Comments by "Colonel K" (@Paladin1873) on "Augusto Pinochet: The Great Betrayal" video.

  1. When judging Chile, one has to consider the choices were between the frying pan and the fire. Allende was taking Chile down the path to ruin that was later followed by Venezuela. Pinochet not only stopped and reversed it, he rooted out communist sympathizers and eradicated them so Chile would not suffer such a fate. He certainly was no saint, but as ruthless dictators go, he was a piker. He did not torture or kill nearly as many people as did his communist counterparts, and eventually he allowed for elections and the return of democratic rule. This does not mean I endorse his methods - far from it. I'm simply looking at it in terms of his motivation and effect. I genuinely think he was acting for what he considered to be in the best interest of Chile. It was his one saving grace, but as an exasperated General Sam Houston frustratingly said to his troops as they massacred Santa Ana's soldiers following the Battle of San Jacinto, "Gentlemen, I applaud your bravery but damn your manners".
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