USA supported Pinochet ?

Question

Is it true ?

Answer 1

USA definitely supported the 1973 bloody coup, also financially. It does credit to Colin Powell that he conceded it in an interview in 2003: "U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell was asked about why the United States saw itself as the "moral superior" in the Iraq conflict, citing the Chilean coup as an example of U.S. intervention that went against the wishes of the local population. Powell responded: "With respect to your earlier comments about Chile in the 1970s and what happened with Mr. Allende, it is not a part of American history that we're proud of." Chilean newspapers hailed the news as the first time the U.S. government had conceded a role in the affair."

Much more about the US intervention in Chile, and to read the declassified documents for yourself, see the links below.

Answer 2

Yes, they did. The U.S. actually placed him in power in Chile after they overthrew Salvador Allende in 1973. Allende was a democratically elected leader. He was a Populist and a Socialist, which gave the U.S. the rise of fear that he would open the door to Communism. Plus, it was during the Cold War and the containment policy was still in use.

It is ironic to say that the U.S. would support Pinochet because as we now all know the things that he did as a military general and dictator of Chile.

Answer 3

yes. It was during a time when the US spent a lot of energy in supporting non-leftist governments in Latin America...even if they were evil totalitarians. You know...better off dead than red. Hopefully, we've gotten less stupid since the end of the cold war.

Answer 4

I don't know but I do know the USA has supported many undemocratic governments and dictatorships.

Answer 5

Why not? He was anti-communist and built a stable economy for his country.