The death of Pinochet


Marc Cooper has written several times over the past week about former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, who escaped justice on Sunday by way of a fatal heart attack. Cooper was an aid to President Salvador Allende, whose government was overthrown by Pinochet on September 11, 1973. After the coup Pinochet ruled Chile for 17 years. He was responsible for the murder of thousands and the torture of tens of thousands.

See also these essays by Christopher Hitchens and Isabel Allende.

By way of Will, whose more than a little upset with Wardytron over at Harry's Place for suggesting that there is no reason to get excited over the death of a retired despot.

Will's contempt is justified. As Hitchens says "The death of Pinochet is an occasion, among other things, for a moment to remember the many victims of his state terrorism and international terrorism and the deplorable way in which he managed to outlive their claims."

Posted: Fri - December 15, 2006 at 03:25 PM          

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