Benazir Bhutto: 1953-2007

Today is a sad day for the world.  Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated earlier today following a campaign rally in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.  

Bhutto was perhaps the United States' last hope in bringing stability to Pakistan and the region.  Bhutto, in much contrast to President Musharraf, was adamant in her opposition to terrorist groups, especially al-Qaeda, which find refuge in Pakistan's western border with Afghanistan.  She was a long time outspoken opponent of extremism and was someone who could have truly been the greatest asset to the U.S. in the true war on terror.

I admit that while I have long said that Bhutto was a great woman and a great leader, I did not fully realize the extent that her passion and love for her country went. That changed today when I began seeing interview after interview with Bhutto on television.  

She was truly a brave and courageous person.  She did not have to return to Pakistan after her exile.  She did not have to hold public rallies.  She did not have to seek another run as Prime Minister.  But, as she explained in numerous interviews, Bhutto did all those things because she simply wanted to make her country a better place for its people.  

Bhutto said many times that she knew her life was at risk every second of every day, but she continued her tireless fight for democracy and peace nonetheless.  She was willing to give her life for her country, and today, she did just that.

Bhutto should be a role-model for every politician in the world.  She didn't think about herself; she thought only of the Pakistani people and their needs.  

Now, Pakistan is once again in turmoil.  A hero has been killed.  What is next for Pakistan, the most dangerous country in the world?  I, nor anyone, can even begin to say what comes next.  All I do know is that Pakistan, America, and the world has lost a tremendous person today.  This tragedy should serve as an omnipresent reminder to all that this world is volatile and unpredictable.  Everything can change in a heartbeat, and today it did.  We, in America and abroad, need leaders who are capable of responding correctly and effectively to these sudden changes.  Let that serve as a lesson learned from this tragedy.  

Photo Credit: MSNBC

Trouble Ahead: Pakistan, India, and Israel

All three countries have stockpiles of nuclear weapons and other WMD according to the experts.  None of them participate in the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.  The United States, Britain, France, Russia, China are all involved in the treaty, and yes, so is Iran.  The administration talks almost daily about the dangers of the proliferation of these WMD to other countries and parties, yet we have no foreign policy to put pressure on these 3 countries to join the treaty and open up their nuclear plants to inspection.  Has any one heard Mr. Bush, or for that matter any Republican, talk about this issue?

 

Now we have Pakistan  being declared in a state of emergency by President Pervez Musharraf.  He is still chief of staff of the Army and the Army is in charge of maintaining the order.  Finally after 6 years and $10 billion for Pakistan the administration is asking Mr. Musharraf to give up his Army role.  The country is in turmoil and the  Pakistani Army and Pakistani intelligence are in charge of protecting and preserving their nuclear stockpile.  Members of this administration and others say they believe the weapons are safe.  But suppose the Army splits and tries to overthrow their President, then how safe would those stockpiles be?  Remember, Mr. Musharraf himself came into power with a coup.

 

Adding to the mixture is former prime minister Benazir Bhutto back in Pakistan from exile.  The administration seems to favor her sharing power with Musharraf.  He does not seem to take to kind to that approach and just recently had her under house arrest.  The Shah of Iran was put in power by the United States and everyone knows what happened to that country down the road.   

 

It is past time for the U.S. and other governments to put pressure on Israel, Pakistan, and India to join the non-proliferation treaty and open up their facilities for inspection.  Is that too much to ask for in this dangerous world? I think not.  All three countries are in a part of the world that is unstable and is prone to radical ideas.  That's reason enough in my estimation.