Gary Webb: In his own words (2004)

Gary Webb, the Pulitzer prize-winning reporter who broke the story of the CIAs involvement in the importation of cocaine into the U.S., died December 10, 2004, reportedly from self-inflicted gunshots to the head.

It was a tragic end to a brilliant, and tragic, career.

In August 1996, the San Jose Mercury News published Webbs 20,000 word, three-part series entitled Dark Alliance. The articles detailed the nexus between a California coke kingpin, CIA officials and assets and the Nicaraguan Contra army, whose funding had been cut off by an act of Congress in the mid-80s. Webb found evidence that the CIA had direct contact with the smugglers, knew the proceeds were going to fund the murderous Contras, and tried to cover it up when other law enforcement agencies began investigating. The most troubling aspect to the story was that the central player was no ordinary drug lord. He was the man many credit for popularizing crack, the highly addictive, smoke-able form of cocaine.

For many African-Americans, the story smacked of a grand conspiracy to destroy the black community. There were rallies in Watts and Compton, and heated discussions on black media across the country. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus called for a federal investigation. In November 1996, CIA director John Deutch appeared at Locke High School in South Central Los Angeles to personally answer to the allegations. He was met with loud jeers. It was a PR disaster.

But it was Webb who found himself on the ropes. Ironically, the CIA did little to publicly counter his allegations. Instead, the media did its dirty work for them, most notably the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post. The mainstream media accused Webb of exaggerating his findings.

For Webb, the most confounding part of the whole affair was that he ended up being accused of making allegations he never made specifically that the CIA-crack connection was part of a larger, genocidal plot to kill off black people. Webb never made that claim though he noted in his book, "Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion," the inherent racism in a covert policy that reaped so much destruction on such a vulnerable segment of society.

He wrote, Dark Alliance does not propound a conspiracy theory; there is nothing theoretical about history. In this case, it is undeniable that a wildly successful conspiracy to import cocaine existed for many years, and that innumerable American citizensmost of them poor and blackpaid an enormous price as a result. This book was written for them, so that they may know upon what altars their communities were sacrificed.

The fact is by 1996 it was common knowledge in the so-called alternative media that there were connections between the Contras, the Agency and drugs. In 1988, a Senate subcommittee investigation headed by Sen. John Kerry concluded the links were there. Oliver Norths own diary noted, $14 million to buy arms for the Contras came from drugs.

Nevertheless, Webbs editors at the Mercury News hung him out to dry, without ever providing any evidence that any of his reporting was wrong. He was reassigned, then forced out. Webb went on to work as an investigator for the state of California, penning a report on racial profiling by state police. More recently, he landed a reporting job at a Sacramento newspaper.

In honor of Webbs legacy of authentic journalism, GNN presents this exclusive interview, in which Webb discusses Dark Alliance, the media maelstrom, and the storys historical importance.

The video was produced by a team of GNNs video students at the School of Authentic Journalism 2002 seminar in Merida, Mexico.

Director: Anthony Lappé & Stephen Marshall
Producer: Guerrilla News Network in association with NarcoNews.com
Production Company: Guerrilla News Network
Audio/Visual: sound, color
Keywords: Gary Webb; War on Drugs; CIA
Contact Information: www.gnn.tv

Produced at the School of Authentic Journalism
Merida, Mexico 2002

Student producers:
Ana Cernov, Andrea Daugirdas, Blanca Eekhout, Helena Klang, Zabeth Flores, Carola Mittrany, Karine Melissa Muller, Ugo Vallauri, Adriana Veloso Meireles

Directed and edited by:
Anthony Lappé & Stephen Marshall
Guerrilla News Network

Additional camera:
Ian Inaba

Special thanks Al Giordano
Publisher, NarcoNews Bulletin
Dean, School of Authentic Journalism

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Gary
• Webb
• GNN
• CIA
• Iran-Contra
• drugs
• Oliver
• North

[POPEWORSHIPER]

another "suicide" ? by someone exposing the crooked motherfuckers in the government?

[0urGaia]

A hero.

[MrSilverfish12]

I sense a civil war approaching

[navijatt]

nice rendition of bob marelys classic...

pp need to wake up ... governments kill ppl everyday for fun....its a big club and we're not in it..!

[Yegussa]

Suicide? Two gunshots in the head? That is a motherfucking lie.

He is murdered!

[kitty196643]

i hope his soul found the true father and the true heaven, i hope he got free....they destroyed his reputation then they killed him, thats what happens to alot if not all the ones whom try to get the truth out to us....ppl r giving up their very lives for us to know the truth atleast we can listen

[kitty196643]

they always try to discredit the whisle blowers the ones who have us in best interest

[BlueReishiMan]

Doesn't seem depressed. Why did he kill himself?

[wesleyhjr]

Yea. Suicide by 2 (TWO!!!!) self inflicted gunshotS to his head. T W O.

[BOSTONALBB]

This man told the truth and killed himself,because he confirmed what the black community has known for years. Frank Wright the black security guard that exposed Watergate died broke, bad health and never able to get a job. Nixion was pardon.

[1madamerican2]

quiet down folks. we have your number ID and are coming to your door soon...go back to sleep or else...Gold Oil Drugs bless usa

[thelunatic44]

he could of really killed him self cus he was being hunted or too much pressure or got set up for exposing the government cuz u kno they didnt want him around nomore