Bhutto Bombs

Well, now Benazir Bhutto is back with a vengeance. It's like the old days in Pakistan, but worse. After today's bombings, Bhutto's iron will to remain in Pakistan has probably been strengthened. I went to interview her recently in Dubai for More magazine, and it was clear she would not be deterred by any such hijinks, though she was obviously worried. Her daughter was in the next room writing college applications.

But one does wonder who exactly was behind the attack. In the short time since her arrival on Pakistani soil, Bhutto has managed to thank the Pakistani Army both for protecting her and her supporters on their arrival, and for not thwarting or disrupting the celebrations accompanying her return. Certainly those two ideas say a lot about the ambivalence of the Pakistani Army concerning Bhutto: thanks for protecting me and thanks for not attacking me.

And it's not really about ambivalence, but speaks more about an institution with two faces. Part of the Pakistani Army is moderate and Western-looking in an old-fashioned way -- Musharraf seems to have put his money on that side for now. But another part has long sympathized with the neighboring Taliban and other fundamentalist strains, including al Qaeda.

A recent poll found 46 percent of the Pakistani people favorable to bin Laden; which means, as a friend said after the bombings, that if Benazir has, say, 10,000 people guarding her, then 4,600 of them support bin Laden, from whose influence she has vowed to remove her country.

But even if Bhutto survives her plunge back into the cauldron of Pakistani politics, can she really do much for Pakistan? Poverty there is worse than ever -- on a daily basis, people commit suicide in order to escape from hunger and their inability to feed their families. While she was prime minister, her administration was more notable for its corruption than for curing Pakistan's ills. Perhaps now, without her notoriously corrupt husband in tow, she'll be able to lift her head above the cloud of corruption that's followed her for these long years, but given the money that must be spent to wage what amounts to a war on the rogue fundamentalist city -- states that have been established within Pakistan's borders, it's not going to be easy to do much about pocketbook issues for the average Pakistani.

And as for democracy. Sure, Bhutto would like Pakistan to be democratic. As long as she's the head of state. She has that tendency of all populist politicians (of her father, in particular) to equate the state with herself. Even before the bombs went off today, you could pretty safely say that the euphoria of her return would guarantee her election, but now -- given the attack -- her victory is virtually assured.

Before the bombs, she was a complicated character for many Pakistanis. They were wary of her reputation, concerned about her power-deal with the reviled Musharraf, quite aware that her two previous administrations had achieved very little, and worried about her supposed autocratic tendencies. But in the face of this assassination attempt, people will tend to gulp, and to notice what they might lose in losing the person of Benazir Bhutto. Her death might mean an end to dynastic politics in Pakistan, which would be good (although there are Bhuttos galore -- if not of so lofty a caliber -- lined up to fill any power vacuum they can find). But the loss of a figure who in so many ways represents the desire for some kind of future middle ground for Pakistan would really be devastating. Bhutto's return has changed in a day all the terms of the debate.

And the attempt on her life, in which so many were killed and injured, has at least for a while turned her from just another hack politician, seeking power, back into what she was at the beginning of her political career: a beloved symbol of Pakistan, and precious. .

Comments

[Aroon]

Like Iraq, did anybody consult Pakistani citizens about who should be their leader? It appears that they are being "disctated" that the corrupt General and the corrupt civilian are the only choice they have!!!

[minusthefactor]

Another piece of wishful punditry.

Bhutto may be a lot of things but she is not today nor would ever be what one would call a beloved symbol of Pakistan!

Why so|?

First, she is a women in a male dominated Muslim wolrd.
Second, as you correctly have laid out in your own words, "that if Benazir has, say, 10,000 people guarding her, then 4,600 of them support bin Laden, from whose influence she has vowed to remove her country."
Good luck with the charmed conclusion of your article. Hope it works out for Bhutto's sake.

[proudliberal24]

Bhutto, not being a beloved symbol of pakistan is not due to her being a woman or her apparent opposition to the taliban which she has conveniently embraced to ensure US backing. It sadly is much simpler than that. It is her own political record. Having two terms under her scarf, all she has to show for them is her utter imcompetency and sheer lack of interest in ordinary pakistanis. She should not be given another chance to repeat her previous pathetic and above all criminal record. As for the attack, it is unclear as to who is responsible. As the article points out and is clear to anyone familiar with pakistani politics, the attack on her life solidly grounds the support US is eager to back her up with. She can use it to point out to the west the people who will fill up the power vaccum if it is not her who is reinstated in power. Until it is established who was indeed responsible, the planning and execution of the attacks cannot be put beyond the scope of herself or her husband for their own political gain. And playing to the gullibility of the west, she was very much able to create political theater encompassing a heroic return, the euphoria, the imminent fulfillment of a destiny, and above all a tragedy, to morph herself into the imminent leader pakistan has been longing for. It is no news to people in pakistan that the poor people who show up to rallies are just paid to be there to fulfill the roles of props in the play being staged for the world to see. And given that Bhutto was told of the dangers and was advised to take a helicopter to her residence and her subsequest refusal to prevent loss of potential lives in favor of a grand entrance onto the political stage she was booed off almost a decade ago shows that nothing has changed. She is still willing to sacrifice innocent lives for her own gain because after all, it has never been about them anyway.

