Augusto Pinochet, RIP

At 91, Gen. Pinochet certainly had a good run. He saved his country from Communism, turned her economy around, stabilized her institutions, and peacably restored democracy when it was safe to do so. After his reign he was continually mocked and vilified by the left and the armchair liberals in the United States and Europe.

As I mentioned last week, Pinochet, unlike the very holy Francisco Franco y Bahamonde, was no saint. He cut some corners in the pursuit of justice that should not have been cut. There were probably a few people who should not have been shot, and, certainly, no one should have been denied burial, even Communists and PETA members deserve that basic respect, although barely, since they themselves seem to wish to renounce it. More and more it looks like Pinochet may have had slightly kleptocratic tendencies, as well, and this is too bad.

However, I find myself annoyed less and less with traditional corruption, finding it often more conducive to good government than that of squeaky clean freaks. And, unless you are an idiot or a communist, there is no way to see the government of Pinochet as anything but good government.

In interviews he gave in the last ten years, Pinochet showed the he was a consistent, well-read, thoughtful, and articulate voice on matters Latin American. His understanding of political theory and reality was deep, piercing, and astute.

Last month Augusto Pinochet took full responsibility for everything that happened under his regime, and he received the last rites before his death. Let us hope that his repeated mistreatment at the hands of the Spanish, the Englisch, and his own ungrateful countrymen, as well as his last decade of poor health is accepted as adequate penance for his sins, and that his journey to Heaven is quick and short.