Augusto Pinochet: Difference between revisions

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'''Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte''' (November 25<sup>th</sup>, 1915 - December 10<sup>th</sup>, 2006) was a Chilean general and statesman who served as the President of Chile from 1973 to 1990. He first came to power after a successful ''coup d'etat'' on September 11, 1973, and remained in power for 17 years which was nearly two full decades.

Pinochet~~, along with Argentina‘s [[Jorge Rafael Videla]],~~ is considered to be one of the worst of South America's [[Cold War]]-era military dictators, as he presided over a totalitarian regime that perpetrated numerous human rights abuses, [[crimes against humanity]], unlawful executions, the internment of as many as 80,000 people and the torture of tens of thousands. It has been estimated that he has been responsible for the deaths of 3,000 people.

Pinochet is considered to be one of the worst of South America's [[Cold War]]-era military dictators as well as one of the most brutal dictators in history. He presided over a totalitarian regime that perpetrated numerous human rights abuses, [[crimes against humanity]], unlawful executions, the internment of as many as 80,000 people and the torture of tens of thousands. It has been estimated that he has been responsible for the deaths of 3,000 people.

== Life and military career ==

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===Role in Operation Condor===

Pinochet was one of the leading participants in [[Operation Condor]] alongside fellow dictators [[Alfredo Stroessner]], [[Jorge Rafael Videla]], and [[Hugo Banzer]]. It was essentially a pact between various South American regimes to hunt down dissidents wherever they were, and [[murder]] them. Condor allowed Pinochet to kill opponents as far away as Rome. But it was also the DINA’s expertise that allowed the lesser dictatorships on the continent to murder a phenomenal number of opponents at home. It’s estimated now ~~that 80~~,000 leftists, students, human rights advocates and intellectuals “disappeared” in Condor.

Pinochet was one of the leading participants in [[Operation Condor]] alongside fellow dictators [[Alfredo Stroessner]], [[Jorge Rafael Videla]], and [[Hugo Banzer]]. It was essentially a pact between various South American regimes to hunt down dissidents wherever they were, and [[murder]] them. Condor allowed Pinochet to kill opponents as far away as Rome. But it was also the DINA’s expertise that allowed the lesser dictatorships on the continent to murder a phenomenal number of opponents at home. It’s estimated now that 60,000 leftists, students, human rights advocates and intellectuals “disappeared” in Condor.

==Public image==

Pinochet is considered a "hero" by some, and he still has many supporters today. His supporters claim that Pinochet "saved" the country from the establishment of a communist regime in the hands of Salvador Allende (a socialist and noted supporter of [[Fidel Castro]] and the Soviet Union) and a possible [[Civil War|civil war]].

Pinochet is considered a "hero" by some, and he still has many supporters today. His supporters claim that Pinochet "saved" the country from the establishment of a communist regime in the hands of Salvador Allende (a socialist and noted supporter of [[Fidel Castro]] and the Soviet Union) and a possible [[Civil War|civil war]]. However, like all dictators he has his fair share of critics who consider him to be a vile tyrant. His critics condemn his totalitarian and oppressive methods in ruling Chile and the brutality enforced against opponents of his regime.

In recent years, the [[Alt-Right]] has made memes about his "Helicopter rides" and have generally celebrated his actions during his rule, describing him often as the "lesser of two evils" compared to Salvador Allende and other socialist dictators such as Castro, whom he disliked.

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==Death and Legacy==

Pinochet suffered a heart attack on December 3, 2006, and was given the last rites. He died from complications a week later on December 10, at the age of 91. He was never convicted on any charges brought to him, and by the time of his death, about 300 criminal charges were still pressed against him.

Pinochet suffered a heart attack on December 3, 2006, and was given the last rites. He died from complications a week later on December 10, at the age of 91 and was given a state funeral. He was never convicted on any charges brought to him, and by the time of his death, about 300 criminal charges were still pressed against him.

