If only we could land a yacht on the shore of the MSM and take over by force.

I would peronally love to stand on the rotting corpse of the CBC while I shout 'viva la revolucion!'

Until then, don't expect any changes....

Even though Pinochet did commit his share of atrocities, many of which could be considered uncalled for, he at least was willing to step down after the public asked him to do so in a referendum, and did institute reforms that have helped Chile out to this day, as stated in the article. There is still much debate about whether Pinochet's regime was good for the nation. Castro on the other, is practically worshipped by many on the left even though he destroyed Cuba's economy, and founded and ruled one of the world's most repressive regimes that still exists to this day. There is almost no mention of the people who disappeared under Castro's regime, and yet there is plenty of people who mention the number of people who were disappeared under Pinochet's regime. Castro was adamant that his regime was the right way to go until his death, and refused to apologize to those he persecuted, while Pinochet admitted he accepted responsibility for those who suffered under his regime. Even though Pinochet was corrupt and brutal, he seemed to have more honor than Castro ever did. Perhaps the biggest irony in Cuba's history was that Castro proved to be no better than the dictator that he replaced before him.

Yeah, Pinochet and Castro aren't nearly as bad as those far-right murderous dictators George W. Bush and Stephen Harper...

BWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

But seriously, there are three types of societies in the world: capitalist democracy, non-capitalist dictatorship, and capitalist dictatorship. There is no living example in the world of a non-capitalist democracy and there never will be.

But a capitalist dictatorship can pave the way for a capitalist democracy. Therefore Pinochet better than Castro, Franco better than Stalin or Mao, etc. etc.

If you start constructing apologies for brutal dictators perhaps you've taken the role of political partisan a little too far.

But Pinochet's economic reforms do no not in any way excuse his brutal killings, torturing, disapperings, etc.

It is true, however, that economic freedom is a condition for political freedom, whereas the opposite is not true.

Jose,

Did you find Jesus this weekend or something? You're usually a Leftist troll. WTF?

Two items; 1st the economics introduced by Pinochet were the first practical application of the Chicago school - yes that Milton Freedman et al.
2nd I always wondered why Castro is not charged by the World Court or Spain or etc, only Pinochet.
I guess if Trudeau or Jimmy Carter are your buddies your immune.

I didn't notice any apologies being constructed.

Castro has staying power because the amoral left loves him. When brother Raul takes the reins next, different personality, same totalitarian circumstances, watch the same lefty hypocrites shun him because he doesn't have the star power.

It is true, however, that economic freedom is a condition for political freedom, whereas the opposite is not true.

Johan - Please explain how the average citizen can advance his economic status in a policially unfree country without bribes or corruption? Where's the economic staying power in that paradigm? Explain for me how wealth for the broadest number of people gets created and maintained in a country with no political freedom the first prerequisite?

You make a very valid point: that leftist dictators all too often get a "by" from the media while those of the right get scourged.

That is happening now with the nutty populist in Venezuela: Chavez has become a darling more or less solely because of his anti-Americanism.

I note folks are quite willing to overlook the fact that he attempted a military coup earlier in his career.

General Pinochet will be judged by history one way or another. Alas, I doubt that anyone will ever take a cold, objective look at where Salvador Allende was taking Chile when Pinochet removed him.

Oh, I get it, according to Jose, Mao, Stalin, Lenin, Pol Pot, Castro, Kim Jong Il, etc. aren't dictators, why they're benevolent leaders.

The apologies for dictators applies only to Pinochet.

Isn't that right, leftist troll Jose?

Sorry, it wasn't Jesus you found on the weekend, just your old copy of Das Kapital.

Ultra AC: "Castro was adamant that his regime was the right way to go until his death, and refused to apologize to those he persecuted"

In the immortal words of Monty Python "I'm not dead yet!".

He's dead.

How do the abortion rates in Cuba and Chile compare?

How do the abortion rates in Cuba and Chile compare?

Cuba has by far the highest abortion rate in the Western World -- 6 out of 10 babies are snuffed. Check out Babalu Blog.com for details.

I always get a chuckle when people trumpet Cuba's "low infant mortality" -- they leave out the 60% abortion rate.

