Coincidentally following my mention of the original 9/11 in Chile in an earlier blog, I notice that tabloid shock columnist Andrew Bolt recently (for all intents and purposes) defended the CIA inspired Pinochet led coup that toppled Allende see here . So while it was a polemic directed against Labor FM Kevin Rudd, the defence of the coup cannot be allowed to go unanswered. Tabloid gutter crawlers like Bolt gain their strength by being noticed and commented on, so it's my usual practice to deprive them of oxygen, but come on, defending dictators I think NEEDS to be countered!
He starts by admitting (yet downplaying) the undeniable (to do otherwise would lead to more ridicule than usual) that "human rights abuses by security forces within Mr. Pinochet’s subsequent military government, have overshadowed international perception of the Allende years". Well excuse me, but you can't just brush aside a military coup sponsored by the most powerful nation on earth which successfully imposed an (American friendly) dictatorial strong man on Chile that murdered and tortured thousands as somehow irrelevant to the seemingly greater crime of Allende's term in office.....it just doesn't work that way pal!!!!
Chile was traditionally one of the most educated countries in South America and the people had a pretty good idea who they were electing, that being a Marxist populist in Allende who was going to nationalize industry, provide greater opportunities for the poor etc etc.
In a region not exactly known for democratic government, Bolt chides Allende for allegedly having no intention of keeping his promise to create a Statute of Guarantees of individual liberties, well deary me, a politician not keeping a campaign promise.....let's bring in the military.....oh that's right, we did!!!!!
But perhaps Allende's policies which led to "triple-digit inflation, currency devaluation, economic chaos and social tumult" were enough reason to justify a coup? Well just maybe it would've been a good idea to let the people decide at the ballot box at the next election first and see how that worked out?
But of course we all know the polemic against Allende (whether it be Bolt, or the usual suspect neo cons) is just smoke and mirrors to divert from the unconscionable crime of removing a democratically elected socialist government from office which was going to kick out the multi nationals and not take its orders from Washington.
But of course in United States foreign policy terms, democratic elections are only to be tolerated if the people vote the "right way", and if they don't..........GOD HELP THEM!
An here's some more info on why Allende was taken out;
ReplyDelete"Allende then proceeded towards strongly socialist policies based on his electoral victory, including a prices freeze, an increase in wages, nationalisation of the coal and steel industries, nationalisation of the main foreign copper firms, and of 60% of the private banks (Skidmore & Smith 2001, p127; Hudson 1994). Almost 500 firms would be nationalised (Hudson 1994). Workers often took the initiative, occupying the offices of foreign firms such as ITT and Ford until they were nationalised - this led to a partial financial blockade by the U.S., as well as the withholding of loans from the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the U.S. Export-Import Bank (Skidmore & Smith 2001, p127. For the debate on the level of U.S. involvement in 'destabilising' Allende's government, see Hitchens 2001; Komisar 1999). The economy was soon dislocated, with depressed exports earnings and emerging economic chaos brought on by a combination of external pressures and internal problems. By mid-1972 massive stream demonstrations for and against Allende were being staged, including strikes by copper workers and truck-owners who were negatively affected by the economic slow down (Skidmore & Smith 2001, p130). Political violence began to increase. The 1973 congressional elections did not solve this conflict in that Allende's Popular Unity party secured 43% of the vote, enough to avoid impeachment and to continue the political stalemate"
And I suppose Bolt also supported the assassination of Chile's then chief of staff, General Rene Schneider in 1970?
ReplyDelete"Schneider's elimination three years before the coup was regarded as essential by the Nixon administration, since Schneider was a strict constitutionalist and therefore an obstacle to U.S. efforts to promote a military intervention before Allende could take office. The general was killed in a kidnapping attempt that the United States knew about, approved of, and had even assisted in planning".
Or what about the assasination of former Foreign Minister Orlando Letelier 14 blocks from the Whitehouse in 1976?