CIA Heroin Trafficking in Southeast Asia

February 1981 http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.... Watch the full interview: http://thefilmarchived.blogspot.com/2010/08/john-stockwell-on-cia-terrorism-d...

The Politics of Heroin in Southeast Asia is a major, nonfiction book on heroin trafficking—specifically in Southeast Asia from before World War II up to (and including) the Vietnam War. Published in 1972, the book was the product of eighteen months of research and at least one trip to Laos by Alfred W. McCoy who was the principal author and who wrote Politics of Heroin while seeking a PhD in Southeast Asian history at Yale University. Cathleen B. Read, co-author and graduate student, also spent time there during the war. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1556524838?ie=UTF8&tag=doc06-20&link...

Its most groundbreaking feature was its documentation of CIA complicity and aid to the Southeast Asian opium/heroin trade; along with McCoy's Congressional testimony, its initially controversial thesis has gained a degree of mainstream acceptance. The central idea is that at the time, the vast majority of heroin produced was produced in the Golden Triangle, from which: "It is transported in the planes, vehicles, and other conveyances supplied by the United States. The profit from the trade has been going into the pockets of some of our best friends in Southeast Asia. The charge concludes with the statement that the traffic is being carried on with the indifference if not the closed-eye compliance of some American officials and there is no likelihood of its being shut down in the foreseeable future."

Air America in particular was used for this transport. Further, this heroin supply is responsible for the parlous state of the Army in Vietnam: "By mid 1971 Army medical officers were estimating that about 10 to 15 per cent... of the lower ranking enlisted men serving in Vietnam were heroin users."

Having interviewed Maurice Belleux, former head of the French SDECE intelligence agency, Mc Coy also uncovered parts of the French Connection scheme, as the French military agency had financed all of its covert operations, during the Indochina War, from its control of the Indochina drug trade.

Unusually, the CIA reacted strongly to the book: "...high-ranking officials of the C.I.A have signed letters for publication to a newspaper and magazine, granted a rare on-the-record interview at the agency's headquarters in McLean, Va." (the letters were to the Washington Star and were signed by William E. Colby and Paul C. Velte Jr.; the letter to Harper & Row (the book's publishers) on 5 July by C.I.A. general counsel Lawrence R. Houston asked that they be given the galleys so that they could criticize errors and unproven accusations ("we believe we could demonstrate to you that a considerable number of Mr. McCoy's claims about this agency's alleged involvement are totally false and without foundation, a number are distorted beyond recognition and none is based on convincing evidence.") and take whatever legal action they felt necessary before the book's publication.

McCoy's initial extreme hostility to providing a copy to the C.I.A. was eventually overcome, and the promised list of criticisms and correction was sent. Harper & Row felt that the material the CIA offered was extremely weak, that the book was reasonably well sourced (McCoy conducted "more than 250 interviews, some of them with past and present officials of the C.I.A. He said that top-level South Vietnamese officials, including President Nguyen Van Thieu and Premier Tran Van Khiem, were specifically involved."; a vice-president and general counsel of Harper & Row said "We don't have any doubts about the book at all. We've had it reviewed by others and we're persuaded that the work is amply documented and scholarly.") and not only published it, but published it two weeks before its scheduled release date. The third & expanded edition was published in 2003, more pointedly entitled The Politics of Heroin: CIA Complicity in the Global Drug Trade (ISBN 1-55652-483-8); the book has also been translated into nine languages * "We have to continue to fight the evil of Communism, and to fight you must have an army, and an army must have guns, and to buy guns you must have money. In these mountains the only money is opium." General Tuan Shi-wen, commander of the Chinese Nationalist Fifth Army (based in the Golden Triangle), as quoted by McCoy. * "The picture of corruption that he draws, of cruel and naked jockeying for power, of bloodletting and cynical maneuvering with underworld peddlers, is so strongly documented that it might make even the stanchest defender of the war in Southeast Asia wonder if it is worth it." Thomas Lask, "Bonanza in 'Golden Triangle.'"

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[ibemerjb123abc]

...Afghanistan under Soviet occupation again involved heroin/opium shipped to the US and profits and weapons funneled back to Afghanistan. Our "allies" against the Soviets turned into the Taliban and used our weapons against us. After we oust the Taliban opium/heroin production becomes higher than ever because we look the other way in an attempt to gain favor from the Afghan people and funnel profits back in. We sell weapons to Iraq to fight Iran which turns into Desert Storm & 9/11.

[ibemerjb123abc]

CIA has been complicit about the drug trade and passively if not actively supporting illicit drugs and weapons trafficking for more than 50 years now. WWII we experimented on soldiers with LSD as truth serum, PCP and Speed as a supsersoldier facilitate. Korean War and Vietnam we funneled weapons to our allies and proxies who soon became our enemies. Nam had the Golden Triangle Opium/Heroin deal. The Contras in Central America (Cocaine/Crack Epidemic) and Iran (Weapons)...

[centurion180ad]

That last leg was not "approved" by dipshit whore politicians but they sure took the kickbacks from it, and knew about it.

That last leg was FORCED at gunpoint by pervert sadists at the top of that ladder, and any military people that got in the way or ended up knowing too much were assassinated by CIA.

CIA is an enemy of the planet.

[ShotFreak]

all he said is right!

[ontariobuds]

@ibemerjb123abc you know it's probably not a bad idea to throw in some sources. I'm not arguing, not al all. But hey, why say give some proof, like say "google drug misuse act of 19xx" or something. you see what I mean?

[distressed7]

@TheChineseEmpire Read Professor Alfred McCoy's THE POLITICS OF HEROIN: CIA Complicity in the Drug Trade. This guy spent more time in the Golden Triangle than most lifers. He also was in dangerous locations in the Golden Crescent. We allow Cartel Armies to occupy the border area. Our national parks are off limits to our own citizens in the border areas, especially AZ. Why? The trade in illicit drugs is estimated to be worth $400 billion a year, and it accounts for 8% of all international trade.

[PNACATTACKdotCOM]

FINANCING CIA* & MI6 STATE SPONCORED TERRORISM + budget debth

* U.S. tax payers funded in that with $45.000.000.000 (CIA budget is secret, but by mistake, or soem old CIA constitutional official revelaed that - happened that 2009 budget was leaked to press or came public some other ways)

[PNACATTACKdotCOM]

Since 1954 GUATEMALA

[TheChineseEmpire]

I find it hard to believe this is true but I guess anything is possible.

[PNACATTACKdotCOM]

'Golden Triangle'

¤ The Politics of Heroin: CIA Complicity in the Global Drug Trade (ISBN 1-55652-483-8)

I have heard about that - thanks. Gotta add that to my Books to study list :)