Word: bhutto
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What She Left Behind As a Pakistani Canadian, I read with great interest your coverage of Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan [Jan. 14]. While I offer sincere condolences on her untimely and fiery death, I must agree with William Dalrymple that her legacy is "mediocre." Far from being a martyr for freedom and democracy, she chose to live a life of luxury in self-imposed exile - in distant Dubai. Although she was Prime Minister of Pakistan twice, she did little to improve the conditions of the masses, particularly women and the poor. Jalaluddin S. Hussain, Brossard, Canada...
...Bhutto's return to Pakistan was regarded by many as the force needed to bring Pakistan back to the path of democracy. The sad truth is, there is nothing democratic about Pakistan's so-called democratic parties. At the time of each election, leaders assure us they will make the changes they failed to carry out the last time they were in office. I think that Bhutto's assassination, though unfortunate, will probably bring more change to Pakistan's political process than a third tenure as Prime Minister would have. Amna Mansur Khan, Atlanta...
...Bhutto's assassination highlights once more the deep contradiction between the U.S.'s stated aim of advancing democracy around the world and its actual practice of backing friendly dictators like President Pervez Musharraf when it suits U.S. interests. The Bush Administration will retreat to its co-dependent relationship with the dictator, regarding him as the only remaining bulwark against a Taliban-style fundamentalist theocracy armed with nukes, and will probably flirt no more with any notion of a truly democratic Pakistan. These chickens will one day come home to roost. Mark C. Eades, Oakland, Calif...
...What prompted Bhutto to stand unprotected in the vehicle that carried her on the last day of her life? That act alone showed a woman who, though blessed with beauty, charm, charisma, wealth and education, was devoid of discipline and mature judgment. SaraKay Smullens, Philadelphia...
...Bhutto was the most powerful advocate of secular democracy and had the courage to confront both Islamic militants and Musharraf's autocratic government. Bhutto's untimely death leaves the Bush Administration with no clear strategy. The U.S. must follow up aggressively to make sure that Musharraf honors Bhutto's memory by continuing the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life. President George W. Bush must demand that opposition leader Nawaz Sharif be allowed to run and that the fired Supreme Court judges be reinstated. American policy must be directed at building a strong democracy in Pakistan. Waris...