In Chile last Monday, the 69th anniversary celebration commemorating the creation of the air force was joined, for the first time, by a complementary display by the army and navy, writes John Kavanagh.
It was attended by President Eduardo Frei, the air force commander-in-chief, Gen Fernando Rojas Vender, and the other commanders-in-chief of Chile's military services. Gen Rojas Vender denied that the unusual combined exercises were designed to send a special message to the Frei government.
But in his address to the assembled dignitaries, the general compared the political polarisation of the country to the situation which preceded the military coup in 1973. He said the current situation was "ignominious" and added that Chile's transition to democracy was under threat "from a growing climate of political division" similar to that during the 1970-1973 government of the Socialist president, Salvador Allende, who was ousted in Gen Pinochet's coup.
The obvious discomfort of the politicians was in sharp contrast to the spontaneous applause from the assembled military chiefs.