"Musharraf Playing the West Like a Fiddle” Alleges Bhutto
Glenn Swift
April 09, 2007
Speaking before a packed audience at the Community Church in Vero Beach, Florida on March 26th of this year, Benazir Bhutto pulled no punches when declaring “Islamabad is the world’s epicenter of terrorism.” Bhutto’s address was part of the ongoing Distinguished Lecture Series sponsored by the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach.
In her eloquent, Oxford-accented English, occasionally interrupted by the crackling sounds of a faulty microphone, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan pulled no punches in lashing out against the current military regime in her native country.
To justify its very existence, General Musharraf’s military government has deluded the United States and its allies into believing that democracy cannot be restored to Pakistan for fear of handing the country over to the religious extremists,” said Bhutto.
The only woman to hold the position of head of state in a Muslim nation, Bhutto argued passionately that the enormous sums of money that have been squandered by the Musharraf government through mismanagement and corruption have driven many of her country’s poor into the ranks of the terrorists.
Disillusioned with military dictatorship and lacking the basic necessities of life, the masses are unable to express their dissatisfaction through a fair electoral process, and many of the poor have become radicalized.”
Bhutto made it clear why the world cannot wait much longer for a democratic transition to take place in Pakistan.
The current situation in my country provides a perfect breeding ground for terrorism,” said Bhutto, whose Pakistani Peoples Party attempted a decade ago to break ranks with the then Taliban-led government in Afghanistan. “We are in immediate danger of witnessing the radicalization of the masses in Pakistan,” she added.
When asked about the commitment of General Musharraf and his government to the War on Terror, Bhutto scoffed at the regime’s sincerity.
Musharraf in his own words has said that he knew he could not stand up to the United States and had no choice following the attacks of 9/11 but to agree to be an ally of the West.”
Bhutto, who spent over six years in prison on what most Pakistani experts believe were trumped up charges of corruption, went on to add this chilling remark. “At the very highest levels of the Pakistani military government and intelligence apparatus are those who sympathize with the terrorists.”
Not one to mince words, Bhutto then added,” General Musharraf has done nothing to weed out these extremist elements and continues to play the West like a fiddle.”
Bhutto, an avowed socialist who currently lives in exile in Dubai, spoke proudly of the accomplishments of the Pakistani People’s Party (PPP) of which she remains the undisputed leader.
My government under the PPP made enormous strides to provide for the poor and to elevate the status of women,” said Bhutto, who cited numerous statistical data to support her claim.
The Pakistan People’s Party and I posed a potent threat to the terrorists by providing an alternative vision based upon freedom, human rights, modernity compatible with religion, as well as progress and prosperity.”
Although the Pakistani Supreme Court has declared her ineligible to ever lead her country again, Bhutto in her closing remarks made it clear where she stands if and when the law is changed.
If the Pakistani people call upon me, I would be proud to lead them.”
Glenn R. Swift is an award-winning journalist based in Merritt Island, Florida whose monthly Voice of the Left column can be read at the American Chronicle www.americanchronicle.com or at the author’s website, www.glennswift.com.
In her eloquent, Oxford-accented English, occasionally interrupted by the crackling sounds of a faulty microphone, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan pulled no punches in lashing out against the current military regime in her native country.
To justify its very existence, General Musharraf’s military government has deluded the United States and its allies into believing that democracy cannot be restored to Pakistan for fear of handing the country over to the religious extremists,” said Bhutto.
The only woman to hold the position of head of state in a Muslim nation, Bhutto argued passionately that the enormous sums of money that have been squandered by the Musharraf government through mismanagement and corruption have driven many of her country’s poor into the ranks of the terrorists.
Disillusioned with military dictatorship and lacking the basic necessities of life, the masses are unable to express their dissatisfaction through a fair electoral process, and many of the poor have become radicalized.”
Bhutto made it clear why the world cannot wait much longer for a democratic transition to take place in Pakistan.
The current situation in my country provides a perfect breeding ground for terrorism,” said Bhutto, whose Pakistani Peoples Party attempted a decade ago to break ranks with the then Taliban-led government in Afghanistan. “We are in immediate danger of witnessing the radicalization of the masses in Pakistan,” she added.
When asked about the commitment of General Musharraf and his government to the War on Terror, Bhutto scoffed at the regime’s sincerity.
Musharraf in his own words has said that he knew he could not stand up to the United States and had no choice following the attacks of 9/11 but to agree to be an ally of the West.”
Bhutto, who spent over six years in prison on what most Pakistani experts believe were trumped up charges of corruption, went on to add this chilling remark. “At the very highest levels of the Pakistani military government and intelligence apparatus are those who sympathize with the terrorists.”
Not one to mince words, Bhutto then added,” General Musharraf has done nothing to weed out these extremist elements and continues to play the West like a fiddle.”
Bhutto, an avowed socialist who currently lives in exile in Dubai, spoke proudly of the accomplishments of the Pakistani People’s Party (PPP) of which she remains the undisputed leader.
My government under the PPP made enormous strides to provide for the poor and to elevate the status of women,” said Bhutto, who cited numerous statistical data to support her claim.
The Pakistan People’s Party and I posed a potent threat to the terrorists by providing an alternative vision based upon freedom, human rights, modernity compatible with religion, as well as progress and prosperity.”
Although the Pakistani Supreme Court has declared her ineligible to ever lead her country again, Bhutto in her closing remarks made it clear where she stands if and when the law is changed.
If the Pakistani people call upon me, I would be proud to lead them.”
Glenn R. Swift is an award-winning journalist based in Merritt Island, Florida whose monthly Voice of the Left column can be read at the American Chronicle www.americanchronicle.com or at the author’s website, www.glennswift.com.
Print
Email
