The Foreign Service Journal, September 2003

Iraqi victims of the 1991 Gulf War used a recent law allowing such charges to lodge a war crimes com- plaint in March against former President George H. W. Bush and Secretary Powell, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during that conflict. At this writing, the Belgian government is taking steps to narrow the law’s scope. But until that is done, sources close to Powell say the suit will keep him from visiting NATO headquarters, located in Brussels. Returning to Normal Pinochet remained in charge in Chile for almost 17 years following his coup. He was the last of South America’s military dictators to surren- der power to an elected successor, a process that had begun in Ecuador in 1979. The stage for Pinochet’s depar- ture was set when he gambled on a yes vs. no referendum on his rule in October 1988. He lost by 55 percent to 43 percent; perhaps his only con- solation was that, in defeat, his share of the vote was 7 percent higher than Allende received in his victorious 1970 campaign against two oppo- nents. In December 1989, Chileans elected veteran political leader Patricio Aylwin to succeed Pinochet. 72 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 3 In a highly unusual move, the State Department quickly issued a statement that put distance between the department and its top official. Pet-friendly