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Gary Webb
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Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion Paperback – June 8, 1999

by Gary Webb (Author), Maxine Waters (Foreword)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 695 ratings
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Major Motion Picture based on Dark Alliance and starring Jeremy Renner, "Kill the Messenger," to be be released in Fall 2014

Winner of the 1999 PEN/Oakland Censorship Award

Winner of the 1999 Firecracker Alternative Bookseller (FAB) Award, Politics category

Finalist for the 1999 Bay Area Book Reviewers Awards

Dark Alliance is a book that should be fiction, whose characters seem to come straight out of central casting: the international drug lord, Norwin Meneses; the Contra cocaine broker with an MBA in marketing, Danilo Blandon; and the illiterate teenager from the inner city who rises to become the king of crack, "Freeway" Ricky Ross. But unfortunately, these characters are real and their stories are true.

In August 1996, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb stunned the world with a series of articles in the San Jose Mercury News reporting the results of his year-long investigation into the roots of the crack cocaine epidemic in America, specifically in Los Angeles. The series, titled "Dark Alliance," revealed that for the better part of a decade, a Bay Area drug ring sold tons of cocaine to Los Angeles street gangs and funneled millions in drug profits to the CIA-backed Nicaraguan Contras.

Gary Webb pushed his investigation even further in his book, Dark Alliance: The CIA, The Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion. Drawing from then newly declassified documents, undercover DEA audio and videotapes that had never been publicly released, federal court testimony, and interviews, Webb demonstrates how our government knowingly allowed massive amounts of drugs and money to change hands at the expense of our communities.

Webb's original article spurred an immediate outcry. Within days of publication, both of California's senators made formal requests for investigations of the U.S. government's relationship with the cocaine ring. As a result, public demonstrations erupted in L.A., Washington D.C., and New York. Then-chief of the CIA, John Deutsch, made an unprecedented attempt at crisis control by going to South Central L.A. to hold a public forum. Representative Maxine Waters later said in George magazine, "I was shocked by the level of corruption and deceit and the way the intelligence agencies have knowledge of big-time drug dealing."
The allegations in Webb's story blazed over the Internet and the Mercury News' website on the series was deluged with hits—over a million in one day. A Columbia Journalism Review cover story called it "the most talked-about piece of journalism in 1996 and arguably the most famous—some would say infamous—set of articles of the decade."

Webb's own stranger-than-fiction experience is also woven into the book. His excoriation by the media—not because of any wrongdoing on his part, but by an insidious process of innuendo and suggestion that in effect blamed Webb for the implications of the story—had been all but predicted. Webb was warned off doing a CIA expose by a former Associated Press journalist who lost his job when, years before, he had stumbled onto the germ of the "Dark Alliance" story. And though Internal investigations by both the CIA and the Justice Department eventually vindicated Webb, he had by then been pushed out of the Mercury News and gone to work for the California State Legislature Task Force on Government Oversight. He died in 2004.

The updated paperback edition of Dark Alliance features revelations in just-released reports from the Department of Justice, internal CIA investigations, and a new cache of recently declassified secret FBI, DEA, and INS files—much of which was not known to Webb when writing the first edition of this book. Webb further explains the close working relationship that major drug traffickers had with U.S. Government agencies—particularly the DEA—and recounts the news of the past year regarding this breaking story.

After more than two years of career-damning allegations leveled at Webb, joined in the past year by glowing reviews of the hardcover edition of Dark Alliance from shore to shore, the core findings of this courageous investigative reporter's work—once fiercely denied—are becoming matters of public record. The updated paperback edition of Dark Alliance adds yet another layer of evidence exposing the illegality of a major CIA covert operation.
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  1. Print length
    592 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Seven Stories Press
  4. Publication date
    June 8, 1999
  5. Dimensions
    6.01 x 1.54 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1888363932
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1888363937
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"…a densely researched, passionately argued, acronym-laden 548-page volume." —Michael Massing, The Los Angeles Times Sunday Book Review

"I find his argument to be very well documented, very careful and very convincing. In fact, the readability of the book suffers a bit from what seems to have been a fear that if he didn't include absolutely every bit of evidence he had unearthed, he would open himself up to new criticisms of inadequate reporting—but this editor's quibble shouldn't stop anyone from buying and reading Dark Alliance. Long-time followers of the contra tale are likely to find new revelations in the book…" —Jo Ann Kawell, The Nation

