Who's going to definitively catch former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet first? The slow, grinding wheels of earthly justice or the swift ruthlessness of the Grim Reaper?

Just as the latest criminal case against the 91 year-old former general was about to be heard one more time in the Santiago courts on Monday, Pinochet suffered an acute heart attack. He was immediately hospitalized and submitted to emergency surgery. Last rites have been given.

As the case with much of his life, even his possible impending death has been shrouded with deception. Doctors have contradicted the version offered by Pinochet's son, Marco Antonio, that he was given a bypass. Attending physicians say it was, instead, an angioplasty. Similar reports say that the former dictator's life still hangs in the balance and that the next 24-48 hours will be crucial to his survival.

Pinochet's hospitalization required a temporary lifting of the house arrest he has been under. Pinochet was indicted just last week for the murder of two of former President Salvador Allende's bodyguards. This was the fifth indictment on human rights charges made against the general who presided over a military dictatorship from 1973 to 1990. More than 3100 people were killed by Pinochet's regime, and tens of thousands of others were tortured. Pinochet is also facing charges related to tax evasion for millions of dollars of unaccounted income -- thought by experts to be the product of covert arms or drug sales.

On two previous occasions, Pinochet's health has allowed him to escape impending trial. His current hospitalization will most likely short-circuit any future possibility of his taking the stand. But it seems almost as likely that this episode will also take his life.

On his 91st birthday only ten days ago, Pinochet issued a statement that broadly accepted responsibilities for the abuses during his tenure. But the statement also justified his imposition of dictatorship: "Today, near the end of my days, I want to say that I harbor no rancor against anybody, that I love my fatherland above all and that I take political responsibility for everything that was done which had no other goal than making Chile greater and avoiding its disintegration," he said in the statement.

The center-left Chilean civilian government has limited itself to saying that it is "prepared" for Pinochet's imminent death. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet was evasive when asked if the former dictator would be afforded a state funeral.

Human rights activists are dismayed that Pinochet might expire before he is formally judged guilty by a Chilean court. Egregious human rights violations were missing from the Chilean political agenda until Pinochet's surprise 1998 arrest in London jump-started the debate. A crusading and now retired Judge Juan Guzman Tapia broke open the political taboos and initiated charges against the general.

The succeeding legal probes of Pinochet kept the human rights issue alive in Chile and several top military officers have been indicted. Some of the human rights activists now fear that if Pinochet dies, interest in the lingering and unresolved investigations will succumb with him. Here's to General Pinochet! A long life!

Comments (50)

1. Too bad Pinochet won't be brought to justice, but I can't help imagining sometime in the 2010s (likely for Cheney) and 2030s (likely for the healthy Bush)....and our old Impeachmentos (most in their 60s-70s) bemoaning that they never got their impeachment!

   Posted by Mask at 12/04/2006 @ 07:22am

2. "Today, near the end of my days, I want to say that I harbor no rancor against anybody, that I love my fatherland above all and that I take political responsibility for everything that was done which had no other goal than making Iraq greater and avoiding its disintegration,"= statement by George Bush, June 5, 2024

   yea, right.

   Posted by crabwalk at 12/04/2006 @ 07:33am

3. Would Kissinger get called into a Chilean court? That would be fun to watch.

   Posted by crabwalk at 12/04/2006 @ 07:35am

4. Given that the United States and its ruling classes have learned virtually nothing about the essential criminality of imperialist manipulation and/or destruction of governments of countries that cross one's ambitions, the trial of Augusto Pinochet would accomplish nothing. If the so-called opposition party of this nation can't hold to account those elements within its own leadership and on the other side of the aisle who are responsible for the current atrocity in Iraq, any verdict on Pinochet is merely window dressing at this point.

   Posted by hureaux at 12/04/2006 @ 10:59am

5. Somehow I can't help thinking that 40 years from now another tin horn, self important dictator, Hugo Chavez, will be lying in HIS sickbed with a record of human rights abuses hanging above his head. His Socialist Revolution will be glorious for all who agree with it: For the rest, a triple AAA battery in a dungeon somewhere no doubt awaits.

   Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 12/04/2006 @ 12:44pm

6. "Today, near the end of my days, I want to say that I harbor no rancor against anybody, that I love my fatherland above all and that I take political responsibility for everything that was done which had no other goal than making Chile greater and avoiding its disintegration," he said in the statement.

   Let's forgive him and move on...

   Posted by woodyee at 12/04/2006 @ 1:41pm

7. Don't forgive or forget.

   Posted by mtspence05 at 12/04/2006 @ 4:31pm

8. Posted by CHIP THORNTON 12/04/2006 @ 12:44am | ignore this person

   they just had an election Chip.

