this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2025
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[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 79 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (4 children)

Terrible the 9/11 with 3000 victims, Chile 1973, when the CIA organized an military coup and to kill an democratic elected president, Allende, substituting him with an bloody dictator, Pinochet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvador_Allende

Augusto Pinochet ruled Chile as a military dictator from 1973 to 1990, seizing power through a violent coup that overthrew democratically elected President Salvador Allende on September 11, 1973[^1].

Under Pinochet's regime, between 1,200 and 3,200 people were executed, up to 80,000 were interned, and tens of thousands were tortured[^1]. The Chilean government has officially documented at least 3,095 killings and forced disappearances[^1].

The dictatorship implemented radical free-market reforms under the influence of economists known as the "Chicago Boys." While these policies led to economic growth, they also dramatically increased inequality. The regime privatized social security, healthcare, and hundreds of state-owned enterprises, some sold below market price to politically connected buyers[^1].

Pinochet's rule was marked by systematic repression through Operation Condor, a U.S.-supported campaign that targeted political opponents across South America. The CIA maintained contact with Chile's secret police (DINA) despite knowing of human rights abuses[^6]. According to Peter Kornbluh in The Pinochet File, "routine sadism was taken to extremes" in prison camps, including widespread rape, torture, and executions[^1].

A 1988 plebiscite rejected Pinochet's bid to extend his rule, with 56% voting against him[^1]. He stepped down in 1990 but remained as Army Commander-in-Chief until 1998. He was arrested in London in 1998 on human rights charges, though he was released in 2000 on medical grounds[^1].

Pinochet died in 2006 while facing hundreds of criminal charges in Chile for human rights violations, tax evasion, and embezzlement. He was accused of amassing at least $28 million through corruption[^1]. His death sparked massive demonstrations across Chile - opponents celebrated while supporters grieved[^1].

Today, Pinochet's legacy remains deeply controversial. Recent polls show many Chileans justify the 1973 coup - a July 2023 survey found 66% agreed Chile needs "firm government" over individual rights[^2]. However, in 2011 a truth commission identified 40,018 victims of political repression during his rule, including 3,065 killed[^1].

[^1]: Wikipedia - Augusto Pinochet [^2]: AP News - A half-century after Gen. Augusto Pinochet's coup, some in Chile remember the dictatorship fondly [^6]: CIA Acknowledges Ties to Pinochet's Repression

[–] Belly_Beanis@hexbear.net 6 points 12 hours ago

Let's also not forget Pinochet had former SS and other nazis on his bankroll operating "orphanages." He helped them avoid prosecution for their crimes during WWII by hiding them in Chile. They were then put in charge of children whose parents were Pinochet's victims.

They tortured, abused, and murdered thousands. AFAIK, Chile is still trying to identify all the bodies of kids dumped in mass graves.

[–] TheTurner@lemmy.zip 37 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 19 points 1 day ago

I know, I lived my youth in the cold War, seeing leaked secret US documents listing where they want to launch nuclear atacks in western EU contries, to stop an supposed Russian invasion.

[–] LinguisticKerosene@lemmy.wtf 29 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Nothing to see here, just exporting democracy the american way 🦅 /s

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 24 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Most of the current wars and bloody dictatorships wouldn't exist without the US

[–] Bronzebeard@lemmy.zip 22 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Eh... England and France left a lot of unstable shit behind from their colonization. Don't let them off the hook so easily

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 17 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Plus the EU still practices imperialism, even if they are secondary to US imperialism.

[–] bigfondue@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Exporting capitalism at any cost

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Expanding the net of imperialism, capitalism's final stage.

[–] ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world 20 points 1 day ago (1 children)

America has been an awful shithole for so many decades.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 16 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] mrbhootiya@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

2 centuries only /s