American Military members reach out for Neglected Chilean children

U.S. intervention in Chilean internal politics and support of right-wing opponents of President Allende — including presidential assassination (1973) — are documented in the declassified (1998) documents about Project FUBELT.

While fatalities due to battle during the 1973 coup might have been relatively small, tens of thousands of people were arrested during the coup and held in the National Stadium[27]. This was because the plans for the coup called for the arrest of every man, woman and child on the streets the morning of September 11. Of these approximately 40,000 to 50,000 perfunctory arrests, several hundred individuals would later be detained, questioned, tortured, and in some cases murdered.

During the Pinochet regime, thousands of people were "disappeared" by the security forces. Their families and friends continue to look for them and for answers as to what happened to them and why.

"I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its own people. The issues are much too important for the Chilean voters to be left to decide for themselves." — Henry Kissinger [18]

"It is firm and continuing policy that Allende be overthrown by a coup...We are to continue to generate maximum pressure toward this end, utilizing every appropriate resource. It is imperative that these actions be implemented clandestinely and securely so that the USG and American hand be well hidden..."
— A communique to the CIA base in Chile, issued on October 16, 1970.[20]