When will these animals who killed her be hunted down? You would think Bhutto's supporters would do it themselves.

George Bush wants to bring the guilty party to justice.

The attacker blew himself up. That makes a trial slightly complicated

Lets hope cooler heads prevail.

Wow, don't dump out the body.

re: #1 insanity police

Technically, the killer is dead already, but I'm talking about the people who sent him.

re: #2 shug

George Bush wants to bring the guilty party to justice.

The attacker blew himself up. That makes a trial slightly complicated

Al Qaeda's #2 is rumored to have ordered the hit. Get that POS stained head scumbag.

re: #4 Ward Cleaver

Wow, don't dump out the body.

In one part of the video, there is a window in the coffin, seconds later, no window. I guess they flipped her over.

Bhutto reaction from Pakistan and around the world.

Coupled with the attempted hit earlier in the day on Sharif, I suspect more shoes will be dropping.

This is the middle of the beginning, or the beginning of the end, or perhaps something else not quite either of those...

Sharia! I can't believe I just met a girl named Sharia!

It's going to be a rough few days in Pakistan with roiting, and then Friday prayers, and then more roiting, and then a funeral and then God knows what else...

Obviously, it's all Bush's fault.

re: #6 insanity police

re: #2 shug

George Bush wants to bring the guilty party to justice.

The attacker blew himself up. That makes a trial slightly complicated

Al Qaeda's #2 is rumored to have ordered the hit. Get that POS stained head scumbag.

The chief suspects.

re: #7 ec marm

re: #4 Ward Cleaver

Wow, don't dump out the body.

In one part of the video, there is a window in the coffin, seconds later, no window. I guess they flipped her over.

I noticed that. I was afraid they were going to dump her body out.

Can anyone tell me if Sharif could be involved - even in a peripheral way? It seems he is on the same side as the fanatics and has the most to gain with this assassination. Musharraf seems too smart to start this kind of trouble.

I'm confused about Bhutto. If she has clearly cozied up to the Islamists, why would Al Q take her out?

Animals!

re: #10 Ringo the Gringo

It's going to be a rough few days in Pakistan with roiting, and then Friday prayers, and then more roiting, and then a funeral and then God knows what else...

So you're saying it will be like every other week in the Islamic World.

this is going to get real ugly

re: #15 wvobiwan

Comment 16 is the answer to comment 15...

Thanks, Charles...will be interesting for comparison with the US networks at 6:30 tonight. They might give it an equal 6 minutes, but I suspect a good portion of that will be taken up with presidential candidate statements.

re: #14 vapig

It seems he is on the same side as the fanatics...

Well, I think that would come as a surprise to both "the fanatics" and Musharrif.

all flights have been canceled

When I first read that, I thought it said "all fights have been canceled". Wouldn't that have been a radical new idea for Islam.

re: #17 Opinionated

Yes, only worse.

Very good video report. I've noticed that Channel 4 in Britain is much better than the BBC -- probably because they're private and not a socialist state-run enterprise.

re: #7 ec marm

re: #4 Ward Cleaver

Wow, don't dump out the body.

In one part of the video, there is a window in the coffin, seconds later, no window. I guess they flipped her over.

Remember when Khomeni died the crowd dumped out the body and did a corpse toss - that's always charming. i don't know why they handle the coffins and bodies in this disrespectful manner. It's like an ant swarm bouncing a piece of bread around.

Ron Paul already on fox blaming it on Bush... lol...

re: #18 pegcity

this is going to get real ugly

Yup!

re: #24 zombie

Very good video report. I've noticed that Channel 4 in Britain is much better than the BBC -- probably because they're private and not a socialist state-run enterprise.

Funny how that works.

Might be a good time to revisit what Austin Bay warned about only yesterday.

Al Qaeda will attempt its version of the Tet offensive. Eliminating Bhutto might fit into that strategy, even as it lacks the ability to coordinate mass casualty attacks around the world. Destabilizing Pakistan with the singular act of assassinating Bhutto might be just as effective, though what Musharraf would do in the aftermath remains to be seen.

#21 Ringo the Gringo 12/27/07 1:08:17 pm reply quote report 0

re: #14 vapig

It seems he is on the same side as the fanatics...

