Jackie D poses a question:
I'm genuinely interested in reading what people have to say about a point brought up by Samizdata's Johnathan Pearce: Why do the British leftists who are so unashamedly (and, I should say, understandably) hostile towards Chile's former dictator Augusto Pinochet - hostility that in many cases hits the point of proud hatred - feel so much less disgust for Saddam Hussein? Is it because Pinochet was a champion of capitalism in Chile, creating what Milton Friedman called "an economic miracle"? I'm not sure, but contrasting the vastly different reactions to these two tyrants is a bit troubling. Any ideas on why what appears to be an extreme double standard has taken root in the British left are most welcome.Here's my suggestion: Pinochet was supported by the US; Saddam Hussein was, finally, taken down by them. It may not be the whole story, but I'd say it's most of it. I'd also add, however, that the question would be better expressed as 'some British leftists'. There are plenty that feel the same, or a greater, disgust for the former Iraqi dictator - though some of them have been keeping rather quiet about it over the last year or so.
On the subject of former dictators, Jackie also points to a rather odd inconsistency in BBC norms and usages.
