Editor -- Having caught the headline, ``CIA Knew of Contra Plan to Sell Drugs in U.S.,'' I was intrigued to find that, yes, the CIA was made aware that the Nicaraguan Revolutionary Democratic Alliance (Contras) was planing to sell drugs in the U.S. Also cables were circulated to the departments of State, Justice, Treasury and Defense and nothing was done. So now we know, from the CIA's own inspector general.

I have been made to believe that a free press is the backbone of a democracy. The world over journalists are harassed, imprisoned and often worse for reporting the news as they see it. Their coverage is almost always a precious resource. Here we are supposed to have a free press.

But Gary Webb was harassed from several directions for his reporting on this subject, don't you agree? I think it would be appropriate for San Jose Mercury News to apologize to and even ask or beg Gary to come back to work.

Sausalito - --- Checked-by: Patrick Henry

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