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The Forum > Article Comments > Pinochet's coup d'état > Comments

Pinochet's coup d'état : Comments

By David Flint, published 20/12/2006

It has been argued that Pinochet averted civil war and saved millions from the destruction of socialism.

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So let me get this strait...

Mass-murder is alright, so long as it's done by a right-wing dictator and the victims are all "Lefties".

..and..

Such oppression is fine so long as the corporations and the market are doing well (Hmmmm...I know of a sniveling little bastard in Canberra who would agree with that one).

Simplistic of me to say these things, I know. But basically, that's what David Flint and James Whelan (who he quotes) are implying.

I certainly hope not everyone on the Right has the same under-lying, deranged feelings. Especially when it comes to mass-murder. That would make them almost as bad as *gasp* THE SOVIETS!
Posted by Mr Man, Thursday, 21 December 2006 12:54:49 AM
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I am wondering what is driving Flint re Pinochet - Andrew Bolt has followed a similar but even more intense line on the same topic -

wouldnt surprise me if Anne Coulter does a similar thing in her report next week - although in her case if it happens overseas it is as if it never really happens - unless there are US troops on the ground.

I get the sense that for whatever reason the more conservative side of politics are committed to pre emptive intellectual strikes all the time as Flinty and Bolters actions imply -
Posted by sneekeepete, Thursday, 21 December 2006 9:24:33 AM
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So the point is, that coups sometimes are better....well, DUH. Would Flint be against this happening in Australia right now if the result would be beneficial for Australia, and him and his family would be murdered, tortured or exiled? No.

Flint's articles are carefully designed to focus on a narrow aspect of a topic and diminish the flaws in his argument or counterargument. Someone could write a piece about Adolph Hitler's positive impact in revolutionising Germany and thumb their nose at the Holocaust, in the same way. Or Saddam Hussein's extremely organised control of Iraq. Neither makes their crimes any less heinous.
Posted by Steel, Thursday, 21 December 2006 10:11:14 AM
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Mr Man"Mass-murder is alright, so long as it's done by a right-wing dictator and the victims are all "Lefties".

..and..

Such oppression is fine so long as the corporations and the market are doing well (Hmmmm...I know of a sniveling little bastard in Canberra who would agree with that one)."

That about sums it up :D At least Flint's argumentative devices and construction of his articles are obvious to some readers. He is pathetic I'm willing to bet he considers his revisionist articles to have historical merit.
Posted by Steel, Thursday, 21 December 2006 10:14:47 AM
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What a squalid revision and he has the nerve to point the finger of bias against the ABC. 3,000 dead and that is restrained? I'd like to know what Professor Flint considers unrestrained.

There are plenty of other tyrants he can apologise for. Perhaps he will grace us with an article on Robert Mugabe? Zimbabwe is, after all, part of the Commonwealth so I'm sure he can spin a line on the Monarchy.
Posted by Kveldulv, Thursday, 21 December 2006 11:23:45 AM
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I wonder if David Flint's "rewrite" of Pinochet's institutional savagery in Chile reflects the views of his beloved Queen. It certainly reflects those of Margaret Thatcher, who described Pinochet as a couragious warrior against Leftism. Enough said?
Posted by antineocon, Wednesday, 27 December 2006 9:46:57 AM
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