Schou also recalls other reporters who faced attacks by the government, lack of support by editors, drugpossession setups, and death threats for investigating cia involvement in drug trafficking. During the cold war, the cia created a tunnel in berlin to tap into the soviet army headquarters in the city. Real theme we introduced last month, cias office of public affairs hosted daniel craig, famously known for his portrayal as james bond, at cia headquarters yesterday to discuss what its really like to be an intelligence officer. The central intelligence agency cia is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the united states, tasked with gathering, processing, and analyzing national security information from around the world, primarily through the use of human intelligence humint. So i began to wonder if the use of the term conspiracy theory might be a. 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 the united states in the 1980s. Cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking wikipedia. Back in 1996, gary webb of the san jose mercury news broke a story stating not only that the nicaraguan contras supported by the united states in a rebellion against their leftleaning government were involved in the us crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, but also that the cia knew and turned a blind eye to the operation. Justice report finds no cia link to crack cocaine trafficking july 23, 1998 contra leaders say cia not involved in drug sales november 26, 1996 deutch confronts angry l. Outraged at cia role in drug trade duke university. Douglas wilson, member of the core group of project unspeakable having read jfk and the unspeakable several years ago, ive been thinking about assassinations for quite a while and ive seen how conspiracy theory is used to shut off debate, to signal that were entering the unspeakable zone.
My american literature professor said that cia involvement in selling drugs in the us was often speculated about in the 80s but never proven. In the groundswell of public skepticism toward the warren commissions findings on the assassination of president john f. Work began the using a us air force radar site and a warehouse in west berlin as cover. There is a great documentary on this called, american drug war. This gave rise to gangs, tore black neighborhoods apart, and contributed to the massive international drug mafia we have today. Webb also said the cia was aware that proceeds from the sales of those drugs. In 1999 webb took to the stage at the first united methodist church in. The cia planes brought guns, washing machines, gourmet food, and fancy furniture intto colombia and took drugs back to the u. The cleveland institute of art cia, one of the nations leading accredited independent colleges of art and design, seeks a creative, energetic, transparent and strategic leader to serve as vice president for enrollment management and marketing. 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. The cocaine that flooded in helped spark a crack explosion in urban america. In this case, the cias activities led to the crack epidemic in americas inner cities, which caused american citizens much pain and misery. 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. First off, its very unlikely that the cia was involved in what happened to.
Apr 25, 2007 the first article also made other specific allegations of cia knowledge of, or involvement in, the drug rings activities. Cia officers pulled from china because of opm breach us counterintel czar to hack victims. The cia, the contras and crack cocaine albion monitor. Crack is a relatively new drug on the scene compared to drugs like opium or heroin. Some in the african american community have long claimed that the federal government was responsible for the crack epidemic of the 1980s by letting the. 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 igs report cleared the cia of complicity with the inner city crack cocaine trade. The central intelligence agency cia is an intelligence agency of the united states government. For nearly a decade the cia, helped spread crack cocaine in black ghettos. In october 1998, the cia released a declassified version of hitzs twovolume report, and the cia was cleared of its alleged complicity in the spread of crackcocaine in to the innercities.
It has long been known that the cia has illegally toppled foreign governments. Its primary function is obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and persons, and reporting such information to the branches of the government. Did the cia really invent and distribute crack cocaine in the. One of the things is lays out is how the crack trade had to have been organized from outside and by people with high level connections. They probably wouldnt have an interest in creating theories outside of their scope, such as richard branson is really satan. The igs report cleared the cia of complicity with the innercity crack cocaine. Kennedy, the cia sent a detailed directive to all of its bureaus. The four general tasks assigned to the agency were. Sia had the performance of a lifetime on june 17, singing for president obama at the democratic national committees annual lgbt gala in new york city. Daniel craig visits the agency to discuss the reel vs real of espionage building on the reel vs. Ciabacked afghan forces conducted war crimes, claims new report in one attack armed men burst into a home in the middle of night, put four brothers into separate rooms, their hands bound.
Mar 29, 2011 ok so i believe in conspiracy theorys about the government and the illuminati and all that stuff but what i found out recently was that the cia invented crack and ive done some research and there are some people who are saying that its not even true and iam really interested in learning more about this so if anyone could give me some good info about that i would really appreciate it. The cia may also engage in covert action at the presidents request. Cia latest news, breaking stories and comment the independent. A number of writers have alleged that the united states central intelligence agency cia was involved in cocaine trafficking during the 1980s. 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.
Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum. Dark alliance is a book that should be fiction, whose characters seem to come straight out of central casting. After four weeks of strong signs that the ciacontracrack issue wasnt going to fade away, the nations newspaper of record finally got around to covering the story. Under the act, the cias mission was only loosely defined, since efforts to thrash out the cias duties in specific terms would have contributed to the tension surrounding the unification of the services. Oct 11, 2014 back in 1996, gary webb of the san jose mercury news broke a story stating not only that the nicaraguan contras supported by the united states in a rebellion against their leftleaning government were involved in the us crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, but also that the cia knew and turned a blind eye to the operation. Kill the messenger, largely viewed as a vindication of gary webb, opens nationwide tonight. After four weeks of strong signs that the cia contra crack issue wasnt going to fade away, the nations newspaper of record finally got around to covering the story. As one of the principal members of the united states intelligence community ic, the cia reports to the. Kill the messenger movie revisits the cia and how crack. News that central intelligence agency operatives were tied to the crack cocaine.
