Princess Ferragamo at the Barricades
It’s all about “regime change”
Mike Whitney

November 15, 2007

http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m38269&hd;=&size=1&l=e

“It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why the crooked Princess Ferragamo--Benazir Bhutto—has returned to Pakistan. Bhutto’s been traipsing all over Washington trying to garner support from think-tank heavies and establishment powerbrokers to help her stage a political come-back in Islamabad. She even hired a high-powered public relations firm to polish her image so the media wouldn’t focus too much attention on her past transgressions. Allegations of money laundering and corruption have haunted Bhutto ever since she was driven from office in 1996. Last month, General Musharraf cut a deal with Bhutto which freed her from the prospect of criminal prosecution and allowed her to return home. The arrangement ignored the judicial system entirely. The $1.5 billion that she and her husband allegedly “received in a variety of criminal enterprises” has simply disappeared down the memory hole.”

“Another tidbit the media seems to breezily disregard is Bhutto’s role in supporting Islamic extremism; the very dragon she is now expected to slay. According to Wikipedia: “It was during Bhutto’s rule that the Taliban took power in Kabul and gained prominence in Afghanistan. She viewed the Taliban as a group that could stabilize Afghanistan and enable trade across the Central Asia republics. Her government provided military and financial support for the Taliban, even sending a small unit of the Pakistani army into Afghanistan.”

“But, then, anyone can make a mistake and Bhutto has since offered her sincere regrets and promised to rid Pakistan of the ‘scourge of terrorism’. This must be music to the ears of her new patrons in Washington.”

“It’s astonishing how quickly one can “see the light” when their career depends on changing their point-of-view.”

***

“Arthur Herman, a U.S. historian, in a controversial letter published in The Wall Street Journal on 14 June 2007, in response to an article by Bhutto highly critical of the president and his policies, has described her as “One of the most incompetent leaders in the history of South Asia”, and asserted that she and other elites in Pakistan hate Musharraf because he is a muhajir, the son of one of millions of Indian Muslims who fled to Pakistan during partition in 1947. Herman has claimed, “Although it was muhajirs who agitated for the creation of Pakistan in the first place, many native Pakistanis view them with contempt and treat them as third-class citizens.”
“Nonetheless, as of mid-2007, the US appeared to be pushing for a deal in which Musharraf would remain as president but step down as military head, and either Bhutto or one of her nominees would become prime minister.”

***

So it would appear our “enablers” of democracy are working closely with a corrupt leader, and a corrupt former leader who expects us to intercede and make her leader again.

What is it about this administration and their profound tollerence of corruption?

Of course they, Bhutto and Musharraf, will never strike a bargain, because one considers herself upper class. And she and her supporters consider the other to be lower class. Which makes perfect sense when you think about it. Musharraf represents the military. Bhutto represents the elite. And the “elite” have always used the military to do their dirty work.

Hmmm, maybe that explains the administrations profound tollerence of corruption.

Soul mates.

Oh, just a gentle reminder.
Iraq.

The Bush administrations example of a “successful” regime change.