He's dead.

Its just a flesh wound.

Why is Pinochet so hated but Saddam is not?

"He's dead"

He's pining for the fjords....

So the moral of the story as I see it is:
If you are a murderous Conservative Bastard you are more likely to accomplish SOMETHING of value.

If you are a murderous Socialist Bastard...not so much!

Works for me as long as I don't have to put up with either one of them!

Washington's Post: "Allende's socialist successors...."

Uh, the current government of Chile is a social democratic government, that is, a government whose ideological commitment is to "capitalism with a human face".

The Washington Post is a moonie newspaper, I think, in which case none of this is at all surprising.

Surely the Trudeau brothers will go and save the day for Cuba. Old family friend and all.

Of course, US economic support for Pinochet, as opposed to the embargo on Cuba had absolutely nothing to do with how things turned out for these two countries.

'Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud, together show
Oppression alternates with Overthrow,
The Proletarian Id combines it's mass, with Superego's castellated class.
To pinch the bourgeois Ego out of power,
The flag of Anarchy besports a flower.
The telescoplc rifle and the cunt,
Emblazon urban youth's united front.
The world boils over, Ho & Mao and Che,
Blood-red, inaguruate a brighter day.
Awash with wealth, the fair republic creaks,
While boilermen below enlarge the leaks.
What child is this, who cherishes still more,
Confetti on the ballroom floor?
Midpoint & Other Poems- John Updike

its kinda like travelling in that mysterious extremes of the space time continuum; the extreme left and the extreme right curve around after great distance and..... link up.

when this is applied to the political theatre, we find the repression, disappearances, police state tactics are indistinguishable.

the only thing differentiating the 2 is who's name is on the title, the deed, the receipt. with leftists, its all 'state owned' with rightists its 'privately held'. in either case the property is stolen fom the working and middle class, those OUTSIDE the political elite.

That's Tilting ballroom floor........

"The state is a family, and I am your father."

Joseph Stalin

Sorry, Joe I was orphaned long ago!

Sounds almost like Darth Vader:

"Luke I am your father, come over to the dark side."

Alternately we have that paragon of freedom, Lenin:

"It is true that liberty is precious - so precious that it must be rationed."

Right, so only the government apparatchiks have any freedom.

I would offer a rather generous portion of freedom to all.

Kate said:

"He's Dead"

His body may be dead, but his spirit lives on in the hearts of socialists everywhere!

I like how the journalists all refer to the "dictator" Pinochet, but in the run-up to the Iraq war it was always "president" Saddam Hussein.

Pinochet made the mistake killing his people in the name of right wing economics, he should have done his killing in the name of Marx, then he would be a hero.

For another view of Pinochet's "economic miracle" see http://www.gregpalast.com/tinker-bell-pinochet-and-the-fairy-tale-miracle-of-chile-2#more-1551.

You re all missing one subtle fact. Castro took power by way of revolution. He had popular support - at least in the initial stages. Not the case with Pinochet. That makes Castro a lot more "legit" in some peoples eyes.

That said they re both equally despicable.

As the left like to say, one man's freedom fighter is another's terrorists, so one man's murderous dictator is another man's liberator.

castro is a zombie.

they invented them down there in the caribbean you know, zombies. the walking dead.

communism is another zombie.

pierre turdeau is a zombie 6 feet under.

lots of zombies.

I'd make a movie but its been done already.

this from a supposed 'liberal/ndp'

Washington's Post: "Allende's socialist successors...."
Uh, the current government of Chile is a social democratic government, that is, a government whose ideological commitment is to "capitalism with a human face".

Just like the NDP claims to be social democrats. And of course, they are not socialists. Right? Wrong!

The Washington Post is a moonie newspaper, I think, in which case none of this is at all surprising.

Well, if you insist on calling a liberal rag a "moonie newspaper", who am I to argue? But we should thank the WaPo for the 53 stories outing George Allen racism--when Allen called that guy following him around the most horrible offensive vile despicable racist term in history. I can barely bring myself to type this disgusting racist term - *cringe* macaca *cringe*

Kate, if you wish to delete my use of the horrific racist term 'macaca', I understand. ;)

"Why is Pinochet so hated but Saddam is not?"