About the Author

In 1996, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist GARY WEBB (1955–2004) wrote a shocking series of articles for the San Jose Mercury News exposing the CIA’s link to Nicaraguan cocaine smuggled into the US by the Contras, which had fueled the widespread crack epidemic that swept through urban areas. Webb’s bold, controversial reporting was the target of a famously vicious media backlash that ended his career as a mainstream journalist. When Webb persisted with his research and compiled his findings in the bookDark Alliance, some of the same publications that had vilified Webb for his series retracted their criticism and praised him for having the courage to tell the truth about one of the worst official abuses in our nation’s history. Others, including his own former newspaper and the New York Times, continued to treat him like an outlaw for the brilliant and courageous work he’d done. Webb’s death on December 10, 2004, at the age of 49, was determined to be a suicide.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Seven Stories Press; 2nd edition (June 8, 1999)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 592 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1888363932
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1888363937
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.45 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.01 x 1.54 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 695 ratings

About the author

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Gary Webb

Gary Webb

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Gary Webb was an investigative reporter, focusing on government and private sector corruption and winning more than 30 journalism awards. He was one of six reporters at the San Jose Mercury News to win a 1990 Pulitzer Prize for General News Reporting for a series of stories on the collapse of the Cypress Street Viaduct during northern California's 1989 earthquake. He also received the 1997 Media Hero Award from the Institute for Alternative Journalism and in 1996 was named Journalist of the Year by the Bay Area Society of Professional Journalists. Webb is currently a consultant to the California State legislature Task Force on Government Oversight and a regular feature contributor to Esquire. In 1998, his book Dark Alliance: The CIA, The Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion (Seven Stories Press), revealed that for the better part of a decade, a Bay Area drug ring sold tons of cocaine to Los Angeles street gangs and funneled millions in drug profits to the CIA-backed Nicaraguan Contras. He died in 2004.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
695 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book well-written and informative. They appreciate the detailed research and substantiated evidence. The book is described as well-sourced, believable, and well-documented.

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80 customers mention "Readability"67 positive13 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and well-written. They describe it as an action thriller with a medium font size. The author seamlessly weaves together court documents into a gripping story, making it a ground-breaking and popular accomplishment.

"...The pages read and turn well, I would say the font is a medium size, not too big, not too small, not enough to overwhelm you with the size of the..." Read more

"...the Internet and in print in 1996 was a groundbreaking and very popular accomplishment...." Read more

"Pricey but I wanted this in my library. A captivating read. Insight connections that were made are easy to follow...." Read more

"...Gary Webb died for this work. It is 100% worth the read." Read more

31 customers mention "Information quality"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and revealing. They appreciate its well-researched account and detailed details about events. The book provides insights into the workings of alphabet agencies in the US government. Readers mention it's one of the most detailed non-fiction books they have ever read.

"...There's a good, popular documentary that touches on the Gary Webb story, it's titled "American Drug War: The Last White Hope"...." Read more

"...He presents his findings unassumingly while presenting events, issues, and connections matter-of-factly...." Read more

"Long book but very informative." Read more

"...Webb's account is well documented and entirely believable...." Read more

12 customers mention "Sturdiness"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-sourced and believable. They say it's in excellent condition and worth reading.

"..."I find his argument to be very well documented, very careful and very convincing...." Read more

"...Webb's account is well documented and entirely believable...." Read more

"...This book served as Webb's chance for a rebuttal. It is well-sourced and Webb thoroughly proved that the U.S. government was fully aware of Contras'..." Read more

"...And it's quality is high!..." Read more

We are on the verge of a dangerous drug use phenomenon. Page 34
5 out of 5 stars
We are on the verge of a dangerous drug use phenomenon. Page 34
Wow ‼‼‼‼🔥 Byck thanked Guyer and then politely ripped into the federal government page 25 dark alliance
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Top reviews from the United States

Jon Schipp
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic journalism and story telling!
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2012
Verified Purchase
When you hear of the Iran-Contra scandal you mostly think of the hostage crisis that happened in Tehran, Iran which was seen as another case of blowback by many. There's another piece to the portrait, the drug running and the turned, and sometimes supportive head of the CIA, DEA, and Reagan Administration to fund the Contras, a right-wing guerilla group. The funding was done by the trade of drugs for arms. Cocaine poured into this country unlike anytime before and it was largely due to an secret agenda and the negligence of the U.S. government. One of results was the destruction of poor, black communities, and the rise of gangs in South Central L.A..

