Editorial on Gary Webb in the Chicago trib

[AlCzervik]

Dangers of questioning government actions

Published January 6, 2005

It has been almost a month since he died and I haven't been able to get Gary Webb out of my mind.
You remember Gary Webb, don't you? He's the investigative reporter who in 1996 produced a series of stories for the San Jose Mercury News called "Dark Alliance," on the connections between the Central Intelligence Agency and the Nicaraguan contras, the right-wing opposition to the leftist Sandinista regime in that Central American nation.
The series' most explosive charge was that a contra-connected drug gang helped fuel the crack epidemic of the 1980s in this country by bringing in large supplies of Colombian cocaine and selling them to black street gangs in Los Angeles, all with the knowledge and, to some extent, the protection of the CIA.
Webb's series, and that allegation especially, touched off a firestorm of criticism in both the government and the media. Not only did the CIA deny his allegations, but three high temples of the American establishment--The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post--all joined in knocking down Webb's stories. Eventually, even his own editor at the Mercury News effectively disavowed him and the series.
Gary Webb himself became radioactive within the newspaper industry and went to work in California state government. When he died last month at age 49, ostensibly of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, he was jobless and, apparently, hopeless.

More at link
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-0501060112jan06,1,7998752.column?coll=chi-news-col&ctrack=1&cset=true

[el_gato]

1. he was murdered

Just like James Hatfield, Mark Lombardi, Steve Kangas, etc.

It's funny how investigating the underbelly of the U.S. elite always results in death.

[rman]

2. *two* self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head

Gary Webb lives on in the memories of many who are greatfull for what he did.