[Zardoz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Bas', '.')..you could have seen it coming if you were aware of the inadequate security surrounding her public rallies.

[billg]

I would hope that people will see this as further evidence that our involvement over there is fanning the flames of radicalism. Al-quaeda is doing Musharref's dirty work. We are funding Musharref who is funding Al-quaeda to keep him protected. It's all quite ironic.

[lexicon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('virgincrude', 'Y')ou could have seen it coming if you were in Pakistan, or were close to any Pak nationals: this was written on the wall (and she knew it) and although she felt Musharraf would authorise it, I believe it was planned all along by her main sponsors: Washington.

They urged Mush to declare the fake 'emergency' and drop the corruption charges against her so she could return without being arrested on the spot. The only barrier was the judiciary, and Mush took care of them with the arrest early in the year of the Chief Justice, who was undoubtedly going to declare Mush's bid for democratically elected power to be illegal.

Bhutto was more popular in the West than in Pakistan, besides her text-book Oxford English, she only spoke one of the 5 or so national dialects- totally out of touch with the masses, and the corruption charges would have been successfull, and she would have been thrown (quite rightly) in jail. Recently, in so called pre-election negotiations she was insisting the judiciary should not be reinstated before the elections, and a new judiciary should be named by the election winners. This would have ensured she be free from the threat of legal proceedings.

However, by dying, she has inadvertently become a major icon and people who may never have thought of voting for her party, will consider it now, purely as an act of vengeance against Mush, who is hated for his pandying to Washington. Whoever committed this disgusting act (why blow up so many people, was it not enough to assassinate her and turn the gun on himself?) is not important right now, it was however, easily predictable and it's hard to understand the motives behind Bhutto's return- except for her greed for money and power- things which go hand in hand in Pakistan.

It is unlikely the 8th Jan elections will go ahead now, as parties will need more time to recoup, something which works against the present ruling party, who need swift actions before people have time to ponder on this. The longer the delay, the less likely they will be re-elected. All over Pakistan, people will vote out their regional heads, all appointed by Mush, apparently people in Peshawar were so incensed when they heard of Bhutto's assassination, their anger frightened the police away- there is no stomach for civil war.

I am certain that if I (and Bhutto herself) could see this coming, then Washington also had a pretty clear idea of how things would pan out, and as the major sponsors for her return (they didn't give a shit about Sharif, who was the legitimately elected leader Mush kicked out remember, it was the Saudi's who chaperoned HIS return ....) they obviously were planning a destabilisation of the country by moving their pawns- Mush and Bhutto. Mush would not have wanted this, they are braying for his blood in the streets now, MUSH=DOG one of the worst insults in Islam. His days are numbered, he's either off to Washington for talks and a soothing cup of tea and exile offer, or his head's in the noose before cricket season.

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('billg', 'I') would hope that people will see this as further evidence that our involvement over there is fanning the flames of radicalism. Al-quaeda is doing Musharref's dirty work. We are funding Musharref who is funding Al-quaeda to keep him protected. It's all quite ironic.

[Fishman]

I would hope that people will see this as further evidence that our involvement over there is fanning the flames of radicalism

This is absolute hillarious, they would have killed her regardless of whether we were in Iraq or sitting on our hands here whimpering.

The question of who benefits is also rediculous. That's like saying a firefighter benefits from a fire. You hang blame by association. Just perhaps, the current administration benefits because they have the best plans for fighting the problems, as opposed to sitting on the sidelines and whining. Perhaps there's a pattern here, some group blows up our embassies, blows up our ships, blows up folks in Bali, bombs folks in Spain and England. Nah, that would make too much sense, must be a conspiracy

[Zardoz]

Very good article on Pakistan, from Newsweek, a couple of months ago:

Where the Jihad Lives Now - Islamic militants have spread beyond their tribal bases, and have the run of an unstable, nuclear-armed nation.

Basically, the radical Jihadists have the Pakistani army at bay, and are steadily growing in power and influence.

[Eli]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Fishman', 'I') would hope that people will see this as further evidence that our involvement over there is fanning the flames of radicalism

This is absolute hillarious, they would have killed her regardless of whether we were in Iraq or sitting on our hands here whimpering.

The question of who benefits is also rediculous. That's like saying a firefighter benefits from a fire. You hang blame by association. Just perhaps, the current administration benefits because they have the best plans for fighting the problems, as opposed to sitting on the sidelines and whining. Perhaps there's a pattern here, some group blows up our embassies, blows up our ships, blows up folks in Bali, bombs folks in Spain and England. Nah, that would make too much sense, must be a conspiracy

[maggiethedog]

It is a real tragedy for the democratic world. I am setting up a website for information regarding her. Many domain names were taken, so here are the websites that I was able to come up with:

http://www.benazir-bhutto.org
http://www.benazir-bhutto.in
http://www.benazir-bhutto.biz

They all basically link to the same site. I would love some suggestions to add to the site. If you have some (constructive) suggestions, please email me at maggiemarketing@gmail.com

Peace

[thuja]

Many are now calling Bhutto a martyr. Does that mean she gets 77 virgins upon entrance to heaven?

Sorry- terrible taste- its a shame...she seemed like a very good force for moderation and ratonality in a country marred by unceasing internal violence and factionalization. Now about those nukes...

[Dan1195]

I don't know if it was a true Al-Qaida Attack in the sense of beiing carried out by sleeper cells that were activitated as much as extremists claiming to act in the name of Al-Qaida (which is essentially what Al-Qaida in Iraq is). Al-Qaida attacks by sleep cells generally attack a phyical target like a building, ship, train, etc. since people are much more mobile and thus harder targets for "sleeper" cells.

[shakespear1]

Why was the Bhutto assassination announcement post pulled off of "Energy Geopolitics" discussion section?

[lexicon]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Fishman', '
')The question of who benefits is also rediculous. That's like saying a firefighter benefits from a fire.

[frankthetank]

I will say one thing, she had WAY bigger balls then me! She had a lot of guts to go in there and do what she did.

[Leanan]

I think it was just because it had already been posted to Current Events. The mods like to consolidate threads so all the discussion is in one place.

[shakespear1]

I see

[billg]

delete

[mmasters]

IMO this was a result of infighting among the elite. She was merely a chess piece on the board. Looks like 2008 is going to be an interesting year.

[satjeet]

I don't know much about Pakistan but I do read a lot about current affairs and I have heard at least one lengthly radio interview with her - maybe on BBC. She was very intelligent and articulate. I think this is a considerable loss. I mourn her death.

[mos6507]

I dunno about the rest of you but I'm sick and tired of the way any and every international event is attributed to a BushCo conspiracy or blamed on BushCo events regardless of how many levels of cause and effect you need to traverse. It's like some dumb game of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.

The Bush administration has plenty to answer for, but by using them as a constant scapegoat for everything just hides legitimate criticism under the constant noise.

[billp]

Such things may have happened before.

Borijove Jeytic

Benazir appears to have been suicidal? And got her wish?

As maybe some are also suicidal in the US?

Messing with these cats is a BAD IDEA.