I’ve been asked if I worry about writing about the CIA, and the answer is sometimes. When I began seeing their involvement with Jerry and other cocaine smugglers, I did a lot of reading, and since there is no shortage of material I found enough information to give any reasonable person pause who is digging up old CIA bones. An excellent example is the story of Gary Webb.
Webb was a decorated investigative reporter for the San Jose Mercury News. In 1966 he wrote a series of articles about the CIA’s involvement with cocaine, crack, and the Contra rebels. The series attracted national attention and so much political heat was brought against the newspaper that they eventually backed off their support of Webb and released him.
Webb had supported his story with materials garnered through the Freedom of Information Act, including a report by the CIA Inspector General indicating that White House officials, including Oliver North, supported the CIA using money from drug trafficking to fund the Contras.
The Washington Post, long a supporter of White House policies, fiercely attacked Webb, soon joined by other media outlets. His book, Dark Alliance, was called by North a series of lies. Soon, Webb’s career as a journalist was finished. An editor for the Chicago Times said that Webb got the treatment that always comes to those who question aloud the bone fides of the establishment.
On December 10,2004, Webb was found dead, with two bullet holes in his head. After investigation, and because a note was found, his death was ruled a suicide. Yes, I didn’t miswrite: two bullets to the head and it was called a suicide.
So, yes I am often concerned.
Webb was a decorated investigative reporter for the San Jose Mercury News. In 1966 he wrote a series of articles about the CIA’s involvement with cocaine, crack, and the Contra rebels. The series attracted national attention and so much political heat was brought against the newspaper that they eventually backed off their support of Webb and released him.
Webb had supported his story with materials garnered through the Freedom of Information Act, including a report by the CIA Inspector General indicating that White House officials, including Oliver North, supported the CIA using money from drug trafficking to fund the Contras.
The Washington Post, long a supporter of White House policies, fiercely attacked Webb, soon joined by other media outlets. His book, Dark Alliance, was called by North a series of lies. Soon, Webb’s career as a journalist was finished. An editor for the Chicago Times said that Webb got the treatment that always comes to those who question aloud the bone fides of the establishment.
On December 10,2004, Webb was found dead, with two bullet holes in his head. After investigation, and because a note was found, his death was ruled a suicide. Yes, I didn’t miswrite: two bullets to the head and it was called a suicide.
So, yes I am often concerned.
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