September 11th is the fortieth anniversary of the fascist coup in Chile on 11 September 1973, when the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende was overthrown in a coup that was planned, organised and directed from Washington.
The fascist coup resulted in more than 3,000 dead, 30,000 tortured, tens of thousands held in concentration camps, thousands driven into exile around the world, and political parties and trade unions banned.
Chile became an experimental ground for neo-liberal economic polices imposed by the “Chicago Boys,” led by Milton Friedman—economic polices that have subsequently been imposed throughout Latin America. The same policies are now being imposed on the Irish people to make them pay a debt that does not belong to them.
As the drums of war beat louder for an attack on Syria that could engulf the whole of the Middle East, we need to remember the past in order to understand the present. American presidents have declared war on terrorism, but they actively support Islamic terrorists who are driven by a mediaeval world view.
The faces of American presidents may change, and even their colour, but the policies remain the same.
Note:
Henry Kissinger, Secretary of State under Richard Nixon at the time of the Chilean coup, stated: “I don’t see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its people. The issues are much too important for the Chilean voters to be left to decide for themselves.” (Three months later Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.)
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