Perfection Is A Perfecture: Augusto Pinochet's Dictatorship
General Leigh was “...a man of keen intellect, strong personality, and wide popularity among his officers (Constable, Valenzuela 65). No one would have expected Pinochet to assume command and he used that to his advantage. He used his pledge of unity and respect for his elder commanders, as a façade to hide his true intentions. Pinochet began to quickly isolate himself from the rest of his peers. Customarily, commanders would walk into ceremonies together. However, Pinochet began walking into ceremonies alone. Pinochet also began to disregard the unity of the junta. The junta was supposed to make pivotal government decisions collectively. However, Pinochet took it upon himself to start announcing key positions during solo visits to provinces throughout the country. He used the support of those who argued that a separation among powers was needed for the government to function properly, to manipulate his colleagues. Next, Pinochet was made chief executive and his colleagues acted as legislatures. Consequently, this gave Pinochet the power to issue decrees and laws that his peers could not veto. These manipulations were the framework for the perfect dictatorship, because those around Pinochet were ignorant to the fact that they were being manipulated. It took them some time to realize the true nature of Pinochet’s