Benazir as Princess Di: Death Becomes Her

It looks like the American backed Plan B for Pakistan is to re-establish the dynasty.

The US government should have long ago gotten over its puerile crush on Benazir Bhutto. She was a "democrat" the way Boris Yeltsin was a democrat: steal while you are in power, blame evil forces when you get caught. She was twice removed from office on reliable corruption charges and went into self imposed exile in 1998.

But she charmed the west with luminous dark eyes and a winning smile. Even though she wore glasses she was smart in a sexy, exotic way that makes Christiane Amanpour a network hottie.

And Benazir worked the corridors of power in Washington and Whitehall; a western seductress wrapped in eastern robes.

The political alternatives in Pakistan were never very attractive. The realities on the ground made it clear that the combination of competing tribes and cultural clashes precluded benign democracy. The military has to have more power than in the Jeffersonian model; nuclear war with India is always a possibility; Afghan warlords treat the border like a hop scotch pitch. And, in recent years, the domestic forces that seem intent on some kind of Islamic nihilism are growing stronger and stronger.

The generals who became the public face of Pakistan were a generally smarmy looking lot, dark faced with severe mustaches, beribboned uniforms and gold military glasses. Their command of English was never quite strong enough to satisfy western television watchers. Plus, they were shorter than our generals. To the western eye they looked crooked, therefore Benazir must be right.

Even during her exile Benazir blamed political opponents, saying that the corruption charges, including the ones that sent her cabinet minister husband to prison for eight years were slander (never mind that his political nickname was "Mr. 10 percent).

Now in death she becomes Princess Di, the saintly beauty whose perfection caused her demise. And who are we in London and Washington to deny this lady her one last wish?

We would be smart guys if we did.

Her will nominates her 19 year old son as heir to the political throne. Bilawal Zardari is a good looking kid, speaks good English. He could be, it is suggested the subcontinent's latest Rajiv Ghandi who took over his family's political machine and become a third generation prime minister.

Before going teary, let's look at a couple of obvious differences:

1. Rajiv Gandhi was a grown up, a 40 year old airline pilot when he took up the political mantel. Bilawal is still in school and plans on running the nation from his dorm in Oxford, England, kind of like a bi-continental round of Dungeons and Dragons computer games.
2. Indira Gandhi had her ups and downs but was a tough politician. Benazir never had the breadth of support that Gandhi had.
3. The utter gall of naming the kid the successor but nominating his ex-con dad as his temporary stand-in is mind boggling.

The political kettle is aboil in Pakistan, just as it has been for most of the country's history. Whether the elections go on, are postponed or canceled, the military will remain in power until well after our next elections.

The important goal for the west is to keep the fundamentalists away from the nuclear stockpile and start fertilizing the fields for the next new leader one who doesn't have the baggage of the son and grandson of martyrs.

Comments

[Halsey]

Jeezus friggin kriest,... Let's see...she could have lived out her manicured/pedicured, designered sunglass life in Switzerland..but returned to a country that she loved and for which she dreamed democracy...and you, James, have the audacity to "think" she captured we westerners because she was pretty? What say you give me (a 53 year old woman) a little credit. My God..of course she was flawed..and Cheney isn't? Guiliani/Skerik?...give me a break. they make her look like a piker when it comes to corruption. she DID have a dream..and that dream was to rid her country and its borders of al Queda...and a miliary dictatorship...it was backchannel Washington who encouraged her return..and you know it..she foresaw her own death..and was willing to take that chance. You chide her for naming her son as heir apparent...um....may I interject George H.W. Bush and his sons here?
or even Bill C and HRC... of COURSE their ego's are all out of whack..but it's universal.

You have not only insulted the memory of a very human woman, you have insulted the reasoning of those who believed she had some potential as more than just "another pretty face".

[emerywood]

Benazir's party in Pakistan is very puzzling by naming her 19-year old son as "successor". Is this an organization/party that is a proponent of democracy or is it an advocate of nepotism and dynasty/imperialism ? Where are the educated lawyers ?

[brooklyncitizen]

Benazir was exonerated from the corruption charges and unless you have concrete proof it is all heresy. It would be best for Americans to reflect on their own corrupt government rather than sitting in judgement.

The comments about Benazir's appearance are inappropriate and sexist and belies good old fashioned chauvisnist views.

Benazir in risking her life was hardly on a quest for money and fame by pursuing the Presidency of Pakistan. How much have you risked for your country and its people? Hers was a populist movement and to glibly dismiss her murder as "Di-like" is doing a disservice to her and the people of Pakistan.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

"The important goal for the west is to keep the fundamentalists away from the nuclear stockpile and start fertilizing the fields for the next new leader one who doesn't have the baggage of the son and grandson of martyrs."

Any ideas on that front, Sparky?

In the meantime, continue to back Mushy?

********************

"Now in death she becomes Princess Di, the saintly beauty whose perfection caused her demise. And who are we in London and Washington to deny this lady her one last wish?"

Get. Help.

[BarbaraFischkin]

Dear eshalom

My husband- Jim Mulvaney -- like most husbands (and wives)-- has many faults. But sexism is not one of them. I think, here, he is speaking about "sex appeal as celebrity" rather than demonstrating sexism. He is writing about the way we are all fooled by good looks, whether they be male or female.

Happy New Year!
Let's hope it actually does get happier for the poor, trampled people who live or die according to the whims of politicians everywhere.

[eshalom]

This sample of blatant sexist rhetoric is a painful reminder that the West ought to clean up its own act before accusing other countries of being backward in their treatment of women: "But she charmed the west with luminous dark eyes and a winning smile. Even though she wore glasses she was smart in a sexy, exotic way that makes Christiane Amanpour a network hottie."

Your post merits no further comment.

[SamThornton]

James, have to agree with you on the late Ms. Bhutto. As tragic as her end was, it was always doubtful she could provide more than a fig leaf for Bush Administration wishful thinking on the hard realities of Pakistan.

Given that our attempts to co-opt Musharraf and then Bhutto have come a cropper, why is it that anything beyond further wishful thinking tells us we have the ability to influence events in Pakistan either to our advantage or to their advantage?

Realities in Pakistan seem to argue otherwise. The more we attempt to dictate events, the more events spin out of control. Perhaps it's time for our wise rulers to play the humility card and STFU.