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Douglas Valentine

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The Strength of the Wolf: The Secret History of America's War on Drugs Hardcover – May 1, 2004

by Douglas Valentine (Author)

4.6 73 ratings

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The Strength of the Wolf presents for the first time a definitive history of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) from its birth in 1930 until its wrenching termination in 1968. Carefully and extensively documented, the book is based largely on interviews with former FBN agents, and in this respect The Strength of the Wolf represents a new chapter in American history, one that introduces a cast of fabulous characters.

Douglas Valentine tells how the FBN’s premier case-making agents penetrated the arcane world of international drug trafficking and, by uncovering the Establishment’s ties to organized crime, brought about their own demise. As the book reveals in startling detail, the CIA and FBI were often protecting the FBN’s major targets in the Mafia and the French Corsican underworld. The CIA and its Nationalist Chinese allies were found to be the largest drug-trafficking syndicate in the world, but for political and national security reasons, the FBN was prevented from investigating this overarching conspiracy.

From Publishers Weekly

Before the Drug Enforcement Administration was created in 1973, before the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs was founded in 1968, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) served as the countrys primary drug law enforcement agency. In this thoroughly researched history, Valentine (The Phoenix Program; The Hotel Tacloban, etc.) offers an in-depth look at the FBNs obscure organization and its various activities, which lasted from 1930 until the end of the 60s. Valentine writes extensively about Harry J. Anslinger, the commissioner whose "personality, policies and appointments" defined the agency and the governments war on drugs for more than 30 years. He describes how FBN officers were trained to "make arrests, gather evidence for presentation in court, test and handle seized narcotics, tail suspects without being seen, and rule their informants with an iron fist." Drawing upon interviews with former agents and federal officers (such as Howard Chappell, George Gaffney and Col. Tully Acampora), Valentine also provides firsthand accounts of bureau operations both at home and abroad, and of business relationships fostered among FBN ranks. Despite the volumes ambitious premise and Valentines hard work, however, this lengthy history will probably fail to engross most casual readers since its material proves dense and, occasionally, difficult. But for political historians and those already interested in the history of the war on drugs, Valentines unearthing of rare primary sources should prove invaluable. 16 pages of b&w photos
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“A thoroughly engrossing, thoroughly researched and thoroughly appalling look at what’s really behind our ill-fated ‘War on Drugs.’ If the history presented here is any model for the future, our grandchildren (and theirs) will be locked into the same hopeless position in which we find ourselves today: war without end.”—Gary Webb

“The Strength of the Wolf is a remarkable early history of America’s war on drugs, as well as the Federal Bureau of Narcotics’ war against the mafia—long before J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI even acknowledged its existence. Doug Valentine has performed an admirable and important public service by pulling all of this information together.”—Dan Moldea

“The Strength of the Wolf is a ground-breaking work of investigative reporting that kept me up half the night. An expose of the never-ending lap-dance between organized crime and the national security establishment, Doug Valentine’s book is a torch held high in the labyrinths of America’s secret history.”—Jim Houghan

“A rollercoaster ride of a read! Douglas Valentine carries us from a brutal murder in a New York hotel room to a squalid CIA power grab forty years later—by way of Lucky Luciano, Dallas, the jungles of Vietnam, and the apprenticeship of the Watergate burglars. A Herculean exploration of the dark world of drugs and law enforcement.”—Anthony Summers

About the Author

Douglas Valentine has lectured and appeared on TV and radio talk shows, testified as an expert witness, served as a documentary film consultant and worked as a private investigator. His previous books include The Hotel Tacloban, The Phoenix Program and TDY.

Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Verso
Publication date

May 1, 2004
Dimensions

6.4 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches
ISBN-10

1859845681
ISBN-13

978-1859845684
See all details

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Verso; First Edition (May 1, 2004)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1859845681
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1859845684
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.2 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,351,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,468 in Law Enforcement Politics
- #1,735 in Political Intelligence
- #1,973 in Organized Crime True Accounts

Customer Reviews:
4.6 73 ratings

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4.6 out of 5

73 global ratings

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Frog6

Take a mental walk with FBN Agents as they face themselves and choices that carry freedom, jail or a bullet on a daily bases.