Well, I think that would come as a surprise to both "the fanatics" and Musharrif.

Now I'm confused - is Sharif a nickname for Musharrif? Are they the same guy? I hadn't thought so...

re: #7 ec marm

re: #4 Ward Cleaver

Wow, don't dump out the body.

In one part of the video, there is a window in the coffin, seconds later, no window. I guess they flipped her over.

A window in a coffin? Trying to get my mind around that...

re: #9 the jinxmedic

...Sharia! I can't believe I just met a girl named Sharia!

"West Side Story" has a song that goes something like that... :)

):

re: #15 wvobiwan

President Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, had been branded as an enemy of Islam by influential Muslim clerics in the early 1970s.

[Link: www.formerspook.blogspot.com...]

eugh - Fox News have just been fawning over Ron Paul!

re: #15 wvobiwan

Because she's a woman. AQ can't tolerate women in leadership roles, even if they attempt to cozy up to them. Islamists come in many flavors, and AQ and the Taliban being the most violent. Bhutto was hoping to curry favor with Islamists who were more amenable to women in a leadership role.

The USA and GWB will be blamed somehow for this. That rats nest on the border with Afghanistan will have to dealt with one day. We sat around and did nothing about the Taliban and Bin Laden before 9/11 because it was not politically expedient to deal with it. Right now, we have a country with nukes falling apart at the seams. What's going to happen if these hardliner Islamic types take over? What will we do then? More importantly, what will India do? We (the world) have to deal with these yahoos before they deal with us

A note to the UN and the various leftist groups, a failed state = Pakistan, not Iraq or Israel

I hate to even think this but a civil war is probably the preferred outcome of this.

re: #29 lawhawk

Might be a good time to revisit what Austin Bay warned about only yesterday.

Al Qaeda will attempt its version of the Tet offensive. Eliminating Bhutto might fit into that strategy, even as it lacks the ability to coordinate mass casualty attacks around the world. Destabilizing Pakistan with the singular act of assassinating Bhutto might be just as effective, though what Musharraf would do in the aftermath remains to be seen.

Good catch. Linked you and Bay.

re: #40 Killgore Trout

Why?

I've made some updates over at my place. Emergency rule around the corner.
[Link: noblesseoblige.org...]

I am suspecting that the flites are canceled for a reason, I wonder if they've picked up Hamid Gul and cronies yet to sweat them.

re: #43 Thanos

I sent my son to your site earlier...he was most appreciative...thank you.

re: #29 lawhawk

Might be a good time to revisit what Austin Bay warned about only yesterday.

Al Qaeda will attempt its version of the Tet offensive. Eliminating Bhutto might fit into that strategy, even as it lacks the ability to coordinate mass casualty attacks around the world. Destabilizing Pakistan with the singular act of assassinating Bhutto might be just as effective, though what Musharraf would do in the aftermath remains to be seen.

I'm surprised it's taken them so long. And if they really wanted to destabilize and swoop in, why not Musharraf months or years ago? They certainly don't have to fear any retaliation from USA.

It will be interesting to watch the actions of Sharif in the coming days/weeks. I get a bad vibe from him.

re: #41 JammieWearingFool

re: #29 lawhawk

Might be a good time to revisit what Austin Bay warned about only yesterday.

Al Qaeda will attempt its version of the Tet offensive. Eliminating Bhutto might fit into that strategy, even as it lacks the ability to coordinate mass casualty attacks around the world. Destabilizing Pakistan with the singular act of assassinating Bhutto might be just as effective, though what Musharraf would do in the aftermath remains to be seen.

Good catch. Linked you and Bay.

That is a good catch

re: #30 vapig

I misread your post..Sorry.

re: #42 Ma Sands

Because if the secularists win, the country can become a peaceful democracy again. If the Islamists win we can treat them as a hostile country and bomb the crap out of the training camps and nuclear sites.

re: #37 lawhawk

re: #15 wvobiwan

Because she's a woman. AQ can't tolerate women in leadership roles, even if they attempt to cozy up to them. Islamists come in many flavors, and AQ and the Taliban being the most violent. Bhutto was hoping to curry favor with Islamists who were more amenable to women in a leadership role.

