More than likely it was Al-Qaeda that murdered Benazir Bhutto. Her death, however, reveals the weakness in our anti-terrorist strategy since 9-11. The venomous sector of Pakistan known as Waziristan has spread into the rest of the country. Al-Qaeda is alive and well there and in some ways that lawless corner of Pakistan has become the new Afghanistan; a haven for the jihadist group and a base from which to foment their extremist philosophy.

It was revealed tonight that Benazir Bhutto’s return to Pakistan was made possible through US diplomatic efforts. The purpose was to continue the Bush strategy of spreading liberal democracy throughout the region. Pakistan’s instability leaves little room for maneuver and led ultimately to the death of the one true champion of liberalism in the country. In chess terms, we led with our queen; a strategy that seldom works and usually forces you to play the game without your most valuable piece.

The strategy is much more flawed than just sending Bhutto into the snake pit. The best course of action would have been to get rid of the snakes first. The invasion of Iraq has been a harmful diversion on the war against Al-Qaeda. Everyone hails the fact that Al-Qaeda is being driven from Iraq but the terrorist organization was not there prior to 2003. Saddam Hussein’s demise and subsequent power vacuum led to a flood of terrorists into Mesopotamia.

The post-9/11 strategy should have been to go after Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Waziristan with not only US forces but also the real coalition of the willing; the vast number of nations who were motivated to eliminate Al-Qaeda in the wake of the series of attacks that occurred in the US, Spain, Indonesia and London. People forget that even Iran was providing assistance in defeating the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan on the basis these two groups were considered a Sunni menace by the Shia state of Iran.

The assassination of Benazir Bhutto has left Pakistan more destabilized and, to make matters worse, there is no liberal figure in the country that can replace her. In a state that possess nuclear weapons and where Osama Bin Laden is viewed favorably, a crisis which would lead to the end of the Pervez Musharraf presidency would not only be bad for Pakistan, it would be dangerous for the world.

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