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Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion Paperback – June 8, 1999
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.
- Print length592 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherSeven Stories Press
- Publication dateJune 8, 1999
- Dimensions6.01 x 1.54 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101888363932
- ISBN-13978-1888363937
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Editorial Reviews
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
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
- Best Sellers Rank: #400,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #213 in Social Services & Welfare (Books)
- #329 in Journalism Writing Reference (Books)
- #940 in Criminology (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

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.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers 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.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
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
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
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
Reviews with images
We are on the verge of a dangerous drug use phenomenon. Page 34
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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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.
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?
Top reviews from other countries
5.0 out of 5 stars MUST READ
5.0 out of 5 stars Remarquable
5.0 out of 5 stars US government/CIA responsible for Crack Cocaine epidemic
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.

