The Other 9/11: The Day Democracy Died in Chile

We should never forget the victims of 9/11. On this date, an act of state-sponsored terrorism resulted in the deaths many innocent people.

Here are the events that led up to this tragic event.

On November 3, 1970, Salvadore Allende was inaugurated as President of Chile. He had succeeded on his fourth attempt to win election, having failed three times before. He was a self-professed socialist, who promised to move Chile from a capitalist to a socialist society by implementing a program to:

• nationalize major industries, including copper mining and banking;
• implement government administration of the health and education systems;
• expand land redistribution;
• improve the economic welfare of Chile’s poorest residents.

Washington was apoplectic. Then Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, remarked that citizens should not be permitted to make the “wrong” decision in an election, saying “The issues are much too important for the Chilean voters to be left to decide for themselves.” He then got to work in collaboration with the CIA, and with full support from President Richard Nixon, to prevent Allende from taking office, or if that proved impossible, to remove him from power by any means required.

When they failed to prevent Allende’s confirmation as President, the CIA, with full support and funding authorized by Kissinger and Nixon, began actively plotting to take over Chile’s government through a military coup.

Their first major obstacle was opposition from the head of the Chilean armed forces, General René Schneider. Schneider held the Chilean constitution in the highest of regards and affirmed that he would not act against the duly elected head of government.

The CIA began organizing with receptive members of the Chilean military to kidnap Schneider, remove him from the country, and blame Allende supporters for the kidnapping. As a result of documents that have since been declassified, we now know that Kissinger arranged for funding and for weapons to be delivered to the plotters by smuggling them into Chile in a diplomatic pouch, which could not legally be searched by Customs.

After botching two kidnapping attempts, during a third try on October 22, 1970, the kidnappers instead shot Gen. Schneider at close range. He died of his wounds three days later.

Schneider was succeeded as head of the armed forces by another constitutional loyalist, Carlos Prats. Significantly, Prats’ second in command became Augusto Pinochet, who was now in line to become the top commander if anything happened to Prats.

Kissinger, Nixon, and the CIA then undertook an extensive process to undermine Allende by targeting the Chilean economy through blockades and direct action. They funded right-wing resistance, targeting the media and other groups, including in the military, who opposed Allende.

Economic strife ensued throughout Chile as inflation massively increased and the economy sputtered. A truckers’ strike was particularly damaging. Other strikes followed. When the government declared a state of emergency, citizen protests were brutally ended under the direction of Pinochet, who at that point was in charge of the capital district. Discontent increased throughout the country, while the CIA continued plotting and supporting the mayhem.

Unable to cope with the rising domestic strife, Gen. Prats resigned his position and on August 23, 1973, Augusto Pinochet was appointed head of the Chilean armed forces.

On September 11, 1973, Chilean military forces under Pinochet, supported by the CIA, overthrew the Allende government, shelling the presidential palace and causing Salvadore Allende’s death. Thousands of people were immediately rounded up and held in the national stadium. Many were killed.

Augusto Pinochet brutally ruled Chile for a further 16 years, with full support from Henry Kissinger and the CIA. Under his regime, at least 3,000 are known to have died and a further 1,000 are listed as missing. It is highly likely that the actual total is much higher. It has been reported that over 40,000 Chileans were victims of the Pinochet regime’s violent repression.

Let us never forget the victims of the other 9/11 — Chile1973.

Daily atmospheric CO₂ [Courtesy of CO2.Earth]

Latest daily total (September 15, 2026): 425.53ppm

One year ago (September 14, 2025): 424.27ppm