The US oversaw Operation Condor (not to be confused with the Jackie Chan movie) which was an attempt to stop the spread of Communism through the use of state-sponsored terrorism in South America (ie. assassinations and torture). This led to the deaths of 50,000 people, the disappearance of 30,000 and over 400,000 people imprisoned for political reasons.
50 years ago on this day, Chilean President Salvador Allende (a democratically-elected socialist) was overthrown by a US-backed coup that placed the fascist dictator Pinochet, into power.