Pinochet

Original posting, September 2006

Pinochet may face fraud trial. Immunity from prosecution stripped away. Why did that take so long? I suppose at 90 years old the longer it goes on the greater the chance of him dying of 'natural' causes. It would be cheaper and quicker, though possibly not quite so satisfying. Even if found guilty (of fraud) he'd not spend much time in prison. Only fraud. But it's a start.

With $26 million (£14 million) in a Washington bank - where else? - it only concerns £2 million allegedly diverted from the exchequer. Chilean or US? Well, I imagine it's not US so... they may be able to "get him", but only for fraud of a small amount. There are bigger stakes here. You work it out.

How about the political will (and lack of it). All those millions in a US bank represents a lot of usable money.

By the Americans.