Gary Webb's tome is magnificent. There's so much data packed in here that I was only able to read certain parts of the book in spacious intervals.

It doesn't take very long to be convinced that Gary is not just another journalist, with achieving more than 30 journalistic awards including a Pulitzer Prize, it's hard not to take this guy seriously. Take a glance at his Wiki page. Despite all that, Gary has the code for truth-telling structured in his DNA, unlike many other journalists, as examples can be found in the book.

I believe the book was best summed up by Jo Ann Kawell of The Nation:

"I find his argument to be very well documented, very careful and very convincing. In fact, the readability of the book suffers a bit from what seems to have been a fear that if he didn't include absolutely every bit of evidence he had unearthed, he would open himself up to new criticisms of inadequate reporting"

There's a good, popular documentary that touches on the Gary Webb story, it's titled "American Drug War: The Last White Hope". It provides a concise introduction to Gary's work, the issues surrounding him, his death, and the country.

A quote from Gary at the beginning sets the tone:

"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 citizens--most of them poor and black--paid an enormous price as a result. This book was written for them, so that they may know upon what altars their communities were sacrificed."

He tells the following stories very convincingly:

1.) How the CIA and the NSC worked with dozens of drug dealers and their companies to secretly fund right-wing Latin American guerrillas.
2.) The decade-long U.S.-government coverup of the CIA-Contra drug trafficking and illegal gun-running network.
3.) How the DEA undermined a criminal investigation by the FBI in order to shield a massive L.A. drug ring and protect the drug ring's boss from arrest and exposure.

Other things you will learn:

1.) Details about cocaine and crack-cocaine production
2.) Government studies on the safety of cocaine. (Much more safe than I expected)
3.) The story of the infamous drug dealer Ricky Ross a.k.a Freeway Rick
4.) That the result of the drug trafficking helped destroy the black communities in L.A.. and other densely urbanized parts of the U.S.
5.) To be more skeptical and cautious of what the "masters"/authorities say
6.) The hypocrisy of Reagan's "War on Drugs"
7.) Journalism, you'll learn a little about the business, and get some insight of what it's like to deal with editors by living vicariously. Gary documents himself very well and puts you in his shoes, almost seems 1st person at times.

Parts of the book, albeit, a small portion, read like a story due to the all the documented dialogue in conversation and interviews.
Those parts were especially enjoyable and a nice break from the data-heavy majority.

I enjoyed Part Two a lot, it was where Gary made a strong defense against the claims of his critics by delving into the deceit of the accusers, such as the purposeful omission of crucial documents.

One thing that struck me as especially interesting was that this story was the one to really set the stage in the online world. Gary pushed the San Jose Mercury to publish his sources, documents, and transcripts so that people could read them and mold their own opinions. Apparently, at that time this was something virtually unprecedented, it was designing a new stage for media outlets and news. e.g. The boom of the internet in the 90's.

The story of the last few years of Gary's life ended up being an unfortunate tragedy. Ousted from writing and the media industry, pressured by the Big Three (New York Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times) and the U.S. government trying to cover their tracks...Gary took his own life.

"Webb's ex-wife, Sue Bell, said that Webb had been depressed for some time over his inability to get a job at another major newspaper." - Gary Webb, WikiPedia.

The book is about an 2 inches thick and 9 inches in length, pretty big. The pages read and turn well, I would say the font is a medium size, not too big, not too small, not enough to overwhelm you with the size of the book.

This is a marvelously informative read, don't miss out on this one. A topic, that I believe, a majority of U.S. citizens know very little or nothing about...I was included.
22 people found this helpful
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John
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Researched Books You Will Ever Read
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2024
Verified Purchase
Gary Webb was a gifted investigative journalist. He perfected his craft using all possible tools, not merely gaining accolades due to an extensive network of insider contacts. He presents his findings unassumingly while presenting events, issues, and connections matter-of-factly. The book jumps around, but Gary Webb blends those transitions immaculately.

The subject matter was of the utmost importance to the country’s welfare during his initial revelations as a newspaper journalist. The intersection of illicit drug proliferation and US government foreign policy is perhaps even more relevant for contemporary 2024 readers. The book reveals how the crack epidemic began, its pre-history, and how it spread to other parts of the country from ground zero in south-central Los Angeles.