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2017

Verified Purchase

Doug Valentine writes with knowledge, insight, color and frankness that anyone can understand. Those who have worked there will have their memories refreshed with smiles or tears. FBN: New York and the transactional period from one perspective. 63-69. Suriviveabilty? It's the "Old Monkey" game; "Hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil." What an education in the weaknesses of man.

First day reporting in to NY, Enforcement Assistant (EA) John Dolce welcomed me to NY with words to the effect...You'll be issued a gold shield that reads "Agent Federal Bureau of Narcotics", a photo pocket commission showing your authority and position, a 38 Colt revolver, a book of travel requests that you can use to obtain transportation anywhere in the world and $250 dollars of official government advance funds.

Then I'm going to introduce you to the most beautiful women in the world - they will bring tears to your eyes, you'll drive all kinds of cars, have more liquor available than you thought possible and see more money than you will ever earn in a life time and.... It's your job to stay out of jail and mine, to lock you up. Welcome to New York!

2 people found this helpful

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JL Populist

Real Story On The "War On Drugs"

Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2015

Verified Purchase

This book was obviously researched heavily. The author delves into the history of the "war on drugs" and how various agencies and the Mafia were involved in drug smuggling way before Viet Nam.

Some of the most damning material points to the propaganda that Communist China was the source for opium when FBN leader Anslinger knew that it was false. The fighting between the FBN, FBI,and CIA was bad enough but this books details the factions within the FBN itself that served as a major distraction.

There is a lot of information about the CIA and it's deep involvement in running drugs and guns and how they covered for so many criminals.
What was most alarming was the MKULTRA program ran at one time by George White. Besides blackmail, the rogues running that program apparently did drug experiments with LSD among other drugs on sometimes unsuspecting citizens! However, White is not the only intelligence agency rogue covered in the book.

The Chapters on the French Connection and Golden Triangle Enterprises stood out to me personally. Fascinating stuff!

This book reads like a fictional spy thriller, only it's real. Highly recommended!!

12 people found this helpful

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#1 Consumer

A MUST READ!

Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2022

Verified Purchase

A MUST READ!

One person found this helpful

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Dean U.

I have personal experience and also have written about the ...

Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2015

Verified Purchase

I have personal experience and also have written about the Federal Bureau of Narcotics during much of the time covered in Doug Valentine’s book.

His book is not only historically accurate, but also outlines the personal sacrifices and outrageous challenges the Bureau faced by agents in bringing down the Mafia families in a desperate but losing attempt to stop drug trafficking in the U.S.

His book gives many valuable lessons by both law enforcement personnel and the general public on how to continue the war on drugs.

Dean Unkefer
Author, 90 Church
Inside America's Notorious First Narcotics Squad

12 people found this helpful

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Doc Pete

This is the most profound book that I have ever ...

Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2017

Verified Purchase

This is the most profound book that I have ever read . There were things that explained my mistreatment in Houston and why the immigrants do so well sometimes - by selling heroin. These are not necessarily the immigrants being castigated now.

Now I understand the true nature of the enemy to democracy When I spoke to rogue agents in Houston about this book , they were visibly frightened.

Run and tell tha

7 people found this helpful

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D. Colasanti

Great book about the OSS!

Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2021

Verified Purchase

Excellent documentary of the OSS efforts to bring down narcotics distributors (the mafia) in the mid-20th century.

One person found this helpful

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Kenny

Great information

Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2010

Verified Purchase

This book is packed with great information. It is, however, very sloppy. As someone familiar with Kennedy assassination literature, the chapter referring to the FBN's various connections to the Big Hit is particularly telling (there is a crazy part on CIA Agent Desmond Fitzgerald that is loaded with implication and woefully inadequate in context that was just irresponsible). Valentine hops around incoherently and speculatively, overshadowing some of the great stories he's found. That said, I would say those great stories are worth it. I've read it twice, developed a deep skepticism and still enjoyed the book.

9 people found this helpful

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Jay Trout

The importance of this book and its companion volume, ...

Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2014

Verified Purchase

The importance of this book and its companion volume, The Strength of the Pack, cannot be overstated. Exhaustively detailed and thorough. At times a bit confusing with a barrage of names and operations, but it deserves 5 stars despite any faults. The corruption and proof of government drug-running is all-important.

I am copying this same review for the other book.

2 people found this helpful

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David Harris

.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2020

Verified Purchase

I thought the book was both well written and researched. There is an enormous amount of detail and the detail is supported by the author's sources.

One person found this helpful

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