I was leaning that way, but I figured Zawahiri was wiser in the ways of manipulating political processes. I guess they didn't want Bhutto pulling any votes from their man, badly.

re: #45 Russkilitlover

Musharraf has been the focus of multiple assassination attempts, so it's not for lack of trying. Bhutto has only been in country for about 10 weeks, and she's already been the focus of four attempts - the first within hours of landing in Pakistan that killed 140+. She was again targeted twice within the past 48 hours before the last attack ended with her death.

re: #43 Thanos

I've made some updates over at my place. Emergency rule around the corner.
[Link: noblesseoblige.org...]

I am suspecting that the flites are canceled for a reason, I wonder if they've picked up Hamid Gul and cronies yet to sweat them.

You're added to the latest post.

re: #48 Killgore Trout

Ah. I see.

re: #40 Killgore Trout

I hate to even think this but a civil war is probably the preferred outcome of this.

It won't be much of a civil war although there could be a strong market for splodeydopes. The Pakistani military is quite professional and won't fracture. Business is booming in Pakistan. The weight of society is behind stability even if it means dictatorship.

/all sad.

re: #48 Killgore Trout

Who do you really think would win?

Which side would seem more adept at ruthless killing and power seizing to you?

As for what happens after; considering we haven't "bombed the crap out of" the ones we've already got, I wouldn't flip over the idea of another such target-rich environment developing.

Lawhawk has it. This is Al Queda shit or bust time.

Musharraf must crack down hard to have any hope of containing the swivel eyed loonies.

It ain't going to be pretty and it ain't going to mean democracy in Pakistan any time soon. But the alternative is Al Queda with nukes.

No easy choices people.

Dammit - I am at a loss for words other than that. This stinks. I'm not surprised, but it still stinks. Dammit.

re: #15 wvobiwan

Why would Al Q off a (potential) ally? Simple one-word answer: terror.

re: #40 Killgore Trout

For an excellent history of the Russian civil war, read Red Victory by W. Bruce Lincoln. It will give some idea of what a civil war in a fragmented, pre-modern country with international involvement entails. Then add nuclear weapons to the horror, and again ask yourself how preferred a civil war in Pakistan would be.

Mark Steyn on Benazir Bhutto's assassination.

Time to use their own Nukes on the tribal regions and eliminate every cleric that plays political games. Islam? Spit!

re: #54 Rain Patriot

I agree with experiencedtraveller. The Pakistani army could exert control over the country and would most likely win. Musharrif has lacked the motiviation, maybe this will inspire him but I'm not betting on it. He's a fence sitter, he didn't do anything after the Red Mosque take over and I don't think he's do much now unless he really has to.

"Remember when Khomeni died the crowd dumped out the body and did a corpse toss - that's always charming. i don't know why they handle the coffins and bodies in this disrespectful manner. It's like an ant swarm bouncing a piece of bread around."

LOL.

I don't get it when they go batshit like that - people screaming/chaos - virtual anarchy. And they're supposed to be the rational ones? - supporters of democracy and all. Its times like this that I thank God i hit the jackpot and was born in the single greatest country in recorded history.

re: #5 insanity police

Technically, the killer is dead already, but I'm talking about the people who sent him.

You mean Allah?

re: #59 beavereater

Time to use their own Nukes on the tribal regions and eliminate every cleric that plays political games. Islam? Spit!

* * *
Except Al Qaedans live everywhere, including in Pakistan's big cities, where we found Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

The ideology needs to be expunged -- as General Petraeus's counterinsurgency is doing, block by block.

re: #59 beavereater

Time to use their own Nukes on the tribal regions and eliminate every cleric that plays political games. Islam? Spit!

The world does not need an above-ground nuclear detonation.

re: #60 Killgore Trout

he didn't do anything after the Red Mosque take over

Excuse me, didn't he send in troops to end that? Or do you mean he didn't do any meaningful followup?

Bush's remarks are the same old "strongly worded memo" remarks. He didn't even have the nerve to call them terrorists, and especially not Islamic terrorists. Nope, they're just extremists.

