David Frum, the Robin to Richard Perle’s Batman, offers this most interesting observation:

The US did not in fact assassinate Salvador Allende, or even have a hand in his overthrow ? but if it did…

When you’re busy writing a book, as Mr. Frum recently was, you stop having time to read the newspaper it seems:

CIA acknowledges involvement in Allende’s overthrow, Pinochet’s rise
September 19, 2000
Web posted at: 9:06 PM EDT (0106 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The CIA is acknowledging for the first time the extent of its deep involvement in Chile, where it dealt with coup-plotters, false propagandists and assassins.

One could even read all of this on the CIA’s own web site:

Under ?Track II? of the strategy, CIA sought to instigate a coup to prevent Allende from taking office after he won a plurality in the 4 September election and before, as Constitutionally required because he did not win an absolute majority, the Chilean Congress reaffirmed his victory. CIA was working with three different groups of plotters. All three groups made it clear that any coup would require the kidnapping of Army Commander Rene Schneider, who felt deeply that the Constitution required that the Army allow Allende to assume power. CIA agreed with that assessment. Although CIA provided weapons to one of the groups, we have found no information that the plotters? or CIA?s intention was for the general to be killed. Contact with one group of plotters was dropped early on because of its extremist tendencies. CIA provided tear gas, submachine-guns and ammunition to the second group. The third group attempted to kidnap Schneider, mortally wounding him in the attack. CIA had previously encouraged this group to launch a coup but withdrew support four days before the attack because, in CIA?s assessment, the group could not carry it out successfully.

The CIA’s involvement in Chilean politics, and the support for (and/or indifference to,) the overthrow of Allende, are so obvious to anyone not entirely blinded by idiocy or ideology (see here, here, here, there, wherever,) it’s hard to know what to say really. Just this perhaps:

Remember: David Frum thinks he has useful advice for President Bush.