It says something that the newly-elected President of Pakistan has, himself, written and posted an Op Ed in the Boston Globe. Perhaps Boston was chosen in part because of the Sloan School – or Harvard. Only Asif Ali Zardari, the newly-elected president of an embattled, new democracy knows why here, and why now.
Having just participated in a grassroots democratic event with 492 other delegates last night, and reading President Zardari’s post today, I was stuck by the reliance of democracy on the courage of ordinary people. The stakes for democracy in Pakistan are immense – and the success in Pakistan of democracy and the rule of law is critical to us all. President Zardari ends his Op Ed as follows:
We must fight this epic battle together as allies and as partners. But just as we will not let our territory be used by terrorism for attacks on our people and neighbors, we cannot allow our territory and sovereignty to be violated by friends. Attacks that violate our sovereignty actually serve to empower the forces against which we mutually fight.
I am a democratic president of a democratic nation elected with a two-thirds mandate, and I intend that my country be a model to our region and religion of a vibrant, modern, tolerant, peaceful, moderate democracy committed to economic and social justice. People, including my wife, died for this moment. I do not intend to squander it.
Terrorism took Benazir’s life. But the terrorist cannot kill my wife’s dream.
For the entire Op Ed: http://www.boston.com/bostongl…
The best help the United States, in pursuit of worldwide democracy and the rule of law, can provide President Zardari is to respect him – and Pakistan’s borders.
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