The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy.

re: #60 Killgore Trout

I played ping pong once with a guy who played just like that...infuriating! ...I thought it'd be an easy win because he'd lob each ball back so nice and easy and slowly -- never jerking or speeding up or trying anything flashy or different...I think I got maybe one point against him... :)

re: #60 Killgore Trout

re: #54 Rain Patriot

I agree with experiencedtraveller. The Pakistani army could exert control over the country and would most likely win. Musharrif has lacked the motiviation, maybe this will inspire him but I'm not betting on it. He's a fence sitter, he didn't do anything after the Red Mosque take over and I don't think he's do much now unless he really has to.

* * *
We can't do much about the kumbaya-ing Carterite/Clintonista lefties who took over our State Department! We don't do putsches, we have elections and hope our electorate lets us clean house.

Channel 4 are the ones who made and broadcast the 'Make Me a Muslim' thingy. Channel 4 News may be marginally better than the BBC, but that's almost meaning less when the BBC's bias is so heavy it bends spacetime. Channel 4 News is still firmly center-left in its political outlook.
I suppose this is an example of 'some things are just indefensible.'

(Hmmm...looks like Charles is tinkering again...or is that just my computer...?)

re: #65 wahabicorridor

Afterwards he returned control of the mosque to the same group who took it over. He's done no followup to deal with the militants or radical clerics.

re: #65 wahabicorridor

re: #60 Killgore Trout

he didn't do anything after the Red Mosque take over

Excuse me, didn't he send in troops to end that? Or do you mean he didn't do any meaningful followup?

* * *
Hola, Waha! Feliz Navidad and hope your funding is now secure, thanks to Congress' vote.

re: #58 onslow

Mark Steyn on Benazir Bhutto's assassination.

Thanks Onslow, I updated with that. Mark is spot on. The Pakistan Benazir returned to is not the Pakistan she thought she knew.

re: #30 vapig

#21 Ringo the Gringo 12/27/07 1:08:17 pm reply quote report 0 re: #14 vapig

It seems he is on the same side as the fanatics...

Well, I think that would come as a surprise to both "the fanatics" and Musharrif.

Now I'm confused - is Sharif a nickname for Musharrif? Are they the same guy? I hadn't thought so...

Not the same guy. Sharif is part of the opposition party against Musharrif.

The thing about this is, why did not Musharraf offer military escorts and guards for her? That is knowing that AQ wanted to off her badly and failed before...

So now instead of being a Democratic leader, Bhutto will be a political martyr and banner for the same agents which strive to ensure that Pakistan be anything but Democratic.

One thing is clear, any "shared government" would have wrought street violence on this scale every night as Bhutto factions, government factions and the other 50% of Pakistan who are ga-ga for jihad fought it out. Bhutto wouldn't have looked quite so heroic after that.

re: #50 lawhawk

re: #45 Russkilitlover

Musharraf has been the focus of multiple assassination attempts, so it's not for lack of trying. Bhutto has only been in country for about 10 weeks, and she's already been the focus of four attempts - the first within hours of landing in Pakistan that killed 140+. She was again targeted twice within the past 48 hours before the last attack ended with her death.

I am amazed that Musharraf is still alive. Must be part cat. There does seem to have been increased attention in Pakistan in the past year or so. And I don't think they will be having elections any time soon. I do wish that Musharraf would $#it or get off the pot when it comes do dealing with terrorism.

TO: Charles Johnson, et al.
RE: A Clever Ploy

Al Qaeda and their sympathizers are going to blame this on the current government. And, no matter WHAT comes out, even if Osama were to show up on the streets of Islamabad and says, "I did it", they'll still blame Mushie.

We could well watch Pakistan tear itself apart.

Then maybe the Indians will nuke it.

Regards,

Chuck(le)

re: #73 Thanos

re: #58 onslow

Mark Steyn on Benazir Bhutto's assassination.

Thanks Onslow, I updated with that. Mark is spot on. The Pakistan Benazir returned to is not the Pakistan she thought she knew.

I agree he was spot on...

On wait...you mean a Muslim woman was living next to a Jewish man and she had an infidel boyfriend? No wonder why AQ wanted to off her! Yikes!

