In Praise of the Pew, the Proud, y El Caudillos

In Latin America, as much elsewhere, there were/are Fascists, Communists, and there were/are "Strongmen". The first two functioned, or pretended to function, on an ideology of The State, and both claimed to be socialist movements "of the People". [Strongmen were more frankly "Ubi Mea", and in that sense they were a more honest form of gangster ].
And, as elsewhere, it was/is often quite hard to discriminate, by their practice, who was ostensibly who. Peron, for example, was a classic Fascist. Yet is considered a "Hero" by many of the Castro/Chavez Coalition of the Swilling.
Somoza was a classic "strongman", having no discernible ideological vision to espouse, but was willing we should buy him fair and square.
The Pineapple was a basket case who tried all three forms, at once. Which incoherence, perhaps, conjoined with his exquisite bad timing in pushing it when Carter was already gone, landed him in our hospitable jails.
Chavez is another classic fascist, but the days of swashbuckling parades under Brown flags are seemingly history, and so he has wisely decided to go for that nice alliance of The Red and The Green. And on and on and on....
Of Thugs in government Latin America has always had no dearth. It is simple democrats, and those other naifs who actually believe in a humane and free society, who have been rara avis [and as soon as they start to be less rara, then the avis get culled pretty damn quick time].
The one true oddity, and so naturally one who takes a place of honor in Le Pew's Little Black Book, is Pinochet. He takes over from True Red Communist Allende, flexing his Military Strongman muscles. So, wonders the world, will he be a Fascist or one of those Ubi Mea Somozista types? But the bastard confounds us all and goes on to be absolutely untrue to Latin American form, and institutes a series of carefully planned and graded steps to a modern capitalist economy and a society which has both democracy and stability [once he chooses to leave the scene, of course]. And, wonder of wonders, he actually does what he plans and surrenders power. Well, let's just say that Castro, for one of many progressive examples, was not so foolish to make that mistake!
Alas, the bourgeois virtues of a decent economy and a civilized politics make for a Chile no self respecting Le Pew would wish to go and pepe in. And it patently dishonors the proud heritage of the People's governments long the hallmark of "Abasta Los Gringos" America. Why, left unapposed, this stinking corrupotion might even threaten to make a bourgeois of a Lula, eh? So let us join with Le Pew and rejoice at this Second Coming of the Caudillos.