Readers should not ignore the side story of how his paper’s simultaneous publishing on the Internet and in print in 1996 was a groundbreaking and very popular accomplishment. Some of the very same mainstream media forces that remain loyal to government-centric disinformation today soon tainted Gary Webb’s work with similar means almost 30 years ago. Toward the end of the book, he thoroughly reveals how that disinformation campaign developed and why it was wrong. Unfortunately, it was reported that Gary Webb took his own life in 2004. His life should not be a testament to how it ended but a critique of how our democratic republic often attacks its best defenders. But to what end do these attacks accomplish for those who remain?
2 people found this helpful
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Tutu
5.0 out of 5 stars Sad ending to a phenomenal journalist.
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2024
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Pricey but I wanted this in my library. A captivating read. Insight connections that were made are easy to follow. A sad view into how our history of how drugs were made readily available to certain communities and ultimately the price that was paid both by the communities themselves and the writer of this book.
2 people found this helpful
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Stephen Bruce
4.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading, how & why inner cities were flooded with drugs by the Reagan regime
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2024
Verified Purchase
At this time (1980's) there were no blank checks from US Congress to fund CIA black ops programs like Congress does today. In order to fund the Somoza contra fighters in their attempt to overthrow the Sandanista's of Nicaragua, the CIA covertly pushed drugs via characters like "Freeway Ricky Ross" in US inner cities to fund Reagan's black ops Nicaragua campaign. That's now history. But drug abuse is not. Drug abuse is still a major plague on US cities. And as with all failed federal government adventures, there is no governmental admission of wrongdoing here... only books like Gary Webb's. One serious weakness of the book is Webb's refusal to cross-reference details presented, with foot notes or an indexed reference, and that's one major criticism for this book. Prior to Webb's alleged suicide, when asked about his failure to include footnotes, he stated that the reason was to make the book straightforward, and fluid to read. Even so, many of the details in the book -- but not all -- can be researched and verified (or not) on the internet today. This book provides an important portrait of the non-democratic forces still operating within the US governmental system, perhaps more than ever before now.
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Dan
5.0 out of 5 stars Read this before it is totally suppressed
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2024
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This is one of the best works of investigative journalism. No wonder there has been a great deal of work trying to suppress it. Please read this before it’s completely banished.
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Top reviews from other countries

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D. Kruger
5.0 out of 5 stars MUST READ
Reviewed in Canada on January 10, 2018
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Anyone living in the Western world, needs to read this book. If you want to understand how the world works you need to read this book. Period.
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concombre20
5.0 out of 5 stars Remarquable
Reviewed in France on October 21, 2019
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un excellent livre, qui se lit comme un roman policier particulièrement noir et qui permet de comprendre l'histoire des Contras, les luttes inter-services, l'aveuglement idéologique, les crimes commis au nom de la "démocratie", l'absence de courage de la justice et la lâcheté de la presse . On ne peut que regretter la mort prématurée de l'auteur.
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Chris
5.0 out of 5 stars US government/CIA responsible for Crack Cocaine epidemic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
I liked the depth and range of proofs that Gary Webb provided.
It's a very convincing piece of work, and those who worked and work in the CIA FBI and DEA should be ashamed of themselves.
His "suicide", 2 bullets to the head is questionable.
The newspaper journalists who deliberately destroyed his reputation and career in spite of accepting the truth of his work? They must be disgusting individuals!
After you've read it, you'll realise that the CIA is capable of just about anything if they can convince themselves that it's in their interest. The end justified the means for them.
One person found this helpful
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ExKingKong
4.0 out of 5 stars Sehr viel Details
Reviewed in Germany on March 21, 2018
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Ich bin über den Film Kill the Messenger auf das Buch gekommen. Das Buch geht sehr tief, sehr viele Namen, sehr viele Details. Für mich über die Länge zu viele Namen und Details. Daher habe ich im Laufe des Buches Paragrafen oder Kapitel übersprungen. Nur wenn es was war, was mich interessiert habe ich die Details gelesen. Durch die vielen Details geht manchmal der wirkliche Skandal verloren. Das ist schade.
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Rikki Satorre
5.0 out of 5 stars Mind blowing!
Reviewed in Australia on March 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
Garry Webb goes deep and exposes the dark alliance between the CIA, the contras and the crack cocaine explosion!
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