I think that that past is now behind us

Condi Rice went to Chile to attend the swearing-in of President Michelle Bachelet, saying, “I think it’s good to remember that it’s now been almost 20 years that the United States has been a friend and supporter of Chilean democracy.” And you want credit for that? How many points do we get for not having supported a murderous coup followed by a dirty war in 30 years? As for our actual support for the coup and Pinochet dictatorship until “almost 20 years” ago, “I think that that past is now behind us.” Or possibly buried in a mass grave. Or thrown out of a helicopter, screaming, into the ocean. Three quotes from that glorious past:

• “I don’t see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its people.”
• “International terrorism will take the place of human rights in our concern because it is the ultimate abuse of human rights.”
• “rightist authoritarian regimes can be transformed peacefully into democracies, but totalitarian Marxist ones cannot.”

(Kissinger, Haig, Kirkpatrick)