Gary Webb - Kill the Messenger - Review

Prize winning journalist, Gary Webb, (Jeremy Renner) falls into a story of absolute corruption, reaching as far as the inner halls of the White House, involving Nicaraguan drug kings, agency spooks, following and ending in the cocaine drenched streets of LA Central. This is the story of the alleged CIA involvement in smuggling tons of the cocaine into the United States. The cocaine is sold on the streets in major cities across the nation, and the profits used to buy weapons for the Contra-rebel soldiers in Nicaragua in their attempt to bring down the Sandinista left-wing government.

What is most disturbing about this recent period in history, is the Nixon and Reagan Administration's formal declaration on their War on Drugs, when it turns out, that, they are allegedly the prime suppliers of the drugs, creating a nation-wide Crack Cocaine epidemic that continues to this day. If true, the hypocrisy transcends all rational thought, a trust in the government, and a deep psychopathy that knows no bounds.

“Kill the Messenger” is a true “David and Goliath” tale, however, in this sad case, David loses the battle and expires, while the giant walks free, and able to continue his covert criminal activities.

This story continues to be controversial. It did not make big “news” at the time because Bill Clinton was under investigation for his sexual escapades in the Oval office. Beginning with the Reagan Administration, it has been formally acknowledged that monies from cocaine smuggling helped fund the Contra rebels, however, it was not authorised by the U.S. Government. This begs the question: Who authorised it, then?

In an internal CIA investigation, agents were found to have worked with drug traffickers to support the Contra program. In the same breath, the report found no evidence of a conspiracy of the CIA to purchase drugs and bring them into the U.S. To be certain, this is your standard “double-speak”, designed to confuse, and deny responsibility.

Gary Webb experienced character assassination as a result of his published stories. The most blatant and criticised came from the LA Times. Rather than attack Webb's work, they attacked the man.

Gary Webb committed suicide in 2008 from two gunshot wounds. The fact that he died from two gun shot wounds is highly unusual. Conspiracy theories suggest he was killed for his expose' of government corruption. The coroners report on Webb's death stands – suicide.

This is an excellent film, shedding light on the corruption of government, the rogue nature of the CIA, and dubious media institutions ready to defend power with transparent bias...