Republicans vote to give police powers to arrest people planning peaceful protests

[Judi Lynn]

14. They still think Chile was a major success, of course.

To refresh memories for DU'ers who may not recall how the Republican President overthrew a democratically elected President of Chile, here's a Wikipedia condensed look at that vicious power grab:

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1970 election[edit]

According to the 1975 Church Commission Report, covert United States involvement in Chile in the decade between 1963 and 1973 was extensive and continuous. The CIA spent $8 million in the three years between 1970 and the military coup in September 1973,[8] with over $3 million in 1972 alone. Covert American activity was present in almost every major election in Chile in the decade between 1963 and 1973, but its actual effect on electoral outcomes is not altogether clear. Chile, more than any of its South American neighbours, had an extensive democratic tradition dating back to the early 1930s, and even before. Because of this, it is difficult to gauge how successful CIA tactics were in swaying voters.

At a September 8th, 1970 meeting of the 40 Committee, the chairman of the committee as for analysis of asks for analysis of where the US/CIA stand in terms of taking action to prevent Allende from becoming President. William Broe, a high-ranking CIA officer, said Eduardo Frei Montalvo, the 29th President of Chile, is essential to the situation in Chile, regardless of the type of involvement — military or congressional. But Frei seems like he’s not going to do much more than spread rumors about Allende. The 40 Committee asks that CIA collect information and create more intelligence reports to see what can be further done in Chile. The committee decided it was unlikely they were going to be able to influence the Oct 24, congressional election to go against Allende. Helms was also concerned about Allende supporters in the Chilean military, as it seemed they would support Allende. As a result of all this information, the Committee decided they wanted a full analysis of two things: (1.) a cost versus benefit analysis of organizing a military (Chilean) coup; (2.) a cost versus benefit analysis of organizing future oppositions to Allende to topple his influence. This suggestions a level of oversight by Kissinger as he is considering the options between covert and overt operations. [10]

Four days after the meeting discussed above, a cable between Richard Helms and Henry Kissinger discussed the lack of morale in the US State Department embassy in Chile according to the American Ambassador to Chile, Edward Korry. Kissinger stated in response that he would call another 40 Committee Meeting for the following Monday. Kissinger further stated that, "We will not let Chile go down the drain."

While this committee had already been renamed twice, and would be renamed many more times, the 40 Committee's purpose was to review large scale covert operations proposals. Therefore, the meeting of the 40 Committee in regard to Chile demonstrates that the CIA had intelligence on the region, and Allende's affairs in order to intervene in the interests of the United States and, "not let Chile go down the drain."[11]

Allende Presidency[edit]

Salvador Allende ran again in the 1970 presidential election, winning a narrow plurality (near 37%). U.S. president Richard Nixon stated his fear that Chile could become "another Cuba", and the U.S. cut off most of its foreign aid to Chile and supported Allende's opponents in Chile during his presidency, intending to encourage Allende's resignation, his overthrow, or his defeat in the impending election of 1976.[12] To this end, the Nixon administration clandestinely funded independent and non-state media and labor unions.

The U.S. government had two approaches to fighting Marxism as represented by Allende. "Track I" was a State Department initiative designed to thwart Allende by subverting Chilean elected officials within the bounds of the Chilean constitution and excluded the CIA. Track I expanded to encompass a number of policies whose ultimate goal was to create the conditions that would encourage a coup.[13] "Track II" was a CIA operation overseen by Henry Kissinger and CIA’s director of covert operations, Thomas Karamessine. "Track II" excluded the State Department and Department of Defense.[13] The goal of Track II was to find and support Chilean military officers that would support a coup.

More:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_intervention_in_Chile