[Alter Kaker]

What I think you don't understand is that the coup was an enormous strategic mistake. It legitimized leftism in Latin America -- it sent the message that the United States and anti-Communists are just corrupt, tinpot junta leaders with a tendency towards murder.

The US may have succeeded in eliminating Allende with the 1973 coup (a unnecessarily messy way of removing an unpopular democratically-elected leader) but by doing so it succeeded in making Allende a popular hero across Latin America. And now what? Today, I think as a direct consequence, we're not talking about one vaguely socialist government, we're talking about Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Argentina and Bolivia. It makes no sense to win a country but lose a continent.

[eleni121]

You sound like you are a wonk for the Baker commission...you know the committee that comes out with the "victory is not an option".

The ones who say that we cannot offend the saudis..we have to keep the world safe for the corporates and the keep that oil flowing.

Pinochet is a hero...and when the Latins are finished with their Chavezes and cocaine snorting fake Indios..they will return to sanity. I'm more worried about the defeatists on our shores.

[Fiji Hill]

The US may have succeeded in eliminating Allende with the 1973 coup...

Are you implying that the US was behind the coup? If so, do you have any hard evidence to support this assertion?