CIA Cover Up – Family Murdered in War on Drugs

CIA agents called in a hit on a small plane that was suspected to be smuggling drugs.  They could not have been more wrong.  Jim and Veronica Bowers were American missionaries working in the jungle in Northern Peru.

They were flying back to camp with their two children, six-year-old son Cory and infant daughter Charity, who was sitting on Veronica Bowers’s lap, when their Cessna aircraft was mistakenly targeted by CIA spotters in 2001.  Watch the shocking video below,

The CIA reconissance team called in the hit without even checking the plane’s markings.  After they called in the Peruvian military to attack the plane the CIA operatives began to have doubts.  It was not until it was way to late that they tried to call off the hit.  Veronica Bowers and her daughter were killed by the gunfire.

The incident was covered up by lies and attempts to delay the investigation.  The CIA’s own investigation, concluded in 2005, wrapped up without charges against anyone involved.  After this video surfaced the CIA says 16 agents were “diciplined” even though they insisted that none of its officers had acted inappropriately.  Whatever dicipline was given to these agents it was not any kind of serious punishment.

In a CIA statement given to the American media on Feb 3rd they blame the Peruvian government,

CIA officers did not shoot down any airplane. In the case of the tragic downing of April 21st, 2001, CIA personnel protested the identification of the missionary plane as a suspect drug trafficker.

What the fuck are they doing shooting down planes in the first place?  Even if the plane was full of drug smugglers they still deserve a trial.  Do you get shot if you smuggle weed across the US border in a car?

Investigations revealed that the Cessna was one of 15 small civilian aircraft shot down during the covert programme from 1995 to 2001. The CIA inspector-general said in November that in most cases the flights were shot down “without being properly identified, without being given the required warnings to land, and without being given time to respond to such warnings as were given to land”.

The CIA and DEA really think they are Team America World Police.  US agencies have committed numerous terrorist attacks and atrocities in South America in the name of the war on drugs.  Remember the Iran-Contra scandal?  Who knows how much they are still covering up.  The war on drugs is a war on the people.  It needs to end.

• http://www.smh.com.au/world/cries-of-cia-coverup-after-missionary-family-shot-out-the-sky-20100205-ngwm.html?autostart=1
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/7159274/Video-shows-plane-with-US-missionaries-shot-down-in-CIA-operation-in-Peru.html
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/04/veronica-bowers-plane-deaths
• http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/04/rep-hoekstra-says-justice-denied-shootdown-innocent-americans/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+foxnews%252Fpolitics+%2528Text+-+Politics%2529

 

Enemy of Marijuana – Richard Nixon

Harry Ansliger spread the hate on marijuana and essentially began the criminalization of marijuana worldwide.  Richard Nixon took it to the extreme.  In June 1971 Nixon declared the war on drugs which took the drug policy of the United States worldwide.  Nixon and his supporters lableled illegal drugs as public enemy number one in the United States.  Nixon also created the DEA and increased penalties for marijuana. The United State’s first action in the drug war was a massive surprise attack on Mexico’s border by U.S. law enforcement personnel, code named “Operation Intercept.”  In September 1969 Nixon essentially shut down the US-Mexico border under the premise of disrupting the marijuana trade.  Each and every vehicle crossing the boarder was given a 3 minute intensive search.  The operation lasted only 20 days after border delays severly affected the economies of both countries.  The amound of drugs seized was much less than Nixon expected but that was not the true purpose for the unilateral action.  It was to coerce Mexico into funding a domestic drug eradication and enforcement policy in which Operation Intercept was a success.  Decptive and coercive tactics are the hallmarck of the US war on drugs which continues to this day.

Operation Intercept was the first drug related unilateral action against another country by the United States.  It symbolizes the US ‘s inability to accept responsibility for it’s own drug problem.  Instead the US government blames other countries which produce and distribute illegal drugs to the growing black market inside the borders of the United States.

