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The first 9/11

11/9/2011

3 Comments

 
I have no wish to diminish the importance or the appalling horror of the events of 11 September 2001: it was an horrific act, a crime against humanity.

But I do want to point out that today also marks another anniversary: that of the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende in Chile by General Pinochet; encouraged, organized and supported by the US government of Nixon and Kissinger.

This, too, was an horrific act, a crime against humanity. Ten thousand citizens were rounded up and kept in the National Stadium. And if the precise numbers of deaths during the coup are still not known, and probably never will be, it is clear that, under the Pinochet regime, the number of the executed, the tortured, and the 'disappeared', is huge: far, far more than those killed in 2001.

Subsequently, the cruel economic experiments of the "Chicago Boys" monetarists inflicted yet more suffering on the population. Just a few weeks after the military takeover, the military Junta ordered a hike in the price of bread from 11 to 40 escudos, an overnight increase of 264%, whilst at the same time freezing and even cutting wages. This "economic shock treatment" drove 85% of the population below the poverty line.

It would take a quarter of a century to restore democracy and civilisation to the country.

As Kissinger boasted, "the illegal we can do right now; the unconstitutional takes a little longer."

At the time, he reported to his boss (Nixon) that the horrors inflicted on Chile by the Junta were "a matter of no great consequence". 

The media's priorities in recent days would appear to reinforce that assessment. I have seen much footage of the 2001 actions and the consequences of it in recent days. I have seen nothing about the events of 1973. (And nothing about 9/11 1993 events in Haiti either, come to that - another US-backed coup.)

Today, it is important that the first 9/11 is remembered, and the victims mourned, in the same way that we are remembering and mourning the victims of the second.

The lessons of both must be learned. Because, it seems to me, they are of at least equal historical significance. And one of the lessons is that the foreign policy which initiated the first also provoked the second.

Today's listening: Dick Gaughan, a brilliant British folksinger who is an inspiration for my friend Archie Robertson, and now, as a result of listening to the album Handful of Earth, for me too.



3 Comments
Rick Hough
11/9/2011 18:06:29

The CIA admission of direct involvement if this disastrous episode came, I believe, in February of 1991 and was buried, I distinctly remember, on page 17 of the New York Times.
One or another pundit on MSNBC today spoke of reversing the "Al Quaeda-fostered view" of "America being a corrupt and hypocritical democracy". This reversal would be a lot easier if the view weren't pretty much accurate.

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Sean
14/9/2011 02:12:49

Good read on an important subject, written with your customary verve Max.
How the media report stories and create headlines and continue agenda setting is a tragic reminder of how manipulated we are as consumers of news.

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Tim H-C
23/1/2013 17:51:40

An aspect of the diaspora following the horrors of the Pinochet regime......in a 6 degrees of seperation kind of way.....reaches you in more ways than just your remembrance of the tragic overthrow of the democratically elected Allende govt......a Wilde`s favourite...the wines of Vina Montgras (DeGras is the name used in the UK for their restaurant exclusive wines) was only founded in the early 90`s as Hernan Gras, along with many of his family had to flee Chile in 73....and not all the family made it out alive!! only returning after the monster Pinochet was finished. Hernan had continued with his family`s principles and had built a business constructing affordable housing in Canada until they were able to return to their native land and Hernan was able to finally realise his original dream to grow vines and make wine......He`s one of the good guys....on the side of the angels as they say..but you knew that .and of course, that`s why they remain such a favourite on the Wilde`s list....not only do they taste great, but in the way of the "this guitar kills nazi`s" sticker on Woody Guthrie`s guitar.....you`re also doing a little bit of good by supporting a living embodiment of the human spirit....that dictators will always fall, and good will out....this post prompted by the news that Hernan Gras is sadly very unwell....

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     Max Smith

    European writer, radical, restaurateur and Red Sox fan. 70-something husband, father, step-father. and grandfather. Resident in Warwick, England.

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