy for low income minorities to purchase and. This creates a short high, followed by tiredness, depression, panic, anxiety, and brain damage. Clair who write for the nation lay it all out in their book whiteout. The office of public affairs opa is the single point of contact for all inquiries about the central intelligence agency cia.
New jack city eats its young, the article was one of the first exposes of the effects of the crack epidemic on innercity communities. The actions by the cia and reagan administration are credited with sparking the crack epidemic by flooding the drug market with an unprecedented amount of highquality cocaine at a low cost. Cia a bunch of cocaine dealers community the newstalkers. Snowfall is a onehour drama set against the infancy of the crack cocaine epidemic and its ultimate radical impact on the culture as we know it. Mar 21, 2015 the cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb in 1996, journalist gary webb began looking into links between nicaraguas drugrunning contra rebels and the cia. The cia was complicit, but not directly involved in the cocaine trafficking of the 1980s which led directly to the crack epidemic. Jun 26, 2017 in the 1980s, president ronald reagan enacted harsh sentencing laws for drug offenders. Nov 29, 2019 first published by global research in july 2016 the heroin epidemic resembles the days when crack cocaine became the major drug that destroyed communities across the united states and other parts of the world including the caribbean that began in the early 1980s. The cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb. Mar 11, 2016 crack cocaine ravaged the 1980s and is still destroying lives, families, and whole communities across the nation thanks to the reagan administration and the cia. Ricky ross was apprehended after a drug sting by the dea which was organized by. Crack epidemic, the significant increase in the use of crack cocaine, or crack, in the united states during the early 1980s.
Can the cia be held responsible for the crack epidemic that swept across the united states in the 1980s. According to the stories, the cia and its operatives used crack cocainesold via the. Mchenry claims that the films main character, nino brown, was based on a composite of three people. Ciacontracrack cocaine controversy office of the inspector. Feb 17, 2008 it is too suspicious for me that right around the time that certain elements of the reagan administration were financing the contras, the crack epidemic and the resulting war on drugs occured. The ciacontracrack connection, 10 years later reporter gary webb was the victim of his own hyperbole, but he never got credit for what he got right.
The cia, contras, gangs, and crack institute for policy. The severelydistressed african american family in the. Well if you watched netflix killing the messenger you see cia started the cocaine epidemic. Dont you think if they are responsible for the epidemic that all cocaine convictions from 1980 2000 should be vacated.
The reagan administration is directly responsible for the. This drug ring opened the first pipeline between colombias cocaine cartels and the. Essay help the perception that moscow had targeted central america for revolution led the reagan administration to pursue a policy not of containment but of eradication best et al. Moreover, the idea that blandon and ross alone could have launched the crack epidemic is contradicted by welldocumented evidence about the nature of the cocaine trade and the emergence of crack.
Ricky ross was apprehended after a drug sting by the dea which was organized by blandon, after he was captured by the dea. The true story of the 1980s crack epidemic is still untold. Apr 30, 2020 the perception that moscow had targeted central america for revolution led the reagan administration to pursue a policy not of containment but of eradication best et al. A simple phone call concerning an unexceptional pending drug trial turned into a massive conspiracy involving the nicaraguan contra rebels, l. It is too suspicious for me that right around the time that certain elements of the reagan administration were financing the contras, the crack epidemic and the resulting war on drugs occured. Essay about the crack cocaine epidemic of the mid 1980s. Nie 1180 sinosoviet relations in the early 1980s, 5 june 1980 24 pages.
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