This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
The Schneider case and the family's lawsuit became the subject of a major '60 Minutes' investigation that was broadcast on September 9, 2001. Produced by Michael Gavshon and Solly Granatstein and reported by the late Bob Simon, the program examined the declassified record that exposed the White House and CIA complicity in Schneider's murder. In an interview with the General's son, Rene Schneider, Simon asked "does it make any sense" to pursue Kissinger, more than three decades after his father had been killed. "The truth is that I always wanted to put this behind me," Schneider replied. "But we have a duty to humanity to speak out about this. It would be irresponsible to remain silent."
1970-10-23
Source: Clinton Administration Chile Declassification Project
After a meeting with CIA Director Richard Helms following the Schneider shooting, the chief of the Chile coup operations, David Atlee Phillips, sends a congratulatory cable to the Santiago Station. "It [was] agreed that given [the] short time span of [deleted] and circumstances prevailing in Chile a maximum effort has been achieved." The cable notes that "only Chileans themselves can manage a successful [deleted] but the station has done an excellent job of guiding Chileans to [a] point today where a military solution is at least an option for them." The second section of the message asks the Chief of Station (COS) (1) to advise on whether General Viaux acted unilaterally or in collaboration with the Armed Forces in the strike against General Schneider and (2) to "remind [the] military that we are still interested and still available."
1970-10-22
Source: Clinton Administration Chile Declassification Project
The Department of State sends Henry Kissinger a memorandum recommending that the President send a message of sympathy to President Frei of Chile after the attack on Schneider. "The shocking attempt on the life of General Schneider is a stain on the pages of contemporary history," according to the Department of State suggested message. "I would like you to know of my sorrow that this repugnant event has occurred in your country...."
1970-10-15
Source: Senate Select Committee to Study Government Operations [Church Committee]
This memorandum of conversation summarizes a meeting between Henry Kissinger, his deputy, Alexander Haig, and the CIA's Thomas Karamessines to evaluate the status of coup plotting in Chile. The key plotter who has received CIA support, General Roberto Viaux, "did not have more than one chance in twenty-perhaps less-to launch a successful coup," Karamessines reports. After Kissinger lists the negative consequences of a failed coup, they decide to send a message to Viaux warning him not to take precipitate action. "The time will come when you with all your other friends can do something. You will continue to have our support." Dr. Kissinger instructs Karamessines that the CIA "should continue keeping the pressure on every Allende weak spot" and to keep these activities "as secret as possible."
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