In 1970 the Nixon government passed the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act which included the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).  The CSA created the five schedules which are used today in compliance to the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.  The CSA increased the search and seizure powers of law enforcement and established a major federal scientific inquiry called the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse (aka the Shafer Commission).  Marijuana was placed in Schedule 1 of the new law which is the most restrictive.  Crack cocaine and crystal meth are listed under Schedule 2 .  The criteria for a drug to be placed in Schedule 1 as defined by the law are,

• The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
• The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
• There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.

Marijuana’s inclusion in Shedule 1 was to be temporary pending the results of the Shafer commission.  When the commission released its findings to President Nixon in 1972 he was not pleased.  The Shafer report found, “Neither the marijuana user nor the drug itself can be said to constitute a danger to public safety.”  The report also found that marijuana use caused “no significant physical, biochemical, or mental abnormalities,” and that “most users, young and old, demonstrate an average or above-average degree of social functioning, academic achievement, and job performance.”  The Shafer commission also recomended that marijuana be decriminalized and at least be removed from its Scedule 1 status.  Nixon refused to even read the report and stated in a press conference,

“I am against legalizing marijuana. Even if the Commission does recommend that it be legalized, I will not follow that recommendation.”

In March 1973 Nixon created the Drug Enforcement Agency.  Until that time federal drug enforcement was handled by several different groups.  The new “super agency” was consolidated from the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD), Customs, the CIA and the Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement (ODALE).  The DEA is the worst agency ever created.  They have abolutely failed in ever part of their job.  Demand for illegal drugs has climbed uninterrupted since 1973, prices have not gone up and criminal gangs reap higher profits than ever.  Since its creation the DEA has succeeded in one thing, wasting vast sums of money.  The DEA budget has increased anually from $75 million in 1973 to $2.5 billion in 2009 (from the DEA website)

Richard Nixon used extensivce propaganda to literally brainwash the US to hate marijuana.  He was the first US President to formally seek media support in spreading drug war propaganda. In 1970, Nixon held a special White House meeting with senior executives and producers from the major TV networks and ad agencies, who were collectively responsible for over 90% of prime-time television. Nixon showed them “shocking” films about narcotics addiction, and then asked them to help America survive the scourge of drugs. Popular shows like Hawaii Five-O, The Mod Squad andMarcus Welby, MD soon began featuring anti-drug storylines.  Nixon then met with senior radio executives, with similar results. Within a year Nixon’s drug war had received an unprecedented $37 million in free advertising, a figure which has grown steadily every year since. Government officials now claim the average American child sees over 140 anti-drug ads each year, and the anti-drug theme is incorporated ever more deeply into mainstream entertainment, including movies, music and TV.

The Nixon regime squached the marijuana decriminalization movement.  When Nixon came into office 11 states had decriminalized marijuana and many more were considering relaxation of marijuana laws.  The General Social Survey showed close to 30 percent support for outright legalization of marijuana.  The science was in, reports like the Shafer and Le Dain commissions showed that marijuana was not dangerous, addictive or anything else the government said it was.  Just like today legalization seemed imminent.  Nixon’s methods of propaganda and continued enthusaism for the war on drugs delivered a heavy blow to the anti-prohibition movement. Just before Nixon’s second term the Watergate scandal erupted.  He was busted in a conspiracy that involved spying on the Democrats in order to keep him in office.  Read the whole story here.  As a result of the investigation Richard Nixon was the first American president in history to resign.  Nixon was a crook and a liar.  Although he was forced out of office his legacy continues to this day.  The drug war is still tearing society apart and marijuana is still listed in Schedule 1 despite overwhelming scientific evidence that shows it does not fit the criteria.  The DEA continues to grow and people still hate marijuana. From the late Hunter S Thompson,

Richard Nixon has never been one of my favorite people anyway. For years I’ve regarded his existence as a monument to all the rancid genes and broken chromosones that corrupt the possibilities of the American Dream; he was a foul caricature of himself, a man with no soul, no inner convictions, with the integrity of a hyena and the style of a poison toad.

