I read recently about the U.S. backed coup that ousted Chilean President Salvador Alande. Moments before Allende was assasinated Alande was the first popularly elected socialist leader in the hemisphere.  One of the first things he did was to nationalize the country’s mines.  For years mines like the Chuquicamata copper mine (the largest open pit mine of its day) were the primary source of wealth for Chile.  250px-Stamp_Salvador_Allende.jpgUnder previous governments the lucrative mining industry was monopolized by foreign interests (American) and the country got a meager compensation which fluctuated with the global market price.  Workers who went out on strike to secure higher wages and better working conditions were thrown in jail, fired from the mine (making it next to impossible to earn a living), and occasionally murdered. 

CHILE PICTURES - MINA CHIQUICAMATA - PANORAMICA DE LA MINA CHUQUICAMATA A TAJO ABIERTO. - MINA CHUQUICAMATA - REGION DE ANTOFAGASTA - CHILE

 

These were the conditions that Alande opposed.  For his audacity the U.S. sponsored a coup to oust him from power and return Chile to the inhumane, but financially profitable practice they had grown accustomed to.  The man they chose to facilitate all this was General Augusto Pinochet.  During Pinochet’s 17 year rule more than 3,000 dissidents were assasinated or went missing, and over 30,000 report being tortured. 

This got me thinking about all the coups the U.S. has attempted over the years.  Below is a list that I pulled from KryssTal.com.  As stated on their page, this list contains only successful coups. 

Year Country Reason Given Actual Reason
1949 Syria Communism Elected government against USA political interests and pro-Palestinian.
1949 Greece Communism Elected government against USA political and economic interests.
1952 Cuba None Elected government against USA business interests.
1953 Iran None Elected government against USA oil interests.
1953 British Guyana None Access to sugar and bauxite.
1954 Guatemala Communism Elected government against USA business interests.
1955 South Vietnam Communism French backed leader replaced by USA backed leader.
1957 Haiti Haiti is near the USA Previous government against USA business interests.
1958 Laos None Pro-USA government wanted.
1959 Laos None Pro-USA government wanted.
1960 South Korea Communism Previous leader not strong enough for USA.
1960 Laos None Pro-USA government wanted.
1960 Ecuador Communism Previous government too independent in foreign policy.
1963 Dominican Republic Business Interests Elected government against USA business interests.
1963 South Vietnam None Previous leader’s policies led to televised suicides.
1963 Honduras Communism Pro-USA government and access to resources.
1963 Guatemala Communism Military government was about to allow elections.
1963 Ecuador None Elected government too independent.
1964 Brazil Communism Access to resources and cheap labour.
1964 Bolivia Communism Previous government too independent in foreign policy.
1965 Zaire None Access to cobalt, copper and diamonds.
1966 Ghana None Previous government too independent in foreign policy.
1967 Greece None Military bases.
1970 Cambodia None Previous king against USA political interests.
1970 Bolivia None Country took ownership of its oil and tin.
1972 El Salvador Communism Elected leader against USA business interests.
1973 Chile Communism Elected government against USA business interests.
1975 Australia None Elected government had unsuitable foreign policy.
1979 South Korea None Pro-USA government wanted.
1980 Liberia Democracy Pro-USA government wanted.
1982 Chad None Pro-USA government wanted.
1983 Grenada Democracy Pro-USA government wanted.
1987 Fiji Democracy Previous elected government supported nuclear-free Pacific.
2002 Venezuela None Disagreed with foreign policy of elected government.
2004 Haiti Fraudulent elections Disagreed with economic policy of elected government.