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[[Image:342px-Pinochet de Civil.jpg|right|thumb|Augusto Pinochet]]

[[Image:342px-Pinochet de Civil.jpg|right|thumb|Augusto Pinochet]]

General '''Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte''' (1915–2006) was a [[Chile]]an [[soldier]] and [[politician]] who became Chile's head of state from 1973 to 1990. He came to power as a member of a council of military leaders after the overthrow of the government of President [[Salvador Allende]] on September 11, 1973. Allende, a [[radical]] [[Marxist]], had gained power after barely winning only a 36% plurality of the popular vote in 1970, but he violated the Chilean [[Constitution]] through his support of armed groups in other South American countries, illegally arresting civilians, and taking power originally designated for other branches of the government. Not only dd he violate the Constitution, but it was becoming clear that he was operating in a systemic manner with the goal of creating "a totalitarian system" in Chile.and many others. He was condemned for his illegal conduct by the Chilean legislature and by numerous civil society organizations.<ref name="violations">[http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-preview.axd?code=304jhvp68lurxp08&size=largest How Salvador Allende Destroyed Democracy in Chile]</ref>

General '''Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte''' (1915–2006) was a [[Chile]]an [[soldier]] and [[politician]] who became Chile's head of state from 1973 to 1990. He came to power as a member of a council of military leaders after the overthrow of the government of President [[Salvador Allende]] on September 11, 1973. Socialist Salvador Allende, elected with a minority of the vote, was assassinating opponents<ref>http://nixontapeaudio.org/chile/517-004.pdf</ref>, threatening opposition media<ref>http://nixontapeaudio.org/chile/517-004.pdf</ref>, arming left-wing paramilitary groups<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history/nro-symposium</ref>, receiving funding from the KGB<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history/nro-symposium</ref>, and ultimately caught collaborating with [[Fidel Castro]] to arm left-wing terrorists to launch attacks on government buildings so he could declare martial law.<ref>http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/219461/pinochet-history/nro-symposium</ref>  Allende was formally condemned by Chile's parliament for systematically destroying democracy in Chile.<ref>“Declaration of the Breakdown of Chile’s Democracy,” Resolution of the Chamber of Deputies, Chile, August 22, 1973.</ref> The Chilean Chamber of Deputies Resolution of August 22, 1973, accused Allende of support of armed groups, torture, illegal arrests, muzzling the press, confiscating private property, and not allowing people to leave the country. Not only did he violate the Constitution, but it was becoming clear that he was operating in a systemic manner with the goal of creating "a totalitarian system" in Chile. He was condemned for his illegal conduct by numerous civil society organizations.<ref name="violations">[http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-preview.axd?code=304jhvp68lurxp08&size=largest How Salvador Allende Destroyed Democracy in Chile]</ref>

General Pinochet headed a military government for 16 years (1974-1990) as he fought and defeated [[communist]] opponents in Chile.  [[Leftists]] have hated Pinochet ever since for defeating them.  Pinochet was at one time a military subordinate of [[Salvador Allende]].  After the [[coup]], Pinochet saw support from [[America]].

General Pinochet headed a military dictatorship for 17 years (1973-1990) as he murdered [[communist]] opponents in Chile.  During the [[Cold War]], Pinochet saw support from [[America]].

General Pinochet instituted free market reforms in Chile in the 1970s that resulted in lower [[inflation]] and an economic boom from 1976 to 1979. He held a [[plebiscite]] on his rule and 75% of the people affirmed their support for him.  However, the plebiscite is regarded by some as fraudulent. [[Leftists]] complain that during his time in power over 3,000 people were killed or vanished,<ref>BBC profile http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6167237.stm</ref> but that total includes treasonous Marxist terrorists and people who died in private disputes unrelated to politics. In addition, over a quarter million Chileans were arrested. Universities were purged of terrorist sympathizers, Marxist books were burned, and rival political parties banned.  Thousands of members of the Socialist Party of Chile and the Communist Party of Chile fled the country out of fear of the [[secret police]], which routinely tortured citizens.<ref>Augusto Pinochet Biography http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/pinochet.html</ref>

General Pinochet instituted free market reforms in Chile in the 1970s that resulted in lower [[inflation]] and an economic boom from 1976 to 1979. He held a [[plebiscite]] on his rule and 75% of the people affirmed their support for him.  However, the plebiscite is regarded by some as fraudulent.

 

During his time in power, at least 1,200 people were killed or vanished.  The most common estimate is that 3,000 were killed,<ref>BBC profile http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6167237.stm</ref> while other estimates go as high as 10,000. In addition, over a quarter million Chileans were arrested. Universities were purged of terrorist sympathizers, Marxist books were burned, and rival political parties banned.  Thousands of members of the Socialist Party of Chile and the Communist Party of Chile fled the country out of fear of the [[secret police]], which routinely tortured citizens.<ref>Augusto Pinochet Biography http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/pinochet.html</ref>

A new constitution was adopted in Chile in 1981, which authorized General Pinochet to serve as president for another eight-year term, to be followed by a plebiscite on his presidency.

A new constitution was adopted in Chile in 1981, which authorized General Pinochet to serve as president for another eight-year term, to be followed by a plebiscite on his presidency.

General Pinochet was a graduate of the [[School of the Americas]] at Fort Benning, [[Georgia]].

General Pinochet was a graduate of the [[School of the Americas]] at Fort Benning, [[Georgia]].

In 1998, the [[leftists]] who long hated Pinochet for defeating them arranged for his arrest while he was in [[London]] receiving medical treatment.  The [[leftists]] arranged for an unprecedented arrest warrant to be issued in [[Spain]] for alleged [[human rights]] violations that occurred in Chile during while Pinochet was president.  It was outrageous that an activist court in Spain would assert jurisdiction over Pinochet in London for allegations arising long ago in Chile.  The stunt failed, and Pinochet was subsequently returned to Chile in part based on his ill health.  The [[leftists]] continued after him, and had him indicted and charged with [[kidnapping]] 19 supporters of Salvador Allende during the 1973 coup in which Pinochet took power.  The Chilean [[Supreme Court]] suspended the prosecution in July 2002, again due to Pinochet's continuing poor health.[1]

In 1998, the [[leftists]] who had long hated Pinochet arranged for his arrest while he was in [[London]] receiving medical treatment.  The [[leftists]] arranged for an unprecedented arrest warrant to be issued in [[Spain]] for alleged [[human rights]] violations that occurred in Chile while Pinochet was president.  The stunt failed, and Pinochet was subsequently returned to Chile in part based on his ill health.  The [[leftists]] continued after him, and had him indicted and charged with [[kidnapping]] 19 supporters of Salvador Allende during the 1973 coup in which Pinochet took power.  The Chilean [[Supreme Court]] suspended the prosecution in July 2002, again due to Pinochet's continuing poor health.[1]

Pinochet died of a heart attack on December 10, 2006.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/world/americas/10cnd-pinochet-timeline.html?ex=1174449600&en=7b24f9d3e63ff60a&ei=5070 NYTimes</ref>

Pinochet died of a heart attack on December 10, 2006.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/world/americas/10cnd-pinochet-timeline.html?ex=1174449600&en=7b24f9d3e63ff60a&ei=5070 NYTimes</ref>