UNDERGROUND EMPIRE

Rating:
Summary: Government Crime Pays Very Very Well
Review:

There are two kinds of government crime against the taxpayer, and both are wide-spread and costly to the taxpayer. There is corporate corruption, the buying of politicians, such that decisions are made that in effect transfer the taxes paid by individuals (who carry every government's costs) to unethical corporations focused on profit at any cost (to others). This book documents the second kind of crime: where government agencies charged with protecting the taxpayer from drugs or crime or terrorists or other threats, themselves become allies with criminals, and seek to profit from crime while permitting field officers to go bad, steal money, and become nothing more than officially sanctioned criminals. If and when each Nations cleans house within its "secret world," the ethics of intelligence, and how to police the police, will be among the most fearsome challenges to be addressed.

This extraordinary book, at 1165 pages (1974 edition) is a deeply documented, thoughtful, credible account of the second kind of corruption. It is strongly recommended for purchase by anyone who pays taxes.

Rating:
Summary: Government Crime Pays Very Very Well
Review:

There are two kinds of government crime against the taxpayer, and both are wide-spread and costly to the taxpayer. There is corporate corruption, the buying of politicians, such that decisions are made that in effect transfer the taxes paid by individuals (who carry every government's costs) to unethical corporations focused on profit at any cost (to others). This book documents the second kind of crime: where government agencies charged with protecting the taxpayer from drugs or crime or terrorists or other threats, themselves become allies with criminals, and seek to profit from crime while permitting field officers to go bad, steal money, and become nothing more than officially sanctioned criminals. If and when each Nations cleans house within its "secret world," the ethics of intelligence, and how to police the police, will be among the most fearsome challenges to be addressed.

This extraordinary book, at 1165 pages (1974 edition) is a deeply documented, thoughtful, credible account of the second kind of corruption. It is strongly recommended for purchase by anyone who pays taxes.

Rating:
Summary: Sensationalistic, but useful in certain respects
Review: During a recent interview with the retired Colombian Colonel who headed the Bloque de Busqueda (Search Bloc) that was instrumental in dismantling the so-called Cali 'cartel', he stated that he had read Mill's book a number of years ago in an attempt to learn more about Colombian trafficking organizations at a time when Colombian police and military intelligence was rather thin on the subject (This situation has since changed dramatically).

Like other journalistic accounts of the drug trade, Mill's book is somewhat sensationalistic. Moreover, the idea of an 'underground empire' or international 'octopus' (see Claire Sterling) of crime controlled by a few individuals or organizations is factually incorrect. The reality is much more diffuse and complex: Thousands of independent organizations of varying size and complexity operating in different countries and markets.

However, there is no denying Mill's skill as a writer, and his book does contain some useful information regarding the criminal activities of a number of marijuana and cocaine trafficking organizations, as evidenced in the Colonel's observation.

Rating:
Summary: A must read for people fighting the war on drugs.
Review: I found this book to be very informative. It opened my eyes as to why the US cannot seem to win this war. I liked the style that Mr. Mills used and really appreciate the amount of research he must have done. After reading this book I don't have any trouble understanding the "doublespeak" used by the politicians in this country. It brought to light that the American people are kept in the dark. What our government really does for us. My only hope is that enough people read this book, ask enough questions of the people who can and will do something to correct the wrongs brought to light.

Rating:
Summary: America and crime!
Review: I have read this book twice. It is an amazing story of high crime. when i lend it it never comes back. The reason it is out of print is , as the book says, 'the names are not changed to protect the guilty' from the CIA to the whitehouse, politicians make conscessions with the bad guys. WAR on drugs? HA........ When the government puts its interests before the people it reads like this book. When criminals can operate with impunity, it reads like this book. Excellent......scary, and REAL

America was and is built and surviving on CRIME

Rating:
Summary: What a shame it's out of print.
Review: I read this book many years ago, but it's impact on me was so powerful that I vividly remember it to this day. Yes it is long and the material is now dated, but the overall content is something every American citizen should read. It will open your eyes to what a farce the so called "war" on drugs really is in this country. It's understandable how our government caves into the corruption when you look at the staggering amounts of money and power plays involved. The now dissolved Centac organization (the focus of this book) is about the only U.S. government agency worth the tax dollars. Their approach was to go after the top men, unlike the DEA and police system making small/mid-level busts every now and then to get good news coverage, while they continue taking their kickbacks and ignoring the kingpins and tons of drugs coming in. This book will make you ripping mad and scare the hell out of you at the same time.

Rating:
Summary: an unbelievable book in a world of drugs & our government
Review: If you want to know more about the drug system in our world! This book will answer all the questions you have now; and will create more than you will find the answers to.

Rating:
Summary: Captivating and revealing look at the US war on drugs.
Review: This book was recommended to me by a DEA agent. When I opened the cover, I stepped into another world, and when I emerged, I could no longer take seriously such presidential pronouncements to "Just Say No" or "read my lips." Later, I encountered a "friend" who had been in jail with one of the major individuals featured in the book. He told me that the convicted drug dealer had discussed the book and proclaimed that his part of the story had been reported accurately, except for the amount of money he'd been caught with. Evidently, DEA agents turned in $1M of drug money found in his trunk. He said there was at least $3M. Such corruption, I discovered upon reading the book, was more the rule rather than the exception. The book moved me to write my congressman, who admitted he had never even heard of the secret drug enforcement organization detailed in the book. And when Reagan and Ollie North were getting roasted about "guns for hostages," I laughed. If the American people knew about the drug deals our government oversaw (and I'm sure continues to oversee) to prop up "U.S. causes" in other countries, as well as our own, they also would have found the affair amusing. This book opened my eyes and blasted my naivete regarding our government's involvement in the dark underworld of illegal drugs. It will do the same for you. James Mills has written a remarkable book, and he had sense enough not to overwrite and allow this astounding story to speak for itself.

Rating:
Summary: The best book written so far on illegal drugs in America!
Review: This is the best book written so far on illegal drugs in America.I am surprised this book is out of print. It would make an ideal book to study in a college class. This book goes far beyond the simple minded mainstream media "reporting" and takes investigative journalism to a higher level. This book will chill you and amaze you in its thoroughness of how dangerous illegal drugs and their dealers are to our society.

Rating:
Summary: The most intellectual and realistic book on illegal drugs
Review: Wow, this book should be required reading for an educated adult, this could be used as a university text. This book is hard hitting, realistic and well written about the illegal trade and alliances between Narco-trafficers and governments, whether willing or not. This book exposes the facades and uncovers startling and incredible truths about the impact of illegal drugs on America that the mainstream media just glosses over. I wish this book was still in print. There needs to be more investigative reporting like this to resurrect journalism.