   Posted by johannesrolf at 12/04/2006 @ 6:14pm

9. Don't forgive or forget.

   Posted by MTSPENCE05 12/04/2006 @ 4:31pm | ignore this person

   or maybe you would like to.....

   Posted by johannesrolf at 12/04/2006 @ 6:15pm

10. Posted by CHIP THORNTON 12/04/2006 @ 12:44am | ignore this person

    Hugo Chavez was elected President of his country in 1998, re-elected in 2000, and re-elected again on Sunday. He enjoys huge support from the middle class and economically disadvantaged who make up the majority of the population.

    General Pinochet seized control of the country in a military coup in 1973 with the help of the CIA, and declared himeslf 'president' a year later. He lost the only actual 'elections' he was ever in, the 1988 plebiscite and the 1989 election that followed.

    They are hardly the same. And, your attempt to compare Pinochet's well-documented history...concentration camps for the poor, barbaric torture of any who tried to oppose him, the untold thousands of Chillean 'dissappeared...with Chavez' history, is quite pathetic. It not only makes you sound like a hearty drinker of the right-wing koolaid, it does a tremendous disservice to all of those who actually suffered greatly under Pinochet.

    Posted by Lillian at 12/04/2006 @ 7:08pm

11. I take political responsibility for everything that was done which had no other goal than making Chile greater and avoiding its disintegration

    i wonder if this is a valid statement.

    Posted by darladoon at 12/04/2006 @ 7:52pm

12. "Hugo Chavez was elected President of his country in 1998, re-elected in 2000, and re-elected again on Sunday. He enjoys huge support from the middle class and economically disadvantaged who make up the majority of the population"

    And Chavez is in the process of shuting down all free press and communications with those who oppopse his, ah, regime, or don't have the proper papers..see Telemundo...he is learning well from his soul mate...Castro...at this rate the big VEN will be borrowing money from the world in about 10 years from now as all private entities are nationalized by the elected president for life....the left should look a litle closer here..you might see a pattern that is very famuliar and predictable...

    Posted by john maasch at 12/04/2006 @ 8:24pm

13. What the heck does Chavez have to do with Pinochet? You guys are reaching for villains again.

    "...at this rate the big VEN will be borrowing money from the world in about 10 years from now..."

    Well, that would separate them from us, or would it?

    Is Kissinger working with Chavez? Is the CIA propping him up? Condoning mass killings, torture and camps? NO, that would be our men in Baghdad, Maliki and Sadr.

    Keep your eyes on the ball kids.

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/04/2006 @ 9:09pm

14. Say what you will about Pinochet's leggacy, but his country is free now, and prosperous, and he left power voluntarily......How about a similar death watch for Fidel Castro? Never happen, he has been lionized and idolized by too many on the left....I live in a city populated with hundreds of thousands of his victims, and those are the ones that got away...After the old bastard dies, will we see an international outcry for justice for his victims, or just calls to normalize relations with with his stalinist brother and successor?

    Posted by davebarlett at 12/04/2006 @ 9:49pm

15. And don't get me started about that buffoon Chavez.....He'll make Venezuela a banana republic before he's done..........

    Posted by davebarlett at 12/04/2006 @ 9:55pm

16. Say what you will about Pinochet's leggacy,-DAVE

    it is horrible. Same with Castro. But Chavez has nothing to do with Pinochet, so why would you get started?

    "he left power voluntarily." After 27 years of "voluntarily" staying in power.

    One similarity, the US policy towards Cuba is a failure too.

    Do any of you have anything really to say about Pinochet? Any lefties here defending Castro?

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/04/2006 @ 10:22pm

17. PINOCHET--dictator |?dik?t?t?r| noun 1 a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained power by force. • a person who tells people what to do in an autocratic way or who determines behavior in a particular sphere : the prewar era was a period whose apple-cheeked dictator was Doris Day. • (in ancient Rome) a chief magistrate with absolute power, appointed in an emergency.

    CHIPTHORTON--dictator noun: 2 a machine that records words spoken into it.

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/04/2006 @ 10:26pm

18. Crabbie, since you asked......Just seemed appropriate to compare Pinochet and Castro since both are going to croak, apparently, soon....But I'll not defend him further, he's a thug, but way out of Castro's league, Fidel wrote the book on cult of personality rule.

    I know plenty of people who don't like Chavez, either. He's well on his way to being a dictator, if he can't be called one, yet. Even so, he isn't in Castro's league, either. He might be as wily, if not as ruthless,but he has greater means to buy friends and allies. He certainly doesn't have Fidel's charisma. The inequalities of life in Venezuela are nothing uncommen in Latin America, but I predict that Hugo's brand of socialism will turn out to be far worse cure than any disease that existed before him...There, you got me started about the clown of Caracas....

