Chilean Troubles

From by Jagjit Singh, Los Altos, CA

As we remember the tragic events of 9/11, it’s imperative that we also reflect on the thousands who suffered in Chile on September 11, 1973. Few Americans spoke out against the inhumane policies of President Nixon and Henry Kissinger, which led to the overthrow of President Salvador Allende’s democratically elected government and the rise of General Augusto Pinochet’s military dictatorship. Thousands were tortured, killed, or simply vanished under Pinochet’s rule.

Declassified documents and historical research reveal the extent of the United States’ involvement in the coup, highlighting the need for media accountability. The CIA’s covert support, including financial aid and propaganda, played a pivotal role in undermining Chile’s democracy.

The human toll of this coup cannot be underestimated. Families were torn apart, communities shattered, and Chilean society still grapples with the trauma and division of those dark days. While Chile has made progress in addressing past human rights violations through truth and reconciliation commissions, all nations, including the United States, must acknowledge their roles and support accountability, truth-telling, reconciliation, and massive reparations.

While the United States often boasts that it is the greatest country in the world, historical events suggest a different conclusion. It is time for our nation to chart a new beginning based on truth and world peace. A good start would be the dissolution of the CIA, which has been involved in excessive coups, undermining weaker nations, displacing their democracies with autocratic leaders, and facilitating the theft of their precious resources, all of which has generated enormous suffering.

(This submission has not been edited.)