Bhutto's Death Challenges Us All as Upholders of Democracy

Benazir Bhutto was a true Muslim woman. She was the strong and reasonable voice of a moderate Islam. She was a strong champion of democracy at its best. Her father was hanged in 1979 for his beliefs. Like the Nehru-Gandhi family of India, the Bhuttos are one of the world's most famous political families. Like the Nehru-Gandhi family, they ruled for a number of years without the support of the army.

For the next few weeks we will listen to President Bush and all of the presidential candidates express shock and sadness over Bhutto's death. Some of them may actually be sad about her death. Those who express shock are either lying or displaying some serious naiveté.

Either way, what is truly sad is that we, the citizens of the United States, will continue to pump billions of dollars into Musharref's Pakistan. Musharref had something to do with her death, or with the policies that made the terrorism possible, or both, yet we will pay him to be our ally. He can't truly be an ally of the United States if his policies and very ways of thinking lead to acts of assassination and terrorism, but we pay him to be our ally anyway.

President Bush feels we need to do that. Maybe he feels that half an ally is better than not an ally, raising the question, how do you know which half you're dealing with? Regardless, Mr. Bush feels we need to spend the billions in Pakistan to control Afghanistan.

There is something else to be sad about. We don't control Afghanistan, or any part of it. So, our foreign policy is based on a premise that says we are shocked that Mrs. Bhutta was killed, we pay the people who at the very least contributed to her death, and that money is well-spent because it helps us control another country.

Our foreign policy is based on the self-deception of the American people. As it has been for my entire lifetime. We could not win in Viet Nam without completely committing to possible war with other "communist" countries. We could not support Suddam Hussein in Iraq without long-term negative consequences to us. The list is long.

Our democratic values are perceived as weak by many fascist governments and those they govern. We are seen as weak in the process, and weak because much of the world perceives the United States as having a democracy for Americans, dictatorship by the United States for everyone else attitude. If a country seems to obey us we will give dollars. So, it behooves a country to hold its pride in check and accept the check until the check is no longer needed. And we, the citizens of the United States, live somewhat free of the dirty hands involved in actually working to solve a problem.

We are not going to improve the situation in Afghanistan with billions more to Muscharraf. What does work? Millions in education, throughout the world, have wrought billions in rewards. The only other thing that has worked is the policies of World War II, once they were finally adopted. When we finally decided that the situation was so bad that nothing but winning would work, then we made a difference.

Until, and unless, we decide to win no matter who gets hurt or mad, then we should reserve the monies for humanitarian aid and education. No half-way allies. No half-way defense. No half-way wars where real people end up all the way dead.

Benazir Bhutto was not a saint. Like most politicians anywhere in the world, she had many flaws. But, in the end, she became a hero for democracy. She was a wealthy heiress. She could have lived anywhere in the world in comfort, pursuing any personal interests she wished. Instead she chose to return to Pakistan to fight for democracy.

Perhaps it is possible that our democracy can encourage our own leaders to show political courage against dictatorial rule by Pervez Mucharraf. Perhaps we can choose to leave or win. Perhaps we could divert just millions of those billions going to Pakistan now to the get-our-hands-dirty projects of education, health and aid in the meantime.

Maybe we could show the rest of the world that we are as committed to the values we preach as Mrs. Bhutto has shown she was.