    Posted by davebarlett at 12/04/2006 @ 11:00pm

19. "What the heck does Chavez have to do with Pinochet?"

    He is the next dictator in South America to make a name for himself....he may not have a Kissinger or CIA, but he does have his friends in the ME...I will be you a dime to a dollar there are Hellbola and other groups of a lioke mind in VEN as we speak...now the question I have for you is..who would you rather see down there Hellsbola types or the US government...or American corporationjs....which do you feel safer with in the neighborhood?

    This is not a trick question...

    "Is Kissinger working with Chavez? Is the CIA propping him up? Condoning mass killings, torture and camps"

    No his real support comes from the Iranians and the Hellsbola...I would rather have the CIA in VEN than your Middle Eastern peace loving jihadists you seem to ignore...

    Posted by john maasch at 12/04/2006 @ 11:06pm

20. "Well, that would separate them from us, or would it"

    Maybe but I am sure of one thing...we have been filling the bank and forgiving debts like crazy over the decades...anyone else in this hemisphere make the same claim? Or are they major with drawers after their "peoples economy " collapses on top of the people...

    Posted by john maasch at 12/04/2006 @ 11:10pm

21. Castro?

    When that old murdering leftist fart finally starts the rotting process Cuba should place him in a museum like Lennin in his tomb...they should bury him with a rice cooker and a chinese bicycle and have the lights in his tomb come on for about 3 hours a day and evey other day in constant memorial....first chance they get the Cuba exiles and their families in the US will swarm back to Cuba with billions of Yankee dollars and bring prosperity to a nation internaly starved for years all the while being told how good they have it...it will be a site to see and an even better viewing will be to watch the faces of all those on the left here who have admired Castro as he is turned into a tourist attraction compltete with plastic guns, fake beards and Army hats.....all for sale in dollars to the tourists...I can't wait.

    Posted by john maasch at 12/04/2006 @ 11:18pm

22. I must apologise for horrible typing errors...sorry..

    Posted by john maasch at 12/04/2006 @ 11:46pm

23. Posted by JOHN MAASCH 12/04/2006 @ 11:06pm | ignore this person

    He is the next dictator in South America to make a name for himself....he may not have a Kissinger or CIA, but he does have his friends in the ME.[sic]

    What are you basing this on?

    I will be you a dime to a dollar there are Hellbola and other groups of a lioke mind in VEN as we speak[sic]

    Just like the ones that you know are here, in this country?

    No his real support comes from the Iranians and the Hellsbola...I would rather have the CIA in VEN than your Middle Eastern peace loving jihadists you seem to ignore...[sic]

    Again. What is the basis for this argument? Other than the fact that the right is trying to label Chavez as a "terrorist sympathizer/supporter". What ME terrorist/s has Chavez ever referred to in a good way? I'm not sure, but I don't think there is such a thing as a peace loving "jihadist".

    Posted by thejman at 12/05/2006 @ 08:27am

24. everything Chavez is accused of is done by both Russia and China, not to mention a plethora of dictators large and small. nevertheless the people of Venezuela have reelected him by a landslide. those helpful dictators get invited to the white house, no matter what their human rights violations. in addition the US is no longer in a position to lecture other countries, what with two dubious elections, an illegal war, and Abu Ghraib.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 12/05/2006 @ 08:58am

25. Look, let's say the two possibilities are possible for Chavez's Venezeula.

    #1--He establishes the perfect socialist "workers' paradise", using the oil revenues to build hospitals, schools, high-tech "green" industries, etc. Every Venezuelan man, woman, and child gets free health care, a free college education, free housing; basically turns into "Sweden with oil". And the man is HAILED as the "model for all leaders everywhere".

    Great for the Venezuelans. And the American Left can proudly gloat over those of use who might be a bit skeptical of Hugo.

    Or

    #2-- Like every OTHER example of a socialist in Central America, he begins to shut down the opposition media, intimidate opposition parties and leaders, and gradually takes away more and more rights to "try to protect the people from the counter-revolutionaries". The oil revenue dries up, or even gets STOLEN. Grand plans for schools, hospitals, etc get "unavoidably delayed" and delays are blamed on "CIA operatives and saboteurs".

    And when his term expires, Senor Chavez is "forced" to extend his term (especially when non-Governmental polls show him losing the next election) and "sadly" having to delay the elections. And he remains in power for the next 20-30 years until he dies....and none of the "grand plans" come to fruition.

