Issue #38, December 14, 2006

GENERAL PINOCHET. LOVE HIM OR HATE HIM?

By Dan Rattiner

General Augusto Pinochet died in Santiago, Chile early this week. There was rioting in the streets. Some people rioted because he was a brutal dictator who ran the country for twenty years with an iron hand. Others said he brought prosperity to Chile, brought the country out of poverty and converted it to the most prosperous nation per capita in Latin America. Late in life, he had himself replaced by a Democratic government and then retired to Spain. But when he was 83, he was ordered brought back by the Democratic government that had replaced him so he could be put on trial for his sins and hanged. Now his death has robbed the people of a show trial. He was 91. The police had to bring out the fire hoses.

The President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, says that she will not personally attend Pinochet’s funeral, because she was among those tortured by his henchmen. And so was her father. But on the other hand, he should be given a full military funeral with a 21-gun salute and all the trimmings. She would send her Secretary of State.

Pinochet was, of course, on excellent terms with the United States through both Democratic and Republican Administrations.

It was also reported this morning that the Iranian Government has been secretly providing weapons to Hezbollah in Lebanon not just to fight Israel, but also to fight the Sunni Iraqis by funneling weapons to the Shiite Iraqis.

Also in the news was the report that we have begun providing India with technical skills and advice about how to run their nuclear weapons program. They decided not to join the anti-proliferation treaty, but what the hell, they are a big important country and we’d like to stay friends.

You know, I am really confused about how we decide which countries are supposed to embrace Democracy and renounce nuclear weapons and which are ok not doing that.