Degree for Women's Fired Up Lady of the Week: Benazir Bhutto

Well, you might have seen this one coming. Benazir Bhutto is the opposition leader to President Musharraf in Pakistan. She is, as of today, under house arrest in the mess going on over there.

Here's a brief bio from the NYT:

The daughter of a prime minister who was ousted and hanged by the Pakistani military, Benazir Bhutto became the first woman leader of an Islamic country when she became prime minister in 1988 at the age of 35. She served a total of six years in office before being dismissed in 1996 amid widespread charges of corruption against herself and her husband. Since then she has lived abroad.

In the summer of 2007, her associates said that talks had begun -- with the encouragement of Bush administration officials -- with the country's current ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, for a power-sharing arrangement after presidential elections in October. Ms. Bhutto is seen as more favorably inclined to the United States than other potential coalition partners for General Musharraf, whose power has ebbed. No formal deal was reached, but Ms. Bhutto, the leader of the Pakistan People's Party, announced plans to return to Pakistan to participate in the campaign.— Oct. 3, 2007

Now under house arrest, her popularity seems to be rising to greater heights. Under house arrest, Bhutto appears to have become a Pakistani martyr.

Bhutto twice tried to leave in her car on Friday, telling police: "Do not raise hands on women. You are Muslims. This is un-Islamic." They responded by blocking her way with an armored vehicle.

So for her fearless political views and outspoken opposition to the current regime, Ms. Bhutto is this week's Degree for Women's Fired Up Lady of the Week. Congrats. The gift pack (which I'm beginning to think will never be provided by Degree) will help out when you get out of house arrest. (It'd probably be useful now, but how would we get it there?)