Newshoggers Comments
FYI: Bloomberg News reports that Nawaz Sharif has dropped his boycott of the elections:
Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz will contest the elections since the PPP has ``appealed to us to reverse our boycott decision,'' party spokesman Siddique-ul-Farooq said in a phone interview. A formal announcement will be made on Jan. 1, he said.
Thanks for the heads-up, Matt! I fully expected he would.
Regards, C
I think the cynicism is unwarranted, Cernig. Is there any other figure in Pakistan who would stand a chance at steering the maelstrom?
The Bhuttos see themselves as the only realistic alternative very likely because that's true. They have a formidable combination of name recognition, contacts, money, and grassroots support-- the foundational belief that they are the party that will address poverty-- that may be capable of standing up against the military.
There are more upright and worthy people. The lawyers and judges who stood against the coup against the legal system, for example, who paid a heavy price in beatings and prison. Among them are heroes and leaders. But do they have the political and financial muscle?
Pakistan does need to get beyond personality cults and political figures convinced they are the only savior of the nation. But as the nation is presently configured, Benazir Bhutto was an extraordinary and visionary leader.
What is Bhutto's sons qualification other than DNA? How about Aitzaz Ahsan? Maybe a Unity 2012 ticket of Jenna Bush and Pat Kennedy...
No problem, C. Have also noticed that there appears to be some dispute as to whether Bhutto's will made explicit mention of Bilawal being named as her preferred successor or not.
AFX reports that "Bilawal was named in the will left by Bhutto as her successor in the event of her death" as per an unnamed PPP official.
However, according to Bloomberg, "Bhutto...named her husband Asif Zardari as her successor in a will, party vice- chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim told reporters. Zardari, who will be co-chairman of the party, nominated his son Bilawal to lead the party, he said."
TIME backs up Bloomberg's version re: Bhutto's will:
"The document, which Benazir wrote two days before she returned to Pakistan last October, after eight years of self-imposed exile, apparently called for Zardari to take the reigns of the party. But Bhutto's controversial husband says he wanted the family's political legacy to pass to his son, who he said would now be known as Bilawal Bhutto Zardari."
Rudi, much the same was said about Robert Kennedy as is being said about Bilawal.
And it was said about Teddy (who almost proved the doubters right before turning his life around).
And it is being said about Hillary.
I don't know enough about Bilawal as a person to know whether he's up to the task. But there is plenty of historical precedent for untested leaders proving to be brilliant, as well as for old warhorses faltering and wandering. I'll reserve judgment.
I think the cynicism is unwarranted, Cernig.
Its not cynicism, it is reality. Governing groups simply reflect the centers of power. In Pakistan the centers of power are the army and the feudal lords (and their industrial descendants). Stephen Cohen in "The Idea of Pakistan" (which I would recommend to anyone interested in learning about Pakistan) posits the bureaucracy as the third center but I see them more as the compromise between the feudals and the army. The political parties represent the feudals and are organized in a feudal manner. As I have mentioned before what I do find somewhat off-putting is this air of surprised indignation - as if the PPP became undemocratic only now. Recall that Benazir was Chairman for Life of the PPP.
But as Bhutto's supporters clash with security troops
I have been on the phone for the last few days with people around Pakistan and what I hear is not that the PPP supporters are rioting but that it is mostly gangs and thugs and people out to even scores that are doing the rioting. It might be my sampling but the news reports seem to corroborate this. If the PPP supporters come out on the streets in any significant manner the crisis will have escalated considerably.
it seems that the elections will be used to paper over massive cracks in Pakistani society and that the various oligarchical factions will go on as normal in their aftermath.
You really should read teh blogs 
How about Aitzaz Ahsan?
Rudi, that would have been a sign of true progress! Too much to hope for.
Empty and Charles,
I've always been aware of the paradox of Bhutto - that she was at once the brightest electable alternative to Musharraf and the military and at the same time hopelessly corrupt. If I spent time explaining the non-relevant side every time I mentioned her, the posts would be twice as long. It's like expecting someone to recount all of Bill and Hil's history with her every time they talk about Hil's electability. Gimme a break, huh, guys?
Regards, C
PS I did read teh blogs. Why do you think I wrote that line? Your posts have been an invaluable background, Empty, along with those of China Hand over at American Footprints blog.
Charles - RFK wasn't a 19 year old novice and Teddy tanked in national elections. Ahsan isn't a novice, and stood out/up during the Pakistanis Supreme Court shakedown.
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