    Of course in THAT scenario....The Left will defend him, apologize for him, and claim that HIS claims of "CIA disruption of his socialist dream" are true.

    For while in Scenario #1 the average leftist will, of course, take credit and gloat....in Scenario #2 they WILL NEVER....

    admit they were wrong!

    THAT is a definite, not a possibility!

    Posted by Mask at 12/05/2006 @ 09:08am

26. Why has the rightwing grabbed a hold of Chavez as the next Hussein? Chavez this, Chavez that. Other than a few way outs, nobody on the left pays much attention to him. The right does though, trying to make out like he is some sort of leftist hero here in the US. You guys are drinking kool-aid again. There is just no comparison between Pinochet and Chavez.

    Much of his support comes from us, in the form of oil purchases. If you want to stop Chavez and Islamic radicals, save gas.

    Maasch, are you sure Mohammed Atta did not meet in Praque with Chavez?

    " all those on the left here who have admired Castro"..Who is that Maasch?

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/05/2006 @ 09:39am

27. Posted by JOHANNESROLF 12/05/2006 @ 08:58am

    What u said.

    I think the neo's are still mad about the brimstone joke. hehhehe. It was funny!

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/05/2006 @ 09:41am

28. I will repeat: Castro must be judged in the context of what he replaced: the gangster dictatorship of Batista, who turned Havana into the sin capital for americans. the cuban people remember well. that is why there has not been a widespread revolt against Castro, and why despite 40 year sanctions against this small country, and the withdrawal of support from their erstwhile ally the soviets, that country is chugging along.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 12/05/2006 @ 09:45am

29. who would you rather see down there Hellsbola types or the US government...or American corporationjs....which do you feel safer with in the neighborhood?-MAASCH

    None of the above. I am not as sure as you of the Hezzbolah stronghold theory. But, they do have less of a history of malfeasance in CA than American corporations and the CIA. Given your false choices, I would take todays "lefty CIA". if I had to pick. But I don't. The VEN people do, and did, twice. Making him NOT a dictator. (see above)

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/05/2006 @ 09:48am

30. how quickly the Tories changed the subject from Pinochet, a right wing dictator installed with the help of the US, with huge number of human rights violation, to a popular elected president Chavez, who does not. deft, and daft.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 12/05/2006 @ 09:49am

31. When the Americans return to Cuba with their bags of money, the indigenous folk are going to tell many of the bag holders to beat it. The people that stayed are going to want their country back, not a return to the 50's and Batista type rule.

    But this is about Pinchet and his murderous rule, brought about in large part by US intervention where we had little business. Sound familiar?

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/05/2006 @ 09:51am

32. JR, we are sharing a wavelength today!

    Peace to you, brother.

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/05/2006 @ 09:52am

33. Crab, we very often do.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 12/05/2006 @ 09:53am

34. Ask and ye shall receive...

    " all those on the left here who have admired Castro"..Who is that Maasch?

    Posted by CRABWALK 12/05/2006 @ 09:39am

    And so.....

    "I will repeat: Castro must be judged in the context of what he replaced: the gangster dictatorship of Batista, who turned Havana into the sin capital for americans. the cuban people remember well. that is why there has not been a widespread revolt against Castro, and why despite 40 year sanctions against this small country, and the withdrawal of support from their erstwhile ally the soviets, that country is chugging along."

    Posted by JOHANNESROLF 12/05/2006 @ 09:45am

    Posted by Mask at 12/05/2006 @ 10:04am

35. Look, let's say the two possibilities are possible for Chavez's Venezeula.

    #1--He establishes the perfect socialist "workers' paradise"...

    #2-- ...he begins to shut down the opposition media, intimidate opposition parties and leaders, and gradually takes away more and more rights...

    Posted by MASK 12/05/2006 @ 09:08am | ignore this person

    Yes, yes, there are only those 2 possibilities...it's completely black or white, either-or. There are only the 2 dimensions that Mask can see and no other possibilities exist.

    Can you say "false dichotomy?!?!

    Posted by Lillian at 12/05/2006 @ 10:14am

36. BTW, back on topic, even IF Pinochet dies, the presentation of all the atrocities, all the facts, all the evidence should continue...for the sake of the country and for the sake of the victims.

    Posted by Lillian at 12/05/2006 @ 10:16am

37. Posted by LILLIAN 12/05/2006 @ 10:14am

    Lillian, either Chavez will SUCCEED at his claims (and the claims made for him by the American Left)...or he will FAIL.

    I hyperboled his alternatives, but most of that is what HE claims he will do....or an HISTORIC alternative demonstrated time and time again by those who claim to be "leading the Revolution".

