After reading about Videla's presidency, you now know that communism was not new to Chile in 1970. Why did Videla purge Chilean communists in the late 1940s? To what extent might the US have been involved in this action? How do you know?
Well the reading suggests that although Videla wanted to appease the centre-right critics of his government, particularly the landowners, and to weaken the labour movement during that time. A large contributor to his purge of the communists was, unsurprisingly, pressure from President Truman and his Cold War efforts at the time. For after Videla's turn on communism Chile received a markedly higher rate of loans and army support from the US.
I find it strange how, all of a sudden, Videla turns against his communist allies, dismissing them all from the cabinet in addition to cutting off all forms of communism such as the party itself and Chile's ties to the USSR. Because this is such a massive change in a short amount of time, it leads me to definitely believe that the US played a large part in this. When offered a closer "economic and military relationship" with the US (which would give Chile money, investments, economic success, etc) Videla almost has to take it! And if this included the need to get rid of communism I see see Videla doing just that. With quantitative proof that US investments in Chile rose over $100 million in just five years, it is nearly impossible to pin this change on something other than US involvement.
Videla purged Chilean communists in the late 1940s because of US pressure. The military and financial support of the US drove him to do it. The US definitely was involved in this action to a large extent because the US is known as being the "boss" and always having power over other countries. Also, with the Us fearing Communism, of course the US would put things in Videla's mind to act out against communism. As Nicki said, it also happened very sudden-which is very suspicious
Although there is so "evidence" that the US pushed Videla into its military assistance pact or pressured Videla into purging the communists, it is implied by the existing content within the article. First of all, this whole anti-communist thing in Chile sparked with the US campaign in 1946 that split the main Chilean trade Union. With the communist strikes from this, the US apparently "pressured" Videla to 'sort out' the communists. I think the US was definitely a part of these purges. I believe that Harry Truman wanted to forge a closer relationship with Chile and gain an ally...but we can never know for sure.
It was interesting for me to hear for the first time that apparently, the USA were not at all the only ones afraid of communism. The reading says that from 1947 on, communist party had a hard time in Chile because they people there were afraid of communism, too. So it seems like the Red Scare did go far beyond only the United States. But I guess the Red Scare still started off there, so that's one role that the US played in the purge of communists in Chile. After all, the reading also says that Chile was very influenced by the US economically and politically.
Chili was always a threat (since 1947) to the US. The US wanted to shift the culture because it was easy. Capturing Germany and Russia would be extremely difficult because of their military power, but Chile had none. Using manipulation and threats, they didn't need a lot to mold Chile, or so they thought
Though a lot has come to the public eye in recent years in terms of records and intel released about the CIA's past dealings and governmental interferences with foreign countries, there is so much still left unknown. Like an iceberg, we have only seen a few examples of US intervention. The government has an interesting way of pressuring or coaxing treaties and leaders to be pushed through. It is interesting, as Sydney said, that once the purge was done, that US aid drastically increased. Though not explicitly stated in the article, much of the information lends itself to be interpreted as an unspoken thesis of US intervention in Chile.
As the reading says: "Geonzalez Videla acted under pressure from US president Harry Truman to forge a close economic and military relationship with the USA" and also that "Videla was looking for an excuse to break with the Communist Party, in order to satisfy the demands of America Businessmen and the pressure of the Cold War", even there is no conclusive evidence that USA directly pushed him toward this yet consider that CIA as the ultimate blade to solve political crisis when it comes to disobedient weak states communism sympathizer and THAT us LATER WIDENED THE SCOPR OF ITS LOANS TO AND INVESTMENTS IN Chile. Therefore, i am more inclined with the hypothesis that Videla may have made a deal with us government or have been pressured to complete the purge and elimination of communists.
Well the reading suggests that although Videla wanted to appease the centre-right critics of his government, particularly the landowners, and to weaken the labour movement during that time. A large contributor to his purge of the communists was, unsurprisingly, pressure from President Truman and his Cold War efforts at the time. For after Videla's turn on communism Chile received a markedly higher rate of loans and army support from the US.
ReplyDeleteI find it strange how, all of a sudden, Videla turns against his communist allies, dismissing them all from the cabinet in addition to cutting off all forms of communism such as the party itself and Chile's ties to the USSR. Because this is such a massive change in a short amount of time, it leads me to definitely believe that the US played a large part in this. When offered a closer "economic and military relationship" with the US (which would give Chile money, investments, economic success, etc) Videla almost has to take it! And if this included the need to get rid of communism I see see Videla doing just that. With quantitative proof that US investments in Chile rose over $100 million in just five years, it is nearly impossible to pin this change on something other than US involvement.
ReplyDeleteVidela purged Chilean communists in the late 1940s because of US pressure. The military and financial support of the US drove him to do it. The US definitely was involved in this action to a large extent because the US is known as being the "boss" and always having power over other countries. Also, with the Us fearing Communism, of course the US would put things in Videla's mind to act out against communism. As Nicki said, it also happened very sudden-which is very suspicious
ReplyDeleteAlthough there is so "evidence" that the US pushed Videla into its military assistance pact or pressured Videla into purging the communists, it is implied by the existing content within the article. First of all, this whole anti-communist thing in Chile sparked with the US campaign in 1946 that split the main Chilean trade Union. With the communist strikes from this, the US apparently "pressured" Videla to 'sort out' the communists. I think the US was definitely a part of these purges. I believe that Harry Truman wanted to forge a closer relationship with Chile and gain an ally...but we can never know for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting for me to hear for the first time that apparently, the USA were not at all the only ones afraid of communism. The reading says that from 1947 on, communist party had a hard time in Chile because they people there were afraid of communism, too. So it seems like the Red Scare did go far beyond only the United States. But I guess the Red Scare still started off there, so that's one role that the US played in the purge of communists in Chile. After all, the reading also says that Chile was very influenced by the US economically and politically.
ReplyDeleteChili was always a threat (since 1947) to the US. The US wanted to shift the culture because it was easy. Capturing Germany and Russia would be extremely difficult because of their military power, but Chile had none. Using manipulation and threats, they didn't need a lot to mold Chile, or so they thought
ReplyDeleteThough a lot has come to the public eye in recent years in terms of records and intel released about the CIA's past dealings and governmental interferences with foreign countries, there is so much still left unknown. Like an iceberg, we have only seen a few examples of US intervention. The government has an interesting way of pressuring or coaxing treaties and leaders to be pushed through. It is interesting, as Sydney said, that once the purge was done, that US aid drastically increased. Though not explicitly stated in the article, much of the information lends itself to be interpreted as an unspoken thesis of US intervention in Chile.
ReplyDeleteAs the reading says: "Geonzalez Videla acted under pressure from US president Harry Truman to forge a close economic and military relationship with the USA" and also that "Videla was looking for an excuse to break with the Communist Party, in order to satisfy the demands of America Businessmen and the pressure of the Cold War", even there is no conclusive evidence that USA directly pushed him toward this yet consider that CIA as the ultimate blade to solve political crisis when it comes to disobedient weak states communism sympathizer and THAT us LATER WIDENED THE SCOPR OF ITS LOANS TO AND INVESTMENTS IN Chile. Therefore, i am more inclined with the hypothesis that Videla may have made a deal with us government or have been pressured to complete the purge and elimination of communists.
ReplyDelete