Trilaterals Over America
Appendix C:

STATEMENT
by
Lt. Col. James “Bo” Gritz, U.S.A. (Ret)
for
U.S. Congress, House Foreign Affairs Committee
International Narcotics Control Task Force
Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, 30 June 1987

 

NINE HUNDRED TONS OF HEROIN & OPIUM WILL ENTER THE FREE WORLD FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA’S “GOLDEN TRIANGLE” THIS YEAR. The reason is because U.S. taxpayer dollars and American equipment have been used to construct a new road that will allow narcotics to pour out of General Khun Sa’s Shan Territories rather than trickle out by horse and mule as has been the case until the beginning of this year.Last year 600 tons of Opiates trafficked from this area. Press reports included as part of this statement argue that it is logistically impossible to increase the output to 900 tons. The new road capable of easily handling 10 ton truck convoys signal not only the capability, but the reality. The disappointing fact is that this new artery was constructed by the Thai Government using money, manpower, time and materials furnished by our drug suppression funds.

Moreover, there are serious implications that elements within the U.S. Government are Khun Sa’s biggest customers. The facts are that for 15 years U.S. taxpayers through legislative bodies like this committee and executive agencies such as have testified here today, have dumped hundreds of millions of dollars into drug suppression programs within Thailand and Burma which have done nothing but nourish the flow of narcotics from Asia into the United States. The proof is statistically clear. Fifteen years ago the flow of Opiates was 60 tons; this year it will approach or exceed 900 tons. The reasons, while multifaceted, boil down to one word, “money.”

Certain high level Thai and Burmese officials are packing their pockets with U.S.supplied drug suppression funds, political payoffs, and other spinoff profits like the thousands of Teak trees felled during the Khun Sa road effort. Khun Sa has no outlet for teak, but it is a protected and highly valued commodity in Thailand. More shameful are the serious allegations raised by General Khun Sa and his staff that corrupt U.S. officials allow this travesty and in certain cases are directly involved.

After a meeting with General Khun Sa and others, I am convinced that a secret combination exists today within the U.S. Government
that was officially germinated during the Nixon Vietnam years and has, through illicit drug profits, propagated itself today into a self serving righteous monster of global proportions. I believe Ed Wilson was a member of this combination and that his activities represent only one of many tentacles. I believe the Contra Iran situation is merely another visible lesion that has emerged from this extra governmental organism.

I say “would be righteous” because those within this secret combination I believe honestly think they are serving America by offering an established model of sabotage, subversion, and assassination to areas threatened by communism. They are in existence because normal government process is too cumbersome, time consuming and ofttimes impotent. These persons who are intelligent and well seeded in our governmental structure think they are smarter than our elected officials and can expedite accomplishment of national objectives. They have funded their efforts through drug trafficking because of a 1960s mindset that anyone who would use opiates is animalistic and the U.S.A. doesn’t really care about them. They began their drug dealing in Southeast Asia as a means to fund the secret war in Laos and Cambodia that Congress was officially unaware of. Besides my personal experiences, all of these conclusions are spelled out in the book, The Politics of Heroin in Southeast Asia.

I have good reason to believe that after President Nixon got the U.S. out of Vietnam “with honor,” while bringing home “all the POWs” in 1973 that either with his concurrence, or on the initiative of those “Best and Brightest” included within the “President’s 40,” the war continued to be fought through Project Phoenix. The insiders knew the North Vietnamese would not abide by the triaccord and continue to consolidate their position in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Since the war was over there was no Congressional funding and homegrown trafficking offered the most expedient solution. Ideally the communist takeover in 1975 would fall like a house of cards since the infrastructure would be eliminated by extreme prejudice through the Phoenix operation. Even so, an estimated 150,000 nonmilitary persons were terminated; the program failed to meet the expectations of those in charge.

Next, I believe the Phoenix model was moved to help stabilize a toppling Shah who happened to be close to the Administration —
and to people in the secret combination society, many of whom held high positions within the Executive Branch. The Shah fell. By this time the model was self perpetuating.

Rather than shut down after failing in Iran, there was a refocus on the building communist threat in Central America. The Contra Iran Oliver North White House disclosures are only protrusions that have become visible because of the extent and intensity of this paragovernment organization. Even as these hearings are underway, representatives of this secret combination are at work in the Philippines, offering “anti-communist solutions” to that struggling democracy. I believe that.

As years and changing administrations have gradually thinned the society’s active duty status within the U.S. Government, I believe those who still steer the society have become more self serving, making huge personal profits under the guise of fighting worldwide communism. Further, I believe they are maximizing their influence to protect those of the brotherhood who still hold active office in the government.

