Text of Original 12/27/2007 Proposal

Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Dec. 27 while campaigning for Prime Minister of Pakistan. She had served twice as Pakistan’s Prime Minister (1988-90 and 1993-96, being deposed both times by the military). She was the first female to head the government of any Islamic Country. Her father, Ali Bhutto, also served as Prime Minister – he was executed in 1979 by the military government that deposed him. Benazir Bhutto received her B.A. in Comparative Government from Harvard, where she was Phi Beta Kappa. She then studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics (“PP&E”) at Oxford – the typical educational background of most British Prime Ministers (except Churchill who attended Sandhurst - Britain's West Point). While there, she was elected President of the Oxford Union – the first Asian woman to head Oxford’s most prestigious debating society. DISCOVER WHY BEING THE ONLY ISLAMIC NUCLEAR POWER (AND BEING THE SOURCE OF IRANIAN AND NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY) AND BEING HOME TO AL QAIDA AND THE TALIBAN MAKE PAKISTAN'S FEBRUARY 18TH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION AMERICA'S MOST CRUCIAL 2008 ELECTION!!!

"Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy and the West" (Harper Collins 2008) is available at your local library or from Amazon.com for $17.54 + shipping.
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johnkarls
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Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:43 pm

Text of Original 12/27/2007 Proposal

Post by johnkarls »

Benazir Bhutto’s Just-Completed Book
(191 Views Before Selection at Feb. 14 Meeting for Mar. 13 Meeting)

Benazir Bhutto was assassinated earlier today (Dec. 27) while campaigning for Prime Minister of Pakistan. She had served twice as Pakistan’s Prime Minister (1988-90 and 1993-96, being deposed both times by the military). She was the first female to head the government of any Islamic Country.

Her father, Ali Bhutto, also served as Prime Minister – he was executed in 1979 by the military government that deposed him (in “Charlie Wilson’s War” about American backing of the Afghan freedom fighters against Russian occupation and currently playing in first-run movie theaters, Julia Robert’s character stuns Charlie Wilson (played by Tom Hanks) by introducing Pakistani President Muhammad Zia-al-Haq (the Army General who deposed Ali Bhutto) to a gathering at the Houstonian Hotel with remarks that included a denial that Zia had been responsible for Ali Bhutto’s execution!!!).

Benazir Bhutto received her B.A. in Comparative Government from Harvard, where she was Phi Beta Kappa. She then studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics (“PP&E”) at Oxford – the typical educational background of most British Prime Ministers (except Churchill who attended Sandhurst - Britain's West Point). While there, she was elected President of the Oxford Union – the first Asian woman to head Oxford’s most prestigious debating society.

*****
In the partial transcript that follows from the McNeil-Lehrer program that aired a few hours ago (Dec. 27th), Margaret Warner identifies Mark Siegel (former Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee and Carter Administration Official) as Benazir Bhutto’s “man in Washington for decades" – and mentions that he and Bhutto were collaborating on a book.

At the end of the segment, Siegel gives a very intriguing description of the book and states that it had just been completed before her assassination.

Based on Siegel’s description, it should provide a wealth of insight to say the least!!! And presumably its publisher (the identity of which googling didn’t succeed in providing) will now rush it to press.

If it is “off press” by Jan 10th, I would offer it as another suggestion for Feb 14th.

*****
McNeil-Lehrer (aka The New Hour w/Jim Lehrer) transcript – 27 Dec 2007

Third of Four Segments = “Bhutto’s Rise and Fall”

Margaret Warner (approximately 5 minutes into her segment):

For personal insight into Bhutto, the woman and political figure, we turn to two of her long-time advisers and friends. Husain Haqqani was an aide to Bhutto during her first term as Prime Minister. He’s now a journalist and syndicated columnist in South Asian and Middle Eastern newspapers and he also directs The Center for International Relations at Boston University.

Mark Siegel has been Benazir Bhutto’s man in Washington for decades, serving as an unofficial adviser. He has also been a long-time Democratic Party activist and is now associated with a Washington law firm (please see editorial note below). He and Bhutto were collaborating on a book.

Now first of all, I want to just extend my condolences to both of you. I know this is a very sad day for you.

(approximately 8 minutes of dialogue omitted)

Margaret Warner:

Finally, Mark Siegel, explain one other apparent paradox. She was so viewed in the West as the symbol of the modern Muslim woman. Yet she was also very much the daughter of traditional Pakistan, wasn’t she?

Mark Siegel:

She was. I mean she came from a family that was a major land-holder in Sindh (Editorial Note - Sindh is one of four Pakistani provinces).

But she had progressive parents. I mean both the two boys and the two girls had equal education. They both were encouraged to serve publicly. She was a modern woman, but she did have strong roots within Islam and within the traditions of Pakistan.

The book that she has just completed that I helped her with – “A Reconciliation in Islam, Democracy and the West” – talks about the reconciliation between The West and The East, between Islam and the rest of the world, and the reconciliation within Islam of the forces of fanaticism and the forces of true tolerant, pluralistic Islam.

Benazir Bhutto was a wonderful woman, she was a brave woman. It was an honor to know her and an honor to be her friend.

Margaret Warner:

Mark Siegel and Husain Haqqani, again, our condolences to you both and thank you.
__________

Editorial Note: Unlike most Washington lobbying firms, “Locke Liddell Strategies” is not a “law firm” and unlike most Washington politicians and lobbyists, Mark A. Siegel (a partner in LLS) is not an attorney – though Locke Liddell Strategies is affiliated with Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP, a national law firm of approx. 700 attorneys.

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Additional Note Posted 9 Jan 2008 for tomorrow evening's meeting --
.
Per Amazon.com today, Benazir Bhutto's new book "Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West" will not become available until Febebruary 12th.

It can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com for $18.45 + shipping (list price = $27.95).

Since it will not become available until 2 days before our Feb 14th meeting, we should defer consideration until next month (i.e., consider on Feb 14th whether to select it as our focus for our March meeting).

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