A. The press is overwhelmingly lefty in persuasion.

B. Pinochet only killed 1000's , not 1,000,00(0)'s like any self respecting communo/marxist committee.

C.He had the audacity to not only make a success of his dictatorship but leave quietly with something better left behind than what he started with. That really galls all the socialists.

D. He wasn't anti-american.

He is NOT dead! He's just resting his mortal coil!

Castro showed his true self with the trials in the stadium after he came to power.He killed off all his opponents and got the message across.He took his methods from Stalin and they work.

"Castro showed his true self with the trials in the stadium after he came to power.He killed off all his opponents and got the message across.He took his methods from Stalin and they work."

Castro tried to woo the US after his revolution. He even travelled to the US but Eisenhower refused to meet him. He only took on communist ideology after he was rebuked by the US for nationalising US owned businesses, and you know how it can be when you mess with America and the love of their life, money. The communist turn came fairly late and was largely an attempt to get Soviet support in the face of a hostile America. Wierd, eh, how history works? Even the good guys were too worried about their money to slowly try to influence and change a dictator who, for a while, was amenable to change. Sadly, as is the case with the US, and most folk here, money trumps all.

Does anyone know what Hitler's rookie card is going for these days?

for more information comparing pre and post castro cuba... see www.therealcuba.com

"with the trials in the stadium after he came to power"

note to self: if caught up in a great social upheaval, STAY THE F OUT OF THE STADIUM.

seems to be a popular 'gathering point' to reinforce the new status quo. lefty, righty, no matter, the methods are identical if not the overall objectives and philosophy.

"to the stadium !!!"

exile: "The Washington Post is a moonie newspaper, I think, in which case none of this is at all surprising."

You've confused the Washington Post with the Washington Times.

"Castro took power by way of revolution"

The only difference between a Coup and a Revolution is that a Coup what it's called (by the left/media/professor types) when a US-Friendly and/or Capitalist overthrows a commie and a revolution is what happens when the reverse happens.

You aren't supposed to like Coups because Coups are done by the guys you are not supposed to like whereby you're supposed to love "revolutionaries" because they're good Marxists.

Castro no more had support of the masses than Lenin did. If he did have support of the masses he wouldn't have had to kill people and deny them their freedom.

"He's dead."

Maybe he's just looking at "the bright side of life"?

Doug "Oh, I get it, according to Jose, Mao, Stalin, Lenin, Pol Pot, Castro, Kim Jong Il, etc. aren't dictators, why they're benevolent leaders."

I don't support communism, marxism or dictators.

Ok....Cuba is a threat, and horrible and the other dictators who murdered hundreds of thousands in south America aided by U.S. support are the true heros. No doubt about it. Pinochet who murdered thousands, overthrew a 'democratically' elected government with U.S. support, and exiled thousands more is our best example of democracy at work? Hmm....ok....Castro is a dictator, no doubt about that, but he was overwhelmingly supported by the people when he took over the reigns of government. But like too many politicans, he just could not see his own corrupt behavior over time. He has banished all opposition and refused any kind of reforms towards democracy. The mighty U.S. has placed this puerile embargo on Cuba, because they feel like being bullies, which they are very adept at, with little justification when you look at how the U.S. has trodded on democracy elsewhere. The main theme of some people's idea of democracy seems to be......if you play by our rules(U.S. definition), we will not threaten, or invade your country, or use subversion to overthrow your governments. Is that really what we call democracy though? Many people in South America are upset over the way in which the U.S. interferred with their governments. You can see it it quite plainly in how South America is pursuing its own path, without U.S. guidance or interference. Do you blame them? I do not know much about Chavez, but I can surmise that his popularity has a lot to do with his strong, independent, nationalistic stance. The U.S. in my opinion detests this, they want someone subserviant to their wishes. That is not democracy.

Just as long as JIMMY CARTER dont ask us to fly old glory at half staff we never will and carter himself as well as the wussies from SAN FRANCISCO,U.C. BERKELEY and HOLLYWOOD can attend the funneral just as long as the dont ever come back