    What "grey area" do you see in Venezuela's future between "Sweden with oil"...or "Cuba Redux"?

    Cuz....if you do, then you're saying that Chavez either WILL fail in many aspects of his claims at what he will do "for his people"....or begin the apologia for the man beginning to slide towards dictatorship.

    So...is Chavez going to only be partially successful or partially a dictator?

    Posted by Mask at 12/05/2006 @ 10:50am

38. I forgive you, Pinochet. It's time to move on. Who know's; maybe they had it coming...

    Posted by woodyee at 12/05/2006 @ 11:04am

39. Posted by MASK 12/05/2006 @ 09:08am | ignore this person

    Mask,

    The only way to make your assessment a fair one is to base it on the fact that there will be no intervention/destabilization efforts by the US or any other gov't.

    But we both know that will never happen, though. Don't we?

    Posted by thejman at 12/05/2006 @ 1:15pm

40. So...is Chavez going to only be partially successful or partially a dictator?

    Define partially a dictator. Roosevelt, during WWII demonstrated behavior characteristically associated with dictators.

    And don't mistake this as an excuse for some of the freedoms Chavez is ACCUSED of denying his people. If he's guilty, he should be removed from office by the people of Venezuela. Noone else.

    Posted by thejman at 12/05/2006 @ 1:25pm

41. Posted by THEJMAN 12/05/2006 @ 1:15pm

    or atleast CLAIMS of "US intervention", which gives Sr. Chavez free reign to close down opposition media and parties and curtail human rights to "help stop the CIA-backed counter-revolutionaries", hmmm?

    This, on the other hand is PURE GENIUS...

    "And don't mistake this as an excuse for some of the freedoms Chavez is ACCUSED of denying his people. If he's guilty, he should be removed from office by the people of Venezuela. Noone else."----Posted by THEJMAN 12/05/2006 @ 1:25pm

    So if Chavez ends civil rights in Venezuela, declares himself "Presidente-para-Vivo", and controls the military and the courts...

    How EXACTLY will the people of Venezuela "remove him from office"???

    Posted by Mask at 12/05/2006 @ 1:49pm

42. That's for them to decide. Many societies have overthrown corrupt dictators and escaped tyranny and oppression. Remember that thing called the American Revolution?

    "or atleast CLAIMS of "US intervention", which gives Sr. Chavez free reign to close down opposition media and parties and curtail human rights to "help stop the CIA-backed counter-revolutionaries", hmmm?

    I'm just going by the CIA's proven track record [en.wikipedia.org] of destabilization of third world countries. See Nicaragua, Panama & Chile for the most prominent examples in Central/South America.

    Posted by thejman at 12/05/2006 @ 3:40pm

43. Mask,

    I suggest you read this book [amazon.com] by this man [en.wikipedia.org]. You might learn something.

    Posted by thejman at 12/05/2006 @ 3:44pm

44. How EXACTLY will the people of Venezuela "remove him from office"???

    I'm sorry, but looking back at this again I just realized how simple minded this question really is.

    Posted by thejman at 12/05/2006 @ 3:45pm

45. Remember that thing called the American Revolution?

    the american colonists' beef was mostly with Parliament in London and not with the King, who was by no means a dictator, or even particularly a tyrant. the american colonists were the LEAST taxed of all of George's subjects, yet that was their complaint. nothing much has changed for the ruling class of america.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 12/05/2006 @ 3:49pm

46. How EXACTLY will the people of the US "remove him from office"???

    Posted by johannesrolf at 12/05/2006 @ 3:50pm

47. Posted by JOHANNESROLF 12/05/2006 @ 3:49pm | ignore this person.

    Yes, JOHANNESROLF you're correct. I'm referring to the "Intolerable Acts" passed by Parliament that many saw as oppressive.

    Many societies have overthrown corrupt dictators and escaped tyranny and oppression.

    Posted by thejman at 12/05/2006 @ 4:06pm

48. How EXACTLY will the people of the US "remove him from office"???

    Posted by JOHANNESROLF 12/05/2006 @ 3:50pm | ignore this person

    Sorry JR, I'm not with you here...

    Posted by thejman at 12/05/2006 @ 4:08pm

49. I was referring to Bush, yes opaque to say the least, sorry.

    Posted by johannesrolf at 12/05/2006 @ 5:06pm

50. WOODYEE, are you forgiving a man that arranged a terrorist attack on US soil?

    I assume , like Chimpy, you have forgiven Usama as well?

    Drone.

    Posted by crabwalk at 12/06/2006 @ 08:35am