The Pinochet File
The Pinochet File is a National Security Archive book written by Peter Kornbluh covering over approximately two decades of declassified documents, from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), White House, and United States Department of State, regarding American covert activities in Chile. It is based on more than 24,000 previously classified documents that were released as part of the Chilean Declassification Project during the Clinton administration, between June 1999 and June 2000.
Significance
The Pinochet File was selected as one of "The Best Books of 2003" in the nonfiction category by the
The inclusion of key source documents allows the reader not only to corroborate Kornbluh's findings, but to acquire a flavor of the extent of U.S. covert activities within Chile, and to understand the tenor of conversation in the
Indeed, the documents contain new information on virtually every major issue, episode, and scandal that pockmark this controversial era. They cover events such as
Ronni Moffitt in Washington, D.C., the murder by burning of Washington resident Rodrigo Rojas, and Pinochet's final efforts to thwart a transition to civilian rule. (p.xvii-xviii)
Declassified documents reproduced in the book
The inclusion of key source documents provide a rare behind-the-scenes view of covert regime change in operation. Key documents from the CIA, United States National Security Council (NSC), White House, DIA, and State Department were declassified in the year 2000. The more than 24,000 records correspond to an average of about three records per day gathered over two decades[4] and Kornbluh's analysis was not complete and in print until 2003. Reports based on documents released prior to 2000 are necessarily incomplete and hew more closely to the interpretation the Nixon White House disseminated via its black propaganda programs in Chile.
Not all of the documents included are from the CIA. The book reproduces 114 documents, using 237 pages, from the following sources:
- Central Intelligence Agency, 37 documents.
- United States Department of State, 22 documents.
- United States Embassy, 15 documents.
- U.S. National Security Council, 10 documents.
- Defense Intelligence Agency, 10 documents.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation, 6 documents.
- The White House, 5 documents.
- Secretary of State, 3 documents.
- Department of Defense, 2 documents
- Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional, 2 documents.
- Treasury Department, 1 document.
- Bow Street Magistrates' Court, 1 document.
Notes
- ^ "Best Books of 2003". Los Angeles Times. December 7, 2003. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ^ "Books Briefly Noted. The Pinochet File, by Peter Kornbluh". The New Yorker. September 8, 2003. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ^ Pape, Eric (September 21, 2003). "Behind The Other 9/11". Newsweek. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ^ Kornbluh, Peter (September 16, 2003). "The Pinochet File". C-SPAN. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
References
- Hitchens, Christopher, "Why has he got away with it?", The Guardian, February 24, 2001.
- Kornbluh, Peter, The Pinochet File: A Declassified Dossier on Atrocity and Accountability. A National Security Archive Book. The New Press. 2003.
- Anchor Books. New York. 2007.
Publishing information
- ISBN 1-56584-936-1.
External links
- Interview with Peter Kornbluh on Book TV The Pinochet File. C-SPAN Video Library.
- The Best Books of 2003.