Barry & the Boys: The CIA, the Mob Adn America's Secret History

This "high octane," fast-moving rendition of Barry Seal's lifetime of intelligence escapades covers a half-century of some of the most important if not the most sordid aspects of American history. The author makes a valiant attempt at pulling together disparate and often elusive, threads, and then tries to show how the "mostly hidden" elite managed drug trade is a systemic generator of corruption. He does this by connecting the dots in Barry Seal's various and numerous roles as a CIA contract agent in the JFK assassination, Watergate, Iran-Contra, smuggler for both the Pablo Escabar and Cali drug cartels, confidential informer for the FBI, and the events still going on in Mena, Arkansas, among many others. In doing so, this guided rollercoaster ride speeding down what is normally recognized as "conspiracy lane" does indeed have its high and low points. Its highs include moments like the picture on the cover that shows Porter Goss (ex-CIA head) living it up in January 1963 in Mexico city with members of the Operation 40 assassination squad; or the tale about GW and Jeb Bush being tricked by Seal into being caught on a hidden camera unloading cocaine from one of Seal's planes; or the way the CIA plays the corporate shell game to hide and launder unimaginable sums of drug money; or how officials from both political parties somehow always manage to find themselves blocking investigations of the lucrative "in house" drug trade; or how Jackson Stephens built up the Arkansas Industrial Development Corporation, the largest bonding company outside of Wall Street, by laundering huge sums of cocaine money -- some of which was smuggled across the border inside race horses destined for the Oak Lawn race track in Hot Springs; or how he and Don Tyson of Tyson's Chicken fame were the real powers behind the Clinton Presidencies; or how Oliver North sanctioned Barry Seal's "hit" after Seal threatened to reveal VP HW Bush's role in Seal's drug smuggling enterprises; and last but surely not least, the long-running and very lucrative cocaine operation that began with Iran-Contra and continues in Mena, Arkansas even today. Also, to give credit where credit is due, it is worthwhile to mention in passing that another high point of the book is the author's attempt to place this sordid history of America's "Shadow Government" in a larger conceptual frame: that sketched out by David R. Simons' "Elite Deviance" theory and the "Deep Politics" of Professor Peter Dale Scott. In this regard, Gerry Patrick Hemming's (one of the Oswald look-a-likes during the JFK assassination and a long-term CIA contract operative) made perhaps the most prophetic statement in the book when he gave the only plausible explanation (other than greed, power and wealth) for why the U.S. is, and should remain, involved in the international illicit drug trade, he said: There is so much money involved in the drug trade that to leave it to "regular" criminals, is to leave the whole world at risk of b

This truly outstanding work casts the glare of daylight into the darkest realms of the NSA and CIA's most disgusting crimes. It exposes the direct connection between the madmen directly responsible for the Vietnam War, the genocide bloodbath of Operation Phoenix, the JFK Assassination, Watergate, Iran Contra, the savings and loan scandal, and BCCI, in addition massive opium, cocaine and marijuana smuggled into the United States through the CIA's Air America, George Bush's Zapata Offshore oil rigs and a private airfield in a remote area of Bill "Slick Willie" Clinton's Arkansas among other avenues. This work includes an account of George W. and Jeb Bush caught very red-faced and red-handed on videotape unloading bags of freshly smuggled cocaine from an aircraft. It also discloses the fact that Barry Seal, who videotaped that incident while working with the DEA, later died in a hail of machine-gun bullets with George HW "Poppy" Bush's private phone number in his wallet. They don't call him "Poppy" for nothing.

This outstanding work may be considered fiction by some and ridiculous by others. Those that DO think that have never examined in depth the JFK assassination, the CIA's secret teams, bank scandals, drug and weapons smuggling, or the overt and covert efforts by our government to control the governments of Central and South American countries. Daniel Hopsicker names names, and uses sources where possible. Even the named sources feared for their lives, as they were actively involved in the government sponsored scandals of the 60's, 70's, and 80's. I have found through independent research, verification of many instances that are related here. This book takes us full circle, from the 1955 introduction of Barry Seal to David Ferrie, to the Mena Arkansas cocaine and weapons smuggling base that was still operating just a few short years ago. It explores in depth the story of CIA affiliated heroin and cocaine smuggling to pay for other covert activites, including political assassinations. It has been suspected for years that some of those named in this book, who are current politicians(and one cable TV news talk show host), were involved in more than arming the Contras. Mr Hopsicker has revealed those who were involved in activities contrary to the law and the Constitution, and should be in prison for life instead of being in high government positions or hosting news shows. The literary style of this book makes it an easy read, although there are some instances where further editing could have been done(ie, spelling and grammar mistakes). If you are concerned over the past and current actions of our government and its covert agencies, when you finish Barry and the Boys, you will be outraged, and rightfully so.

"Barry & `the Boys': the CIA, the Mob, and America's Secret History" is a book that will expand the audience for parapolitical literature. "Barry and the Boys" is written to appeal to the serious student of Deep Political arrangements as well as the "casual interest" reader looking for something to help him or her understand today's news while simultaneously being entertained. This journalistic tour de force presents the story of Barry Seal's career in intelligence and drug and gun running - from its inception as a teenager working along side Lee Oswalld in the New Orleans CAP under David Ferrie, to its conclusion, "in a hail of bullets, with George Bush's private phone number in his wallet."It is rare these days for a single work to offer more than a few minor details of new information to add to our overall understanding of cold war crimes of State. It is even more rare to find a book in this category that satisfies both the intellect's need for new information and the heart's desire for human interest and style. Hopsicker's work - the result of two and a half years of full-time field investigation, living out of suitcases and pushing the limits of his own personal safety in his quest for "the story" - delivers all of this by the planeload. Hopsicker ultimately got his story, and oh, what a story! Though he obviously did an enormous amount of research on the body of work already available, the details are all Mr. Hopsicker's - hence, no footnotes. But what his work lacks in scholarly annotations, he more than makes up for in old-fashioned sweat and shoeleather. The book is filled with the product of interviews with the principle participants from both sides of the Barry Seal saga. And through the judicious use of primary documents (available in a 58-page appendix), many of which have never been made publically available until now, Hosicker provides corroboration and authentication for his human sources. Among those primary documents, the one on the cover is a doozey: a group portrait of Operation 40 members at a January 22, 1963 meeting in Mexico City. (I wonder what they could be talking about?)"Barry and `the Boys'" presents all of this material in a fascinating tapestry of new information and established facts stitched together with incisive wit. The result is an entertaining and illumitating whole, documenting 30 years of a man's life and a nation's peril. In a perfect world, "Barry and `the Boys'" would be a best seller. In this world, it is still going to do very well.

An amazing story. Barry Seal was just a kid who flew well, That talent lead him straight into the arms of the shadowy world of "clandestine services." Daniel Hopsicker has really brought an amazing story to the American public. This book exposes the underbelly of corruption and assassination that has run rampant in our republic. This book has much to tell about the JFK assasination major players. Seal met Lee Harvey Oswald at Civil Air Patrol summer camp—along with David Ferrie. Hopsicker's revelations about Ferrie's involvement with intel agencies and extracircular activities are astounding. The whole book breaks much new ground. Barry Seals's photos and documents tell a story all in themselves. It seems that Barry Seal was getting ready to talk and through Barry and 'the boys', Barry gets his wish.Barry and 'the boys' lets the chips fall where they may. Hopsicker takes swings and lands on corruption no matter what party. A must read!!!