The Daily Background

I thought I’d offer a few thoughts on Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated in Pakistan yesterday. The US media had, in recent months, decided to cast the fight for power rather between her and Musharraf as a rather simple fight between light and dark, freedom and dictatorship, good and evil.

It was, of course no such thing. They’ve both been lousy rulers, and they both very much represent the ultra-rich, ultra-corrupt establishment in Pakistani politics. Musharraf came at it from a military background, she came at it from being from one of the most well known families in Pakistani politics (with a legacy every bit as complicated as the Kennedys).

• Bhutto was the son daughter of a former president who refused to hold free elections despite promising to do so; Musharraf had up until recently refused to say when he’d hold free elections (Bhutto’s father was later overthrown and executed).
• In the 1990s while in power, Bhutto reportedly took a pro-Taliban stance but has changed her views more recently. Musharraf at least formally has an anti-Taliban stance, although the notion (advanced by the Bush Administration) that he has been an unwavering ally in the “war on terror” is laughable.
• Bhutto was kicked out of office twice on corruption charges (only convicted once– the other situation never went to trial), and Musharraf has seen his fair share of corruption accusations as well.
• Both of them came to office making big promises which they never delivered on (in Musharraf’s case it was ridding the country of corruption; in Bhutto’s, it was reforms to help women).

In any case, Bhutto’s assassination unquestionably helps Musharraf. Whether or not he was actually behind it, it means that he no longer has a principle rival in the upcoming elections, and it also means that he can continue to say that he’ll be tough on terrorism and Pakistan needs somebody from a military background like him, because they have a very real and very recent example of domestic terrorism. He also has fresh justification for quasi-military rule.

Filed under: Z-TDB Blog