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

by Daniel Hopsicker

Based on the author’s three-year-long investigation, this account exposes the story of lifelong CIA agent Barry Seal, the most successful drug smuggler in American history, who died in a hail of bullets with George Bush’s private phone number in his wallet. Revealing Seal’s active role in many of the nation’s most notorious scandals—including the Bay of Pigs, the Kennedy assassination, Watergate, and the Iran-Contra Affair—and featuring primary documents previously unseen by the public, this unique history explores the Faustian bargains made by the U.S. government and the secret pasts of some of today’s politicians.

Genres: History, Conspiracy Theories, Crime, Nonfiction, Politics, Biography, True Crime

482 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2001

About the author

Venice, Florida based investigation journalist.

Critics claim he is a conspiracy theorist.

Reviews

[Valiant Thor · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's been a concerted effort to keep a lid on this book ($150+ for a copy on Amazon, and Chapter 35 has been *cut out* out the book by the publisher), and when you read it, the reason is obvious... this book is explosive. Hopsicker did an outstanding job uncovering and unraveling the story of Barry Seal. The book begins and ends with this:

"This is the story of Barry Seal, the biggest drug smuggler in American history, who died in a hail of bullets with George Bush's private phone number in his wallet..."

Seal is most famously associated with the Iran/Contra-era narco trafficking in Mena, Arkansas, but his history goes much deeper than that: arming Castro, flying for the Bay of Pigs, direct connections to Lee Harvey Oswald and the JFK hit squad, the coup in Honduras, the Contras, etc.
"Barry and the Boys" is simply a must-read book for anyone with an interest in America's secret history.

Word to the wise: Hopsicker's website madcownews.com offers both "Barry and the Boys" and "Welcome to Terrorland", *signed by the author*, for $100. "Terrorland" alone will cost you $100 on Amazon, so that's a good deal on two essential books with significant resale value.

[leann forester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some people just can not handle the truth.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an interesting book because I grew up in Louisiana and was a teenager during the time it actually happened. There was a lot of talk about him and his business among folks I knew and hung out with, not to mention the news. I had the chance several years ago to talk to Barry's ex-brother in law, who actually did a lot of the flying. We talked about the flying aspect of it as well as the aircraft and their modifications. I also had the chance to talk to one of the FBI agents that was investigating Barry's operation in Baton Rouge. So for me it was cool to hear from both sides of the fence about what each side knew and or suspected. Turns out the investigator wrote a book as well, although it was never published he sent me a copy of the manuscript. Unfortunetly I lost if during Katrina but I did get the opertunity to read it.

[Majic · Rating 5 out of 5]

must read title says it all. This is deep.

[L. Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk to Daniel Hopsicker...

[Darrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Daniel Hopsicker makes. The most intriguing and thought provoking media that exists in America today!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who runs this country?