****PLEASE READ BELOW IN THE COMMENTS SECTION AS OF JUST NOW AT 3:30PM THERE HAVE BEEN HUGE EXPLOSIONS NEAR HER CONVOY. ATLEAST 30 DEAD. SHE IS SUPOSEDLY STILL ALIVE AS OF THIS WRITING. I WILL UPATE THE COMMENT SECTION AFTER I SEARCH THE INTERNET.*****
This brave woman, Madame Bhutto, is trying to return to Pakistan , facing the Dictatorship 's strife and discomfort. She was the first woman to be PM for an Islamic Country. She faces possible detention, jailing again, and even death. Her relationship with Musharref is tenous at best. She does hope to arrive home to work on creating more of a Democratic Country vs the Military Dictatorship that is in place. If you have the time, she has a wonderful book that she wrote on Foreign Policy in which she wrote of Coalition Building, as well as Human Right Issues, and Health and Human Services.. Millions will line the streets and the Airport for her arrival today. She herself has perdicted that she could easily suffer consequences for her return. Her return poses conflicts for the Extreme Islamists and the for the Military Regime. She gave an interview on CNN and I was struck by her courage, that she spoke strongly with No Fear in her Voice. Many prayers for her safe return as well as the safety of her and her family. This is a situation that should be watched with great care as she arrives on October18th.
"Nothing in Life is to be Feared. It is only to be Understood."Madame Marie Curie
*{Click the Title: Gloria Estefan "Coming Out of the Dark"]*
9 comments:
5:30am She has arrived at the airport and yes, indeed the crowds have arrived at the airport..an Rep from Human Rights Watch Analyst has just explained that Musharref's Numbers are as bad as Bush - yikes- that is what he said...So he pointed out that Musharreff has to allow her to return and share power, as he is so disliked at home and is not viewed as a legit leader at this point....The crowds re huge...and welcoming...so we wil see what happens now...( The CNN reporter from London did not ask good questions...)
Benazir Bhutto is one brave woman. Saying "I will get the country rid of military dictatorship", she was greeted today by crowds estimated at 150K. At one point, the welcome-rally crowds almost overwhelmed a massive 35K strong security personnel. I read she had to wear a bulletproof vest & was surrounded by PPP bodyguards.
I have no love for Musharref (or "General General" as he was famously dubbed by GWB when asked to name the prez of pakistan in 2000). He took over the govt in a military coup when the previous PM was out of the country. Yet GWB refers to him as our "pro-democracy ally". I guess this is why we see little so US MSM coverage of Bhutto's return today.
She's facing long odds there, but seems to have the ear of the people. Despite our country's meddling & trying to foist western-style democracy over there, it will be people like Benazir Bhutto who effect real & lasting change.
3:30PM There has been trouble ...Large Explosions near the Convoy, during welcoming celebrations, Karachi- 1 million supporters line streets. Footage is disturbing, heartrending. Will check Internet for more news.
E, Blitzer says at least 35 killed in 2 blasts, but Bhutto is safe. By the time she got into Karachi, 1 million were lining the streets!
I have real mixed feelings about Madame Bhutto. On the one hand she does seem to offer a positive influence for Pakistan, with perhaps a touch of her late father’s influence.
Then again she is a product of the country and questions are still hanging over corruption and intriguing. She is certainly no shrinking violet.
For all of that I am pleased to see her back in the country, despite the turmoil her return is and will cause.
Cartledge:Thank you for your thoughts...more to ponder.... I agree there are questions about some of her past, but I think her goals are important...Her country is such a mess, politically and with relations to the rest of the world, and full of conflict, she does represent a strong force of change, whether her goal of returning and opening the country to change can and will be sustained will be something to watch....and I think she is strong enough and wise enough she does know the challenges and problems that she faces...sadly.
I agree that her motives for the present outweigh the problems in her past. Her courage is the proof of her current integrity. Those whose motives are greed and power are usually sniveling cowards like Bush.
6:30 Pm Update:
Over 100 dead, reports are that she is "okay"....I find it odd that there has been little reporting of what happened, by her country and also no statements from her or her camp or Musharref...( the media are blaming the crowds- basically saying the convoy was slow and it was their fault...)
Tom: ahh yes, thank you for bringing up the sniveling factor...
Mixed feelings about her, yes, her dad was executed (he was a Prime Minister and was executed by hanging by the next dictator, who died in a plane crash)
But she is, pretty corupt, yes I guess that is possibly not true, and perhaps it is a condition of 3rd world politics, but Pakistan is a State in need of some real help. Having said that, she was probably smarter to drive to her home as a helicopter would have surely been shot down.
I DO wish her success, perhaps she can help restore civil society, I wish her luck...
TRdem55
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