Pinochet had really bad press: what was he like? I think I read once that Jesse Helms was the only politician in the USA who ever defended him.
Pinochet actually allowed free elections and nearly won after his regime of 16-years as dictator. He lost 53% to 47% and I worked with many people who didn’t make up their minds on who to vote for until they walked in the booth. Most said electing Pinochet would mean he would be in power for 25-years, and that was too long.
I talked to cab drivers and many would say that Chile needs another Pinochet and he is the reason Chile is not like Peru, or Argentina, (or Ecuador, Bolivia, etc. etc.)
He eliminated all corruption in the police...if you are in Chile and try to bribe a cop during a traffic stop, plan on going to jail. Unheard of in the rest of South America where bribing the police is expected.
He virtually eliminated corruption in government and the rest of South America would benefit from a Pinochet-like period of rule.
I can think of no other dictator who actually allowed free elections and did not bankrupt the national treasury.
Oh, I actually lived two houses from the back of his compound in Santiago...very safe neighborhood!
I worked in South America for 10-years and Chile is by far the safest and most developed country and due in a large part to Pinochet, and I don’t give a damn what Isabelle Allende says.