27 December marked the 1-year anniversary of the Bhutto's assassination in Rawalpindi as she left an election rally. The world has changed quite a bit since 27 December 2006. George Bush will no longer be American President in a few days; Pervez Musharraf is no longer in Pakistan; yet one thing is clear: the world is a lesser place because Benazir Bhutto is no longer with us. As evidenced by the outpouring of grief and mourning on 27 December, she is sorely missed.Bhutto's party, the Pakistani People's Party, won the ensuing election following her murder. With Pervez Musharraf no longer in the political picture, Bhutto's widower is
now in charge of Pakistan. Asif Ali Zardari has a reputation for political corruption and is suspected of swindling millions of dollars from the Pakistani government's coffers during the tenures his late wife served as Prime Minister. However, his government has remained unpopular. Pakistan is facing serious problems: the economy is in tatters, the recent Mumbai attacks have been linked to Pakistani militants, Islamic insurgents are operating in Pakistani tribal areas, and the US is increasing military operations in tribal areas along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, and Pakistan has not hosted an international cricket match at home since before Bhutto's assassination (this is my effort to shamelessly mention the world's greatest game into each and every blog that I write).
now in charge of Pakistan. Asif Ali Zardari has a reputation for political corruption and is suspected of swindling millions of dollars from the Pakistani government's coffers during the tenures his late wife served as Prime Minister. However, his government has remained unpopular. Pakistan is facing serious problems: the economy is in tatters, the recent Mumbai attacks have been linked to Pakistani militants, Islamic insurgents are operating in Pakistani tribal areas, and the US is increasing military operations in tribal areas along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, and Pakistan has not hosted an international cricket match at home since before Bhutto's assassination (this is my effort to shamelessly mention the world's greatest game into each and every blog that I write).Pakistan is a virtual failed state with a seemingly endless chain of democratic governments toppled by military coups and the use of murder as a political tool. The bottom line is that Benazir Bhutto might not have had all of the answers to solve the myriad problems that Pakistan 
faces. Her political past was marred by corruption charges. She certainly would not have had the answers to the global economic crisis which is affecting Pakistan. It is highly doubtful that she would have been able to extend the rule of law into the tribal areas of Waziristan and those surrounding Peshawar. The Mumbai attacks would still have occurred. There would still be tension between India and Pakistan would over Kashmir. But somehow, the region does not seem as stable without Benazir Bhutto's long shadow. She knew the risks of reutrning to Pakistan. She paid for her ideas with her life. For better or worse, her tragic death marked the end of an era and dimmed the hopes that Pakistan can emerge as a peaceful country with a stable government.
faces. Her political past was marred by corruption charges. She certainly would not have had the answers to the global economic crisis which is affecting Pakistan. It is highly doubtful that she would have been able to extend the rule of law into the tribal areas of Waziristan and those surrounding Peshawar. The Mumbai attacks would still have occurred. There would still be tension between India and Pakistan would over Kashmir. But somehow, the region does not seem as stable without Benazir Bhutto's long shadow. She knew the risks of reutrning to Pakistan. She paid for her ideas with her life. For better or worse, her tragic death marked the end of an era and dimmed the hopes that Pakistan can emerge as a peaceful country with a stable government.
As I have traveled the world, there have been numerous opportunities for me to sit back and think about what it means to be American. Though I have lived overseas continuously since 2002, no matter where I go, I am defined by Americanness. For six years, people have asked me about George Bush, Iraq, September 11th, and why Americans don't play football or cricket. Now I am being asked about Barack Obama, the economy, and why Americans don't play football or cricket. But what does it mean to be American? After reading about the Kenyan Communications Act of 2008, I have grasped part of the answer. Somewhere, inherently ingrained into our being, Americans value freedom. We may have misguided leadership that tries to impose our rights onto others ala Iraq, but at the core, Americanness on some level means having personal rights.
