Augusto Pinochet, responsible for the deaths of thousands following his overthrow of the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende, had this statement read for him today:
"Today, near the end of my days, I want to say that I harbour no rancour against anybody, that I love my fatherland above all," the statement read by his wife Lucia Hiriart said.
"I take political responsibility for everything that was done."
Excellent. We'll be expecting Augusto to march on into court and enter some solid guilty pleas for crimes against humanity, then. Also:
"Thanks to their courage and decision, Chile moved from [you mean "into"] the totalitarian threat to [after many years, and against my will] the full democracy which we [involuntarily] restored and which all our compatriots enjoy."
Augusto continues to dodge trial under his lawyer's claim that he's too frail to deal with it.
For those who weren't aware, we -- at least, the U.S. as represented by Henry Kissinger -- helped with the overthrow and death of Allende.
This is why it is vital that we not let the Kissingers, Rumsfelds and Rices of the world act "on our behalf."
Because they never do.