Political Perils

Political dynasties don't always have it very good, and global politics can be a dangerous world. Just minutes after I penned what now looks like a rather bland list of British political concerns, what may be the last, violent political act of 2007 took place in Rawalpindi, as former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto was shot and bombed to death. She follows her ex-PM father to the grave (executed by former military dictator General Zia), and her two brothers, both of whom met violent deaths.

Her death shatters the Pakistan political landscape yet again, but was not wholly unexpected - her return to her country in October was, after all, accompanied by a would-be assassination. Neither was she the most glorious or heroic of leaders - her two terms of office were mired in corruption scandals, although some, at least, of the eventual charges were probably politically motivated, as conversations between the unsavoury associates of Nawaz Sharif (another former PM) and a judge later revealed. But Bhutto did at least stick her head above the parapet; she did seek to engage in democratic politics in her turbulent country; and her death robs that nation of one of its political stars. A state of emergency - again - can't be far off.