[Balzac]

I was offended by this because the writer makes light of the bombing of Bhutto's convoy.

The title "Bhutto Bombs" is abrasive and callous, "Benazir Bhutto back with a vengance" makes it seem like she is somehow to blame for the attack.

Also, "hijinks" doesn't seem like an appropriate way to describe a bombing like this.

This kind of article would never be written about the Oklahoma City bombinb or 9/11.

It shouldn't be treated so differently just because it happened in Pakistan.

[AfzaalKhan]

Ms. Bhutto will fail in election, a corupt leader is what she is and her Mr. 10% husband, she is coming back to Pakistan after getting immunity from the establishment that she label as undemocratic. If the cases are political and have no substances why doesn't she face the charges in court. Like her political rival Mr. Shareef, say wat u want to about him atleast he has courage to stand up and not hide behind US.
As for the blast all blame lies on Ms. Bhutto she was told abiut the danger, a national leader should think about his/her people. If the public is with her as she states so frequently she could have taken the govt offered helicopter and be at the rally where she could ahve addressed the crowd thus avoiding this tragedy.
Imagine in US if a politician shut down NY to have a rally, imagine how many ambulances were not able to pass through, think about all the people who jsut wanted to get on with their day all hostages to a political leader desire to show her street creds. Shame on u Ms. Bhutto, I cant wait for u to go away

[squareyellowpaper]

Does anyone question the role of the CIA in Bhutto's return to Pakistan? Musharraf pissed off the Bush Administration. Now, Pakistan is on the verge of civil war.

The winner of the power struggle in Parkistan will have control over that nation's nuclear warheads and missles to deliver them.

There are at least two big Bush Administration blunders that led to this situation:

1. He did not persue and take out bin Laden and al Qaeda in the mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan nor did he neutralize the Taliban in the same region.

2. Pakistanis are not pleased with Musharaff's p-erceived coziness with the U.S., especially in view of our illeagal invasion and occupation of Iraq. The roots of Islamic extremism are growing in Pakistan, the world's second largest Islamic country.

[AfzaalKhan]

Ms. Bhutto is a not a solution to end extrmism in Pakistan, she is after all the architect of Taliban

[RAMHaiti]

Maybe she ought to hire Steele or Blackwater to protect her....

[meandmagoo]

Wow.deadly as it was,you gotta admit it was great theater.Bhutto and her supporters gotta be proud of this psychological ploy.Even though,actually because,people died,her 'brave return" will be rewarded in the polls.

[marko77]

I wish circumstances were better. but Benazir Bhutto has two things working against her:

First - the "Global Economy" will continue to ensure that many more poor people commit suicide before they starve. Welcome to the "Flat Earth."

Second - the 46% who favor bin laden will continue to engage in murder and mayhem in the name of "Islam."

[zulfishah]

"the 46% who favor bin laden will continue to engage in murder and mayhem in the name of "Islam." "

... that's just a stupid comment. The 46% might think well of bin laden, but only because he's the anti-US figure fighting a war against the americans, and has escaped capture so far. it has nothing to do with the appeal of his personality or tactics per se, and the 46% doesn't mean they're willing to personally join the fight or engage in any murder or mayhem. the people who DO fight make up less than 1% of the population, but they can do alot of damage, as yesterday showed.

[zeesean]

I am sure Pakistanis can easily find somebody who is capable as well as honest. No need to recycle old, and tried politicians...

[pakiman]

all the good people left in pakistan are enjoying their lives as professionals and business owners in the west blogging about the misfortunes of their beloved country...meanwhile the bhuttos of the world are figuring out ways to return to the old ways of looting the treasury and subverting democracy....i love my country and am sad as can be with the state of affairs...kind of hopeless at this point though

[Artboyz]

The bombing reminded me of the plot of the movie "The Interpreter" (2005 Nicole Kidman & Sean Penn). A leader plots his own failed assassination attempt to strengthen his political fortunes.

I'm not suggesting that's what happened, but it does seem like it will play out to Bhutto's benefit.

[Henry]

What was it that Senator Jesse Helms (R) NC stated to Pres Willum Jefferson Clinton, if he, Clinton, planned on visiting a military base in the state of North Carolina?? Bluster is as bluster does, it's ugly business.