Why Benazir Bhutto matters

..in death
as in life

بينظير ڀٽو

1953-2007

If Pakistan weren't in one of the world's roughest regions with neighbors like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Kashmir, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Tibet,

her assassination would be just another political tragedy in one of the ignored corners of the world.

If global oil prices weren't negatively tied to growing political instability throughout this region,

her assassination would be just another political tragedy in one of the ignored corners of the world.

If Pakistan did not straddle the great divide between Islam and the West,

her assassination would be just another political tragedy in one of the ignored corners of the world.

If Bhutto hadn't supported the Taliban in Afghanistan during her 2nd tenure as Pakistan's prime minister,

her assassination would be just another political tragedy in one of the ignored corners of the world.

If Bhutto hadn't become the only candidate for prime minister who could challenge the Pakistan's radical Islamists,

her assassination would be just another political tragedy in one of the ignored corners of the world.

If Bhutto hadn't successfully accelerated Pakistan's nuclear weapons program,

her assassination would be just another political tragedy in one of the ignored corners of the world.

If Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president, didn't need Bhutto to shore up the faltering support of the US,

her assassination would be just another political tragedy in one of the ignored corners of the world.

If the US hadn't pinned its hopes first on Musharraf, and then on Bhutto,for victory in the War on Terror,

her assassination would be just another political tragedy in one of the ignored corners of the world.

If it hadn't become commonplace in Pakistan to assassinate national leaders like Bhutto,

her assassination would be just another political tragedy in one of the ignored corners of the world.

If Pakistan weren't perpetually and violently on the edge of the abyss,

her assassination would be just another political tragedy in one of the ignored corners of the world.

UPDATE
31 XII 07

If al-Qaida hadn't claimed responsibility for Bhutto's assassination,

her assassination would be just another political tragedy in one of the ignored corners of the world.