== Trivia ==

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 '''Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte''' (November 25<sup>th</sup>, 1915 - December 10<sup>th</sup>, 2006) was a Chilean general and statesman who served as the President of Chile from 1973 to 1990. He first came to power after a successful ''coup d'etat'' on September 11, 1973, and remained in power for 17 years which was nearly two full decades.
-Pinochet, along with Argentina‘s [[Jorge Rafael Videla]], is considered to be one of the worst of South America's [[Cold War]]-era military dictators, as he presided over a totalitarian regime that perpetrated numerous human rights abuses, [[crimes against humanity]], unlawful executions, the internment of as many as 80,000 people and the torture of tens of thousands. It has been estimated that he has been responsible for the deaths of 3,000 people.
+Pinochet is considered to be one of the worst of South America's [[Cold War]]-era military dictators as well as one of the most brutal dictators in history. He presided over a totalitarian regime that perpetrated numerous human rights abuses, [[crimes against humanity]], unlawful executions, the internment of as many as 80,000 people and the torture of tens of thousands. It has been estimated that he has been responsible for the deaths of 3,000 people.
 == Life and military career ==
@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 ===Role in Operation Condor===
-Pinochet was one of the leading participants in [[Operation Condor]] alongside fellow dictators [[Alfredo Stroessner]], [[Jorge Rafael Videla]], and [[Hugo Banzer]]. It was essentially a pact between various South American regimes to hunt down dissidents wherever they were, and [[murder]] them. Condor allowed Pinochet to kill opponents as far away as Rome. But it was also the DINA’s expertise that allowed the lesser dictatorships on the continent to murder a phenomenal number of opponents at home. It’s estimated now that 80,000 leftists, students, human rights advocates and intellectuals “disappeared” in Condor.
+Pinochet was one of the leading participants in [[Operation Condor]] alongside fellow dictators [[Alfredo Stroessner]], [[Jorge Rafael Videla]], and [[Hugo Banzer]]. It was essentially a pact between various South American regimes to hunt down dissidents wherever they were, and [[murder]] them. Condor allowed Pinochet to kill opponents as far away as Rome. But it was also the DINA’s expertise that allowed the lesser dictatorships on the continent to murder a phenomenal number of opponents at home. It’s estimated now that 60,000 leftists, students, human rights advocates and intellectuals “disappeared” in Condor.
 ==Public image==
-Pinochet is considered a "hero" by some, and he still has many supporters today. His supporters claim that Pinochet "saved" the country from the establishment of a communist regime in the hands of Salvador Allende (a socialist and noted supporter of [[Fidel Castro]] and the Soviet Union) and a possible [[Civil War|civil war]].
+Pinochet is considered a "hero" by some, and he still has many supporters today. His supporters claim that Pinochet "saved" the country from the establishment of a communist regime in the hands of Salvador Allende (a socialist and noted supporter of [[Fidel Castro]] and the Soviet Union) and a possible [[Civil War|civil war]]. However, like all dictators he has his fair share of critics who consider him to be a vile tyrant. His critics condemn his totalitarian and oppressive methods in ruling Chile and the brutality enforced against opponents of his regime.
 In recent years, the [[Alt-Right]] has made memes about his "Helicopter rides" and have generally celebrated his actions during his rule, describing him often as the "lesser of two evils" compared to Salvador Allende and other socialist dictators such as Castro, whom he disliked.
@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 ==Death and Legacy==
-Pinochet suffered a heart attack on December 3, 2006, and was given the last rites. He died from complications a week later on December 10, at the age of 91. He was never convicted on any charges brought to him, and by the time of his death, about 300 criminal charges were still pressed against him.
+Pinochet suffered a heart attack on December 3, 2006, and was given the last rites. He died from complications a week later on December 10, at the age of 91 and was given a state funeral. He was never convicted on any charges brought to him, and by the time of his death, about 300 criminal charges were still pressed against him.
 == Trivia ==