Benazir Bhutto, R.I.P.
No denying the simple fact, this was not a simple woman. Highly educated, to the manor and the manner born, she fashioned herself as her father's daughter. The latest, most high-profile manifestation of a political dynasty. She read her horoscope and it informed her that the time was - now. Ready for a third stint as Pakistan's Prime Minister, if the on-again, off-again consultations with current President Pervez Musharraf, despite protestations to the contrary, came off.
She had the support, the prestige, the hard-won experience to attain to that post once again. Mind, there was always the irrelevant nuances of past history that could erupt at some troublesome time or other. But President Musharraf had suspended criminal corruption charges that had hung over her head and reputation. Not that having done so would completely expunge the record and perhaps the reality. Her aristocratically-wealthy husband's business dealings had also brought vibrant charges of corruption.
She pledged innocent of any such charges, pointing out there was not a shred of actual evidence to be brought against her. Suspicion suspended. She was truly a most remarkable woman. Of great patrician bearing, high degree of intelligence, well educated, and truly a patriot of her beloved country. A woman of immense personal courage; that not to be overlooked. But rash in her overweening need to be seen and heard and publicly applauded. A beloved celebrity in Pakistan. And why would she not be, as the first woman elected to such high post in a Muslim country?
She was urgently secular, a champion of liberal democracy. She was also, unfortunately the latest victim of a star-crossed dynasty. One wonders why she would not have listened a trifle more carefully to President Musharraf's urgings to be more prudent in her public exposure. She would have none of it; rather than be airlifted on her return in the fall she chose a motorcade route to her destination. Providing ample opportunity for violent jihadists to blast 140 of her supporters into oblivion. All this time later her ears were still ringing.
But she was adamant; she would appear in public, she owed it to the faithful of her party, her multitude of fervent supporters. Among whom are the underclass, the unprivileged. Who now violently blame Mr. Musharraf and call for his downfall; it was, after all, under his watch that she was murdered by an assassin who fired the two mortal shots that killed her. Just as it was under her watch as prime minister that one of her brothers was mysteriously murdered, making it a total with her death of four members of her family so disposed of.
Administering the affairs of her beloved country was her personal mission in life; she was utterly engaged in her destiny, her proud inheritance. Seeing herself as integral to the country's advance into the future, an irreplaceable asset. As was Indira Ghandi and Rajiv, her son, both former Prime Ministers of India. Also assassinated by terror groups; Sikh, in that unfortunate instance.
She had the support, the prestige, the hard-won experience to attain to that post once again. Mind, there was always the irrelevant nuances of past history that could erupt at some troublesome time or other. But President Musharraf had suspended criminal corruption charges that had hung over her head and reputation. Not that having done so would completely expunge the record and perhaps the reality. Her aristocratically-wealthy husband's business dealings had also brought vibrant charges of corruption.
She pledged innocent of any such charges, pointing out there was not a shred of actual evidence to be brought against her. Suspicion suspended. She was truly a most remarkable woman. Of great patrician bearing, high degree of intelligence, well educated, and truly a patriot of her beloved country. A woman of immense personal courage; that not to be overlooked. But rash in her overweening need to be seen and heard and publicly applauded. A beloved celebrity in Pakistan. And why would she not be, as the first woman elected to such high post in a Muslim country?
She was urgently secular, a champion of liberal democracy. She was also, unfortunately the latest victim of a star-crossed dynasty. One wonders why she would not have listened a trifle more carefully to President Musharraf's urgings to be more prudent in her public exposure. She would have none of it; rather than be airlifted on her return in the fall she chose a motorcade route to her destination. Providing ample opportunity for violent jihadists to blast 140 of her supporters into oblivion. All this time later her ears were still ringing.
But she was adamant; she would appear in public, she owed it to the faithful of her party, her multitude of fervent supporters. Among whom are the underclass, the unprivileged. Who now violently blame Mr. Musharraf and call for his downfall; it was, after all, under his watch that she was murdered by an assassin who fired the two mortal shots that killed her. Just as it was under her watch as prime minister that one of her brothers was mysteriously murdered, making it a total with her death of four members of her family so disposed of.
Administering the affairs of her beloved country was her personal mission in life; she was utterly engaged in her destiny, her proud inheritance. Seeing herself as integral to the country's advance into the future, an irreplaceable asset. As was Indira Ghandi and Rajiv, her son, both former Prime Ministers of India. Also assassinated by terror groups; Sikh, in that unfortunate instance.
Labels: Crisis Politics, Terrorism
posted by Pieface | 5:03 PM
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