The assassination of Benizir Bhutto in Rawalpindi, Pakistan recently has sent economic, political and financial ripples throughout the world.

Her sudden death, just before Pakistan's elections, where she was the likely candidate to become Prime Minister, impacted global oil markets, even though Pakistan is not an oil producer; financial markets, as speculators feared the unrest subsequent to the assassination and risks of Pakistan - a nuclear nation - becoming unstable; and in world capitals, as government leaders were shocked to discover that Pakistan could be the target of Al Quaeda efforts to destabilize one of the Islamic world's few stable democracies.

We predict that her legacy, often troubled, will become a rallying point for Pakistanis, most of whom are extremely distressed by the effects of terrorist activities in their country and the subsequent military domination of the nation as government leaders try to control the terrorist efforts.

As a martyr to the cause of reform and anti-terrorism, Bhutto becomes the point of no return and with her son and husband now succeeding her in the role of leader of her political party, her legacy becomes an extremely strong force in the next elections, now postponed until February.