Meridian recently offered an exclusive opportunity for a pre-publication preview of Benazir Bhutto's book, Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West, with Mark Siegel, Bhutto's friend and advisor. On Monday February 11, Dr. Siegel spoke about his relationship with former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and their close collaboration on her book, which entered bookstores on February 12.

Completed only two days before her tragic death, Reconciliation describes Bhutto's return to Pakistani political life in recent months. "In her book, Benazir Bhutto sends a powerful message of peace and international understanding," says Meridian President, Ambassador Stuart Holliday. With her experience governing in Pakistan and time studying and living in the West, Bhutto is uniquely capable of providing insightful commentary into both the Western and Middle Eastern perspectives on the complex, often contentious relationship between the U.S. and the Islamic world. In exploring the history of East-West relations in Reconciliation, Bhutto counters the argument that Islam is incompatible with democracy and emphasizes opportunities for cooperation and realignment between the Middle East and the West.