• http://www.justice.gov/dea/agency/staffing.htm
  
• http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9252490
  
• http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB86/
  
• http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/studies/ledain/ldctoc.html
  
• http://www.allacademic.com//meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/0/2/2/2/7/pages22278/p22278-1.php
  
• http://www.essortment.com/all/watergatescand_reji.htm

 

Friend of Marijuana – Barry Cooper

Like the members of LEAP Barry Cooper is an ex-cop who became a marijuana activist.  He was one of the top narcotics officers in the US prior to his awakening.  Barry has first hand experience with the corruption of the war on drugs.  The Never Get Busted Again videos are essential to any smart stoner’s education.  In his DVDs Barry explains in detail the methods used by police to search your property and put you in jail.  In the DVDs Barry speaks passionately on the injustice handed out by law enforcement and provides entertaining and accurate information on how to never get busted again.

Barry spent eight years as a narcotics officer in Texas.  He received extensive training and worked joint operations with the ATF, DEA, FBI, U.S. Military and Border Patrol. Barry is well trained in all interdiction methods including undercover operations, reversal operations, search warrants, K-9′s, traffic stops and public transportation narcotics interdiction (buses and airplanes.)  During his career, Barry had accumulated an impressive record of over 300 felony narcotics arrests, 500 misdemeanor narcotics arrests, the seizure of over fifty vehicles and millions in cash and assets.

Barry Cooper is no longer a police officer because he realized the war on drugs is a war on the people.  After conducting numerous raids and seizures it became clear that drug enforcement causes more harm on the people and their families than use of drugs. While on the force he saw other officers lie under oath, use illegal warrants, and plant drugs on people in order to get a conviction.

In his own words,

I knew what I was doing was wrong but my need for fame, adrenaline and peer acceptance overrode my good conscience.

Barry Cooper’s newest project is called Kopbusters. It is a TV show where Barry and his team bust corrupt cops. They use DEA style reverse stings and other tactics to catch corrupt police in the act. In the pilot episode the Kopbusters team set up a fake marijuana grow-op using a big HPS light, ventilation and some christmas trees. If the police conducted a proper investigation they would have never raided the “grow house”. Barry’s team caught police on camera raiding the house on an illegal warrant. Check out the trailer below,

Barry Cooper is a powerful addition to the anti-prohibition movement. His experience and passion are unmatched. It takes a lot of courage to do what he does. He is running for Texas Attorney General check out his website.

Help out Barry by purchasing his DVDs. You cannot make a better investment.
The Never Get Busted DVD’s are available from the Loopy Lettuce Store, product links below,



• http://www.nevergetbusted.com/
• http://www.cannabisculture.com/v2/content/kopbusters-exposing-police-corruption
• http://www.electbarrycooper.com

 

Canada’s $30 Million Anti-Pot Media Campaign

Last night (Dec 28) I caught an anti-marijuana commercial while watching TV. Nothing unusual except this was put on by the Canadian government. It showed a kid being offered a pull on a joint, he then had flashbacks of getting busted for ecstasy and other drugs. You can watch the ad below.

Incidentally I witnessed the beginning of Prime Minister Harper’s new anti-drug media campaign. Anotner step towards the americanization of Canada. The campaign includes advertisements in buses, trains, subways and shopping malls across Canada, as well as Internet banners on websites popular with teens. The strategy is an exact copy of the Partnership for a Drug Free America (PDFA) which has been going on since the 80s and has been proven to be ineffective. The PDFA brought us such ads as “this is your brain on drugs” and the recent “above the influence” camaign. The not4me.ca website is clearly inspired by abovetheinfluence.com. It uses a more appealing website design than standard Canadian government pages to keep young people’s attention. Compare this site to this one and you’ll see what I mean.

