September 11 -- 911. A date full of meaning for anyone who lives in the United States, but its also a compelling date in the history of Latin America. As discussed in the chapter on the breakdown of democracy, it was on September 11, 1973 that Chilean air force planes bombed the presidential palace, and President Salvador Allende died (probably suicide, some think not) inside.
I remember the time well because all through high school and part of my undergraduate career, I thought that the United States was devoted to democracy, fighting the threat of communism. I began to change my views in my junior year (1968-69), and Chile had more to do with it than Vietnam. Make no mistake about it; it was the Chilean armed forces that overthrew Allende and ushered in 16 years of brutal dictatorship, but the Nixon administration did all in its power to encourage the polarization of Chilean politics and society in that time.
911 will be a day of reflection, as well as it should be. It will be a day to remember those killed on that day and the heroism of the responders, many of who also died that day or have subsequently succumbed to its consequences. But we also need to reflect on what followed. Though the worst consequences were borne by millions in Afghanistan and Iraq, and by thousands of American military personnel, the "war on terror," also known as the "endless war," has had consequences for Latin Americans as well. And may I suggest that some reflection on the causes and consequences of 911 in Chile might be called-for as well.
