War on Drugs: A Policy Failure

Multiple investigations, court testimony, and declassified records revealed a disturbing contradiction

during the War on Drugs. U.S.-backed operations particularly in parts of Central

America tolerated, enabled, or failed to stop drug trafficking that ultimately

flooded Black neighborhoods with crack cocaine. Law enforcement agencies received warnings.

Intelligence officials had credible evidence. The flow continued anyway. At the same time,

those same neighborhoods were subjected to aggressive policing, mandatory minimums, and mass incarceration.

Possession brought prison terms. Distribution brought decades. Entire communities

were targeted while the upstream sources were ignored or protected. Later investigations