I have been told for years that U.S. POWs would never be allowed to return because they were directly related to illegal drug trafficking by U.S. officials. Until May of 1987, I thought this absurd. Now, after eight years in the POW Southeast Asian arena, I clearly can see what was hidden except to those more sensitive to power politics than myself. The reason we have met the enemy and he is U.S. in our efforts to return POWs while they are still alive is simple. When POWs are returned the first demand by the American people will be to examine those within the government responsible for their return. America will want to know why these individuals failed in their official capacities; why the burden fell on the private sector, and what took so long if the POW issue is truly “Top National Priority” as designated by President Reagan. Upon investigation it will be revealed that responsible officials were more interested in interested in actuating their secret society than accounting for our POW and MIA.

The fact is that all of the Heroin and Opiates could be shut off at the Golden Triangle if America’s responsible elected and appointed officials would do their job. General Khun Sa is recognized as the drug kingpin and controls the Golden Triangle with a well disciplined army of 40,000 Shan soldiers. He has stated to me before three other American witnesses on videotape that he greatly desires to stop the drug trafficking, but we won’t let him. He has promised that if we will give him any economic alternative, he will not just stem, but stop the flow of narcotics through his areas of control. He has said for example that for one tenth the money we now give the Burmese for drug suppression turned into economic aid and crop substitution, he will use his force to enforce what we cannot and have not. In addition, Khun Sa has stipulated that the Burmese must be stopped from using the 12 Bell Helicopters and fixed wing aircraft given them by the U.S. to spray the Shan State people, animals, food and water with Agent Orange and herbicides. All that I have presented thus far is backed up by written and recorded documents made available to the Committee.

It has been reported to me by committee personnel that Khun Sa has made these offers before. They say the CIA has expressed doubt and mistrust that Khun Sa will carry out his part of the bargain. I and three other Americans have met with Khun Sa. We believe him to be sincere. Certainly in view of the dismal failure of the CIA and DEA to slow, stop or even deter the flood of drugs from the Golden Triangle, it seems that a change in dynamics is in order. Especially since Khun Sa has directly implicated persons within the CIA as some of his best customers. The videotapes show testimony of a frustrated medical doctor who, under orders from Khun Sa, did everything from offer radio links to Khun Sa’s headquarters to present a horse that might be used to alert DEA of drug movements. The low level agents supported these initiatives, but in every case they were rejected at DEA headquarter levels.

I have strived at the invitation of the Executive Branch for eight years to convince political skeptics that American POWs are alive in the hands of Communist forces in Laos and Vietnam. I abhor drugs and dopes that are users, yet in the past two weeks I’ve been told by committee staff and others that “federal sources” and a Los Angeles State Department employee have said that I am “a drug trafficker,” and I will be in prison before July 4th. I know this level of federal employee would never make such slanderous statements unless encouraged by higher-ups. While following the classic model of “deny defame divert,” it is disappointing that law enforcement agencies would reveal such lowlife practices as directly as they have, and then avoid comment when confronted.

I have tried in every way to cooperate with the committee and its membership. I’ve furnished videotapes, only to be informed that the chairman has blocked their distribution. I’ve supplied the Suchesk letter to Vice President Bush, and requested a written transcript of the file from which Khun Sa’s secretary read from. I received a letter in the mail last week. It was from Khun Sa. The stapled and sealed envelope had been opened. Inside, the pamphlet, which had also been stapled shut, had been opened and the contents removed. I had asked Khun Sa to translate his record; sign it himself with two additional witnesses. I was assured this document was part of the opened package. I have requested my contacts furnish me with a FAX of their copy. It serves to supplement in writing the verbal and video accounts.

I’m disillusioned that this committee, which represents the interest of 240 million Americans in controlling illegal drug trafficking, would take such a negative and skeptical position on such a critical issue as Khun Sa’s proposal and my deliverance of the information he gave us. I’ve been told that I must “sell my case” to you. Facts are, I am a citizen who has been twice to see a warlord who is recognized as the world’s most powerful Heroin kingpin. This person has shown statistically that our 15 year old drug suppression program is, at best, “dumb” by anyone’s standards. At best we have millions of U.S. tax dollars being mishandled; one recipient has made use of U.S. assets to build a major road, and secures that road from outside infiltration; 900 tons of opiates entering the free world; rampant corruption of allied officials. At worst, in addition to the best case, we have officials within the USG who won’t, as Khun Sa says, let him get out of the drug business, because they are his biggest buyers.

Your business is representing American interest in drug control. You greatly influence how our tax dollars are used and how well the enforcement agencies do their job. My business is bringing home POWs while they are still alive. Neither one of us has been able to make much headway because I’m convinced there are persons within the government that are opposing us both. If POWs came home, the resulting investigation will expose their drug involvement; if the drugs are stopped, their source of income dries up. I agree that communism threatens the liberty of free people everywhere, but in my opinion drugs are even a bigger and more immediate threat. To fuel these selfrighteous freedom fighters with drug money is to steal, cheat, and mislead every American taxpayer, and circumnavigate the greatest governmental system in the world. While it may appear slow, and at times fickle and indecisive, still ours is the greatest government in the world. There aren’t boatloads of Americans headed for the Soviet Union. I believe our system was divinely inspired. I believe it will work despite any shortcomings.