(That's pretty, Charles...the quotes set off like that...I like it! :)

re: #74 ciaospirit

re: #30 vapig

#21 Ringo the Gringo 12/27/07 1:08:17 pm reply quote report 0 re: #14 vapig
It seems he is on the same side as the fanatics...

Well, I think that would come as a surprise to both "the fanatics" and Musharrif.

Now I'm confused - is Sharif a nickname for Musharrif? Are they the same guy? I hadn't thought so...

Not the same guy. Sharif is part of the opposition party against Musharrif.

The full name is Nawaz Sharif, he's the leader of Pakistani Muslim League-Sharif, or PML-N, and the fellow Musharraf overthrew in a bloodless coup when he took power.

Musharraf's party is Pakistani Muslim League-Quaid (Short for Quaid e Azam, founder of Pakistan - Christmas was his birthday.)

Benazir Bhutto's party is Pakistani People's Party or PPP

The mullah contingent party is Muttahida Majlis e Amal, or MMA - they recently split over participating in the elections or not, typically pull only 11% in elections even in the frontiers.

re: #71 Killgore Trout

re: #65 wahabicorridor

Afterwards he returned control of the mosque to the same group who took it over. He's done no followup to deal with the militants or radical clerics.

Ok, gotcha!

re: #72 alegrias

Hola! alegrias! Yes, we are good to go for another year - we and 400 people who were about to be kicked to the curb...

re: #15 wvobiwan

I'm confused about Bhutto. If she has clearly cozied up to the Islamists, why would Al Q take her out?

Female. Uncovered meat. Uppity. Do they really need a reason?

re: #78 Chuck Pelto

TO: Charles Johnson, et al.
RE: A Clever Ploy

Al Qaeda and their sympathizers are going to blame this on the current government. And, no matter WHAT comes out, even if Osama were to show up on the streets of Islamabad and says, "I did it", they'll still blame Mushie.

We could well watch Pakistan tear itself apart.

Then maybe the Indians will nuke it.

Regards,

Chuck(le)

You have that right, Nawaz is being sly by saying "Musharraf policies led to this" instead of coming out and saying "Musharraf did it" but you know the message the illiterates are getting on the streets.

re: #77 Russkilitlover

re: #50 lawhawk

re: #45 Russkilitlover

Musharraf has been the focus of multiple assassination attempts, so it's not for lack of trying. Bhutto has only been in country for about 10 weeks, and she's already been the focus of four attempts - the first within hours of landing in Pakistan that killed 140+. She was again targeted twice within the past 48 hours before the last attack ended with her death.

I am amazed that Musharraf is still alive. Must be part cat. There does seem to have been increased attention in Pakistan in the past year or so. And I don't think they will be having elections any time soon. I do wish that Musharraf would $#it or get off the pot when it comes do dealing with terrorism.

* * *

Musharraf cannot go it alone. He has the same problem we do--much worse really--getting his (jihadist) fellow citizens to support, much less get Pakistani politicians to vote to fund the fight against themselves or people they know and sympathize with. He'd probably love to have Nancy Pelosi and John Murtha as Pakistan's "loyal" opposition, instead of the late Benazir Bhutto or Nawaz Sharif calling for his head and making deals with islamists.

re: #83 Squirrelguy

hardly a saint. corruption and how's her bro doing?

re: #24 zombie

Very good video report. I've noticed that Channel 4 in Britain is much better than the BBC -- probably because they're private and not a socialist state-run enterprise.

Channel 4 is state-owned. It is ad-funded, but non-profit.

It's supposed to be different from other media - ie to present perspectives that you wouldn't get elsewhere. It does sometimes succeed, but if it's saying something right-wing, it does so very carefully, while it's quite casual about being idiotically left-wing.

It's the only channel you'd be likely to see a troofer on, but then it might also have any other idiot conspiracy theory you care to name, like a moon-landing-hoaxer.

Rage Boy must be in quite a quandary over this.
First, Bhutto was just an uppity woman and probably deserved to be punished by heroic mujahadeen. Then again, why pass up a chance to squeal and howl about the evil US and Israel, especially when large segments of the media and the otherwise detestable left in the former country will support you in it?

re: #64 Who Watches the Watchmen?

re: #59 beavereater

Time to use their own Nukes on the tribal regions and eliminate every cleric that plays political games. Islam? Spit!

