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Incidentally, if we could find a strong former military leader to take over Iraq tomorrow for a 12 year term who would be pro-US and could guarantee pacification of the nation within a few days, but he would have to disappear 3,000 people to do it, would it be worth it or not?
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Apparently, it would be better to fight for 12 years and have 30,000 KIA and 300K in collateral damage.
In your analogy, I would add in "and have a stabilizing effect on a neighboring country that was also in danger."
Their poli-sci profs probably told them the Domino Effect was a myth.
Based on the examples we were given by Stalin, Mao, Castro, the Sandinistas, et al back in the day, I'm sure many felt that was a small price to pay to avoid a purge.
I'm not sure how accurate this is:
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Allende himself picked Pinochet to lead Chile's military, convinced he was a loyalist who would back the constitutional government. The general had won the president's confidence by donning a helmet, grabbing a submachine gun and leading loyal troops to put down a small uprising by soldiers in Santiago. He also helped quell a crippling truckers strike marked by daily riots in late 1972. By EDUARDO GALLARDO, Associated Press Writer
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but it sounds about right. Allende strayed off the constitutional page and that was the spark that ignited the coup. I don't believe Pinochet was one of the plotters, he had to be convinced. I also believe Allende was offered asylum and refused, preferring to take his own life. I believe he was mentally unstable at the end (if not before).