The Politics of Heroin: CIA Complicity in the Global Drug Trade

by Alfred W. McCoy

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The first book to prove CIA and U.S. government complicity in global drug trafficking, The Politics of Heroin includes meticulous documentation of dishonesty and dirty dealings at the highest levels from the Cold War until today. Maintaining a global perspective, this groundbreaking study details the mechanics of drug trafficking in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and South and Central America. New chapters detail U.S. involvement in the narcotics trade in Afghanistan and Pakistan before and show more after the fall of the Taliban, and how U.S. drug policy in Central America and Colombia has increased the global supply of illicit drugs. show less

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LamontCranston In an interview on C-SPAN Kwitny cited this as an important work providing him the background on many key players that appear.

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6 reviews
I can't stress enuf how important this bk is to me. While the early edition that I refer to here focuses primarily on the US & Southeast Asia, particularly in the Vietnam War era, its extremely well-researched information is clearly applicable to explaining the covert machinations of ALL GOVERNMENTS. If you want to understand in detail how heroin is used to both control & destroy domestic populations AND 'foreign' ones AND how its production & sale is a major source of war-mongering funding, READ THIS BK.
An exhaustive history that traces the growing, processing, transporting, and distribution of narcotics since the end of World War II. A landmark book of investigative reporting and history.
The first docuemented account of CIA and US government involvement and support of the heroin business.
An exhaustive history that traces the growing, processing, transporting, and distribution of narcotics since the end of World War II. A landmark book of investigative reporting and history.
An exhaustive history that traces the growing, processing, transporting, and distribution of narcotics since the end of World War II. A landmark book of investigative reporting and history.

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25+ Works 1,201 Members
Alfred W. McCoy holds the Harrington Chair in History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His award-winning books include Policing America's Empire.

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Common Knowledge

Classifications

Genres
Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, History, Politics and Government
DDC/MDS
363.4Society, government, & cultureSocial problems and social servicesPublic Safety - Police, Crime Investigation
LCC
HV5822 .H4 .M33Social sciencesSocial pathology. Social and public welfare. CriminologySocial pathology. Social and public welfare.Drug habits. Drug abuse
BISAC

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Members
430
Popularity
71,561
Reviews
6
Rating
(4.19)
Languages
English, German, Swedish
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
11
ASINs
3