U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN CHILE
Salvador Allende was president of Chile from 1970 until he was overthrown in a military coup that involved the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In 1973, before he completed a full term in office, his government was removed and replaced with a military dictatorship led by General Augusto Pinochet. Like Batista, the United States wanted a leader whose primary concern was the interests of America. They believed that through Pinochet, they could prevent the expansion of socialism in Chile and ultimately in Latin America.
In 1970, as the leader of the Chilean Socialist Party, Salvador Allende was appointed President of Chile. He became the first “Marxist” in the world to gain power in a free democratic election (Spartacus). National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger was particularly concerned about the implications for European politics of the free election of a Marxist in Chile. Of course, the United States CIA soon became involved in an effort to overthrow him, and did so incorrectly by arranging relations with Augusto Pinochet, a man with unethical plans who was soon appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean army in June of 1973. That same year on September 11, Pinochet, with the help of the United States and British governments, led a military coup against Allende’s government. This resulted in the death of not only Salvador Allende, but of thousands of supporters of his liberal party that primarily consisted of innocent people.
Pinochet immediately closed down the Chilean Parliament, suspended the constitution, banned all political and trade union activity and imposed strict controls over the media. Pinochet, who had appointed himself president, planned to remove all left-wing supporters in Chile. Over the next few years more than 3,000 supporters of the Allende regime were killed. With the help of 400 CIA advisers, he privatised the social and welfare system and destroyed the Chilean trade union movement.
In Chile the U.S. refused to let the people of Chile go towards communism and so they helped the right-wing leaders in a coup to take out Allende. The military coup in Chile showed the world the lengths that the United States would do to prevent the spread of communism and Soviet Union influence throughout Latin America. We get a clear understanding of Pinochet’s unfair retaliation against this democratically elected socialist government. In Chile, innocent people became victims of a horrible regime that judged unjustly against communist thoughts. It showed that the United States believed that the only way to combat communism was to resort to violence, even if it breaches basic human rights. Although the United States was not directly responsible for Pinochet's actions, their involvement in Chilean affairs initiated a series of devastating events.
In 1970, as the leader of the Chilean Socialist Party, Salvador Allende was appointed President of Chile. He became the first “Marxist” in the world to gain power in a free democratic election (Spartacus). National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger was particularly concerned about the implications for European politics of the free election of a Marxist in Chile. Of course, the United States CIA soon became involved in an effort to overthrow him, and did so incorrectly by arranging relations with Augusto Pinochet, a man with unethical plans who was soon appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean army in June of 1973. That same year on September 11, Pinochet, with the help of the United States and British governments, led a military coup against Allende’s government. This resulted in the death of not only Salvador Allende, but of thousands of supporters of his liberal party that primarily consisted of innocent people.
Pinochet immediately closed down the Chilean Parliament, suspended the constitution, banned all political and trade union activity and imposed strict controls over the media. Pinochet, who had appointed himself president, planned to remove all left-wing supporters in Chile. Over the next few years more than 3,000 supporters of the Allende regime were killed. With the help of 400 CIA advisers, he privatised the social and welfare system and destroyed the Chilean trade union movement.
In Chile the U.S. refused to let the people of Chile go towards communism and so they helped the right-wing leaders in a coup to take out Allende. The military coup in Chile showed the world the lengths that the United States would do to prevent the spread of communism and Soviet Union influence throughout Latin America. We get a clear understanding of Pinochet’s unfair retaliation against this democratically elected socialist government. In Chile, innocent people became victims of a horrible regime that judged unjustly against communist thoughts. It showed that the United States believed that the only way to combat communism was to resort to violence, even if it breaches basic human rights. Although the United States was not directly responsible for Pinochet's actions, their involvement in Chilean affairs initiated a series of devastating events.