The Crux

Things Done Changed is a political and cultural history of America in the 1990s. You can subscribe and listen to Things Done Changed wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Finale.

The Contra cocaine pipeline is detailed by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gary Webb in 1996, but the CIA, once again, works to suppress the new revelations. From beginning to end, the CIA worked to manipulate public opinion and sell citizens and Congress disinformation about what was happening in Central America.

Reagan is forced back in front of the American people to confess yet more after the first, partial Iran-Contra investigation releases its findings in early 1987. But quietly, another Senate investigation, led by a young John Kerry, is amassing evidence of widespread cocaine trafficking by Reagan's Contras.

Meanwhile, Reagan is revving up his War on Drugs by targeting black users of a new drug, crack cocaine. The drug "war" sets the United States on its course to become the most incarcerated nation on earth.

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North and Secord's profitable arms sales to Iran ramp up through the beginning of 1986, providing much needed funds to the Enterprise, still struggling against the Boland Amendment's drought in Contra funding. But getting weapons to Central America still proves difficult.

But North will discover a new way to deliver weapons into the field, involving even shadier characters. The Enterprise is now firmly ensconced in a world of terrorists, assassins and narcotraffickers.

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In the wake of revelations that the CIA was mining a civilian harbor in Nicaragua, congress makes Reagan and his CIA's aiding of the Contras illegal and finally cut off funding. But Reagan tells his men to somehow sustain the Contras during the funding drought, a directive that will lead the White House further and further into criminality.

In an effort to skirt the new congressional restrictions, Lt. Col. Oliver North emerges as the new effective commander of the Contras, establishing "The Enterprise" to act as a shadowy arms dealer and illicit fundraiser. After approaching some of the worst governments in the world for Contra cash, North's team hit upon the idea of selling arms to Iran and diverting the profits "The Enterprise."

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The Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua leads President Reagan to direct his CIA to create the Contra army, a small force of Nicaraguans who oppose the new government.

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An unprepared celebrity president takes office, and life is about to change for poor and working class Americans, especially black folks.

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Conclusion. James' brother Jerry spoke of "millions of Rays" who might be radicalized by white supremacist culture. How different is 2016 than 1968?

Why are conspiracy theories so attractive? And if there is no conspiracy, is the lone gunman the only one who shoulders blame? How far does culpability extend? To answer that question we have to look at how James Earl Ray was radicalized by right-wing voices and determine whether guilt extends to those who stoke hatred and resentment. Enter Governor George Wallace.

Why is Ray caught on his way to Rhodesia?