But what I'm trying to convey here is how little time it took for Pinochet to estasblish the mechanics of repression -- legal repression.

One of my teachers in the 70s was a youngish Chilean exile, not particularly radical (by western standards) who basically owed his life to the fact that he had been an open-eyed cynic before the coup, like most of us here, and had left Chile because he had no faith in the legal safeguards.  He was right. Many who thought they were safe died.

Ariel Dorfman (the author of the brilliant DEATH & THE MAIDEN - the film isn't as good as the play, but it's a start) has repeatedly warned Americans. Here is a link to his latest article from the WASHINGTON POST.

But in the end, my point is simple: will the American Crisis end peacefully with a simple transfer of power, or not?

And if not, what role will the Military play?