A major, and critical, difference between PDFA and the new Conservative campaign is that PDFA is sponsored by corporations not governemnt. Check out the list of sponsors for Harper’s campaign, SPONSOR LIST. Many contributers are Canadian police groups including: Canadian Police Association, Justice Canada, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Another one that really stands out is Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Nearly all the sponsors are organizations funded by taxpayer money. Harper is once again using our own money against us.

To Harper’s credit the “facts” section stays closer to the real facts than PDFA and DEA. While the PDFA says,

Marijuana is addictive with more teens in treatment with a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined.

The Conservative campaign uses carful wording using words like “may” and “has the potential”. The not4me.ca website says,

Cannabis has the potential to be psychologically and physically addictive.

Here’s another quote that really disturbed me,

Marijuana has over 400 chemicals and some of the same toxic substances found in tobacco smoke that can cause cancer.

If you read that sentence carfully it does not actually say marijuana causes cancer. Although the sentence is technically true it gives a very negative impression of marijuana.  That is exactly what Harper is counting on.  Marijuana has not been proven to cause cancer, in fact it has been proven to cure cancer (article, Rick Simpson). The Conservative government has launched a Canadian war on drugs. Its a little late in the game though, the US is taking baby steps towards legalization and the rest of the world is easing their pot laws. I don’t think Harper got the memo.

The national anti-drug srategy is new government plan to ramp up the war on drugs in Canada. Only a few years after the Liberal government tried to decriminalize in 2004 (shot down by pressure from the US) the Harper regime took a U-turn. Look at the budget on this thing, from the drug strategy backgrounder,

The Government of Canada has committed $30 million in new funding over five years to support the Prevention Action Plan.

Conservatives introduced legislation like bill C-15 (mandatory minimum sentences, increased maximums), increased justice budgets and put more cops on the street. They are also promoting DEA style drug courts and other tenants of the failed US drug war. Drug courts promote court-monitored rehab over prison (more on rehab).

Harper is Canada’s George W Bush. We need to get that fucker out before its too late!

• http://www.not4me.ca/
• http://www.nationalantidrugstrategy.gc.ca
• http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/facts/drugs-marijuana.aspx
• http://www.nationalantidrugstrategy.gc.ca/parents/res/res.html

 

Friends of Marijuana – Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) is a pro-legalization advocacy group made of active and retired police, judges, prosecutors, prison wardens, FBI and DEA agents and others.  Members of the group have been on the front lines in the war on drugs and that is where they get their credability.  LEAP members are conscientious objectors to the war on drugs.  Their purpose is to end the drug war entirely, not just for marijuana.

LEAP has two main goals as stated in their mission statement.  Those are:

• To educate the public, the media, and policy makers, to the failure of current drug policy by presenting a true picture of the history, causes and effects of drug abuse and the crimes related to drug prohibition and
• To restore the public’s respect for law enforcement, which has been greatly diminished by its involvement in imposing drug prohibition.

The group’s headquarters is in the United States but it is very much an international effort.  Since its beginning in 2002 LEAP has spread to over 80 countries across the globe.  LEAP has over 100 speakers that spread their message at all kinds of public events worldwide.  LEAP speakers were featured in the Canadian documentary “Damage Done – A Drug War Odyessy”, very good documentary.  The LEAP multimedia site has lots of videos of their speakers in action (well worth the time to check out these videos).  Also check out the official promotional video below

The fact that LEAP members are the very people fighting the war on drugs makes them hard to dismiss.  You can’t say that LEAP speakers do not know what they are talking about.  Activist groups like NORML or MPP have very knowledgeable members but they aren’t cops.  The general public who is ignorant to the ills of prohibition is more likely to listen to the police.  That is why the DARE program has gained so much momentum, except DARE straight up lies to our children. I’ll end with a quote from LEAP speaker, Jay Fleming

There are no gangs fighting over whiskey territories. Drug prohibition creates a black market with enormous profits that attracts criminals and gangs. With drugs literally worth their weight in gold, as long as people can grow gold in their basement this will not stop.

• LEAP WEBSITE
• http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php?name=Content&pid=