Was the cia involved in selling crack cocaine to inner. Its sure to stir memories for familes displaced by civil war in nicaragua and those in the u. 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 cig became an independent department and was renamed the central intelligence agency. Usually the cia s activities have harmful effects on innocent civilians in foreign countries. Central intelligence agency, cia noun an independent agency of the united states government responsible for collecting and coordinating intelligence and counterintelligence activities abroad in the national interest. Freeway rick ross on how he introduced crack to the u. Cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia in central america pbs. Nov 07, 2014 racism drove the backlash against gary webb. Did the cia really invent and distribute crack cocaine in. Daniel craig visits the agency to discuss the reel vs real.
Daniel craig visits the agency to discuss the reel vs real of. Did the cia really introduce cocainecrack to the u. For nearly a decade the cia spread crack cocaine in black neighborhoods to fund their proxi nicaraguan contra army. Inciardi reports that in 1980, coca paste smoking was popular in the caribbean. Key figures in ciacrack cocaine scandal begin to come forward. 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 cia s office of the inspector general.
Jul 25, 2018 daniel craig visits the agency to discuss the reel vs real of espionage building on the reel vs. One day in the early 1980s, wanda palacio watched a hercules cargo plane roll to a stop on the tarmac of barranquilla international airport, located in the andean foothills just off the azure waters of colombias northern coast. Inciardi, immigrants from jamaica, trinidad, and locations along the leeward and windward islands introduced the prototype for crack to caribbean inner city populations in miami and new york. Cnn cia admits it overlooked contras links to drugs. That said, the charged words crack and inner city were likely unintended consequences not all part of the plan. Furthermore, crack cocaine is the street name for cocaine which has been processed to make a rock crystal that when heated creates vapor that can be smoked. Guatemala second coup of the cia to overthrow the president jacobo arbenz and replace him with a brutal military government that stayed in place through years of civil wars, death squads, and more. On august 18, 1996, the san jose mercury newspublished the first installment of a threepart series of articles concerning crack cocaine, the central intelligence agency cia, and the nicaraguan contra army. 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. Crack has destroyed millions of lives since it was first introduced to the streets of america. Dec 24, 2005 crack has destroyed millions of lives since it was first introduced to the streets of america. Jan 20, 20 yet it was the central intelligence agency that likely played the greatest role in effectively weaponizing the term.
Inner city youth dont have the resources to manufacture cocaine or ship in guns, mr. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia. The first article also made other specific allegations of cia knowledge of, or involvement in, the drug rings activities. The third article, by mitchell and fulwood, covered the effects of crack on african americans and how it affected. Fisher then allegedly introduced him to cocaine and drug dealing. You would need to show how the shape of the earth falls under the scope of the cia. A number of writers have alleged that the united states central intelligence agency cia was.
Usually the cias activities have harmful effects on innocent civilians in foreign countries. The term conspiracy theory an invention of the cia. The cia, the drug dealers, and the tragedy of gary webb telegraph. Much like the aids in vending machines, this is moon landing, birther, conspiracy level insanity. Nov 03, 1998 justice report finds no cia link to crack cocaine trafficking july 23, 1998 contra leaders say cia not involved in drug sales november 26, 1996 deutch confronts angry l. Schou retraces webbs exhaustive research, which connected crack cocaine sold on the streets of l. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia in. 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. Was the cia involved in selling crack cocaine to inner city. Give us a call at the number on the bottom of this page or click the email button to send us a note for more information. Right as he said that, a young woman in my class interrupted to contradict him saying, no, the cia actually did sell drugs to inner city blacks to get them addicted and promote their own social policies and fund military activity. Decadesold cia crackcocaine scandal gains new momentum rt. Under the act, the cia s mission was only loosely defined, since efforts to thrash out the cia s duties in specific terms would have contributed to the tension surrounding the unification of the services.
The cia would be creating competing conspiracy theories to distract from something like the truth about the jfk shooting. Who exactly invented crack and introduced it to the inner cities is unknown and largely beside the point, but it certainly wasnt something that inner city blacks could have organized by themselves. The cia stands for the central intelligence agency. Allegations of a cia connection to crack cocaine epidemic. The govt cia invented crack just to target the black man in order to keep him down. It refuted charges that cia officials knew that their nicaraguan allies were dealing drugs. Others however argued that this is not true and that its some sort of liberal agenda to demonize reagans term. Racism drove the backlash against gary webb the nation. Its primary stated mission is to collect, evaluate and disseminate foreign intelligence to assist the president and senior united states government policymakers in making decisions about national security.
Aug 30, 2012 in october 1998, the cia released a declassified version of hitzs twovolume report, and the cia was cleared of its alleged complicity in the spread of crackcocaine in to the innercities. The cia dropped crack into the inner cities in the 80s. The term crack derives from the crackling sound during the process of transforming cocaine to crack cocaine national institute on drug abuse nida, 2010. Careers at cia cleveland institute of art college of art. The introduction to the first installment of the series read. Jan 19, 2017 during the cold war, the cia created a tunnel in berlin to tap into the soviet army headquarters in the city. In this case, the cia s activities led to the crack epidemic in americas inner cities, which caused american citizens much pain and misery. Where did the cia introduced crack to the inner cities in. Cia officers pulled from china because of opm breach ars. The sources of cia authority the kational security set of 1947 charges tlfe cia with the duty of coordinating the intelligence activities of the federal go\ernlllcllt and correlating, evaluating and disseminating intelligence which affects national security. The cia directly aided the drug dealers to raise money for the contras. The news service facts on file first mentioned crack on august 15, 1986, under the headline, crack explosion alarms nation. Soon to be a major motion picture starring jeremy renner kill the messenger tells the story of the tragic death of gary webb, the controversial newspaper reporter who committed suicide in december 2004.