Impact of Bhutto Assasination on US Presidential Race

What impact will the assassination of Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto have on the US presidential race? The simple answer is: none at all. For sure, the presidential candidates from both parties, who may have had a couple of conversations with Bhutto in the past, are trying to score political brownie points over those opponents who cannot claim this dubious privilege. It may make them appear more 'presidential', but they know it is just a passing blimp that holds no interest for the average American voter. It is a sound bite that will soon be forgotten.

It may surprise them to know that what they say matters even less to the people most affected - those living in South Asia (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh). The average Joe in this region knows that, whoever wins the election in 2008, the US Pakistan policy will remain the same. Yes, the new president will make all the right noises about how important it is to put Pakistan on the road to democracy, but he or she will continue to adopt a policy that is best for America; not what is best for Pakistan.

There is nothing wrong with that, per se. Almost all nations of the world give priority to their own self interest. What annoys people in this region is the ingrained hypocrisy in the pronouncements of the US government. Like now, for instance, the Bush administration is publicly urging President Musharaff to hold free and fair elections, blah-blah, while simultaneously reassuring the dictator that the billions of dollars of American aid will continue to flow; no matter what. The Pakistani public is not fooled. It knows that Musharaf remains in power only at the pleasure of the US President. If America is serious about restoring democracy in Pakistan, all it needs to do is withdraw the support that has propped up the general for the past six years.