The world does not need an above-ground nuclear detonation.

And besides, the mountains would limit the effectiveness by shielding most of the territory from the blast.

I notice there is a great divide among females in Pakistan.
Bhutto, and some with her, simply wear a head scarf, allowing plenty of hair to show.
Other females wear niqabs and completely cover every strand of hair.
I remember when the niqabed, orphaned tsunami females, schooled at the madrassa in the red mosque, were attacking Chinese women for their style of dress.
Could this divide over hair showing have contributed to calls for Bhutto's death?

Nawaz Sharif calling for strikes is also so communist/socialist, truly anti-progress. Yeah, that's jihadist leadership for you--keep people from working and improving their lives.

Musharraf is willing to trade with the West, encourage Pakistani exports to grow, and try to change the mindset of his medievalist compatriots.

Islamists want strikes, paralysis, chaos, misery all around, so everyone is inconvenienced and held back.

Secular vs. Islam

No winners.

Historical secular 'wins';
Lenin/Stalin
Hitler
Pol Pot
Mao
Fidel
Ho
Mugabe
Hugo

US secularists;
JFK
Johnson
Nixon
Ford
Carter
GHWB
Slick
GWB

Us non-secularist
RW Reagan

re: #90 mean Gene

I notice there is a great divide among females in Pakistan.
Bhutto, and some with her, simply wear a head scarf, allowing plenty of hair to show.
Other females wear niqabs and completely cover every strand of hair.
I remember when the niqabed, orphaned tsunami females, schooled at the madrassa in the red mosque, were attacking Chinese women for their style of dress.
Could this divide over hair showing have contributed to calls for Bhutto's death?

* * *

She also studied at Harvard.

Mark Steyn's commentary is excellent. The two elements he noted may seen not all that significant to American readers that Bhutto was part of a family political dynasty - one that didn't do very well in actual rule, as in corrupt. Cultural habits like caste set too many things into stone, like total loyalty to one family - not voters, but followers. It really wasn't anything positive to see the same old same old come back - where were the new people? The other element Mark mentions is that Pakistan has changed a lot in two decades. In its drive to become a homogenous Islamic nation, it has grown more rigid over the years than it was at first.
A chunk of Pakistan's population is closely, literally related to a chunk of India's population so there was a strong pull there, and nostalgia that is fading with time, with a new generation that do not know the old times when it was all one country. ANd there are the tribal areas - with people who are ethnically abd culturally more attuned to the Afghan-Pashtuns, not the S Asians. Musharaff and Bhutto both are of the S Asian affinities, while the hostilities are increasing in the non- S Asian populations. Receipe for civil war. Just the kind of chaos that Al Qaeda needs to exploit.

What was done was evil murder. Mrs. Bhutto had a frightening return to her country and the attempts against her were unbelievably despicable in their bruitality - using babies, and children to kill many. It's terrible that they succeeded.

re: #92 BenZacharia

Secular vs. Islam

No winners.

Historical secular 'wins';
Lenin/Stalin
Hitler
Pol Pot
Mao
Fidel
Ho
Mugabe
Hugo

US secularists;
JFK
Johnson
Nixon
Ford
Carter
GHWB
Slick
GWB

Us non-secularist
RW Reagan

* * *
Ronald Wilson Reagan was a democrat and a union leader, as head of the Actors' Guild in Hollywood, before he became a conservative. There IS progress and hope in life.

I recommend taking a look at B. Raman's comments:

[Link: ramansterrorismanalysis.blogspot.com...]

TO: alegrias
RE: What You're Saying Is...

Nawaz Sharif calling for strikes is also so communist/socialist, truly anti-progress. -- alegrias

Sharif is Progressive.

Regards,

Chuck(le)
P.S. Just like Lenin.

re: #15 wvobiwan

I'm confused about Bhutto. If she has clearly cozied up to the Islamists, why would Al Q take her out?

Yeah. In Pakistan (perhaps as it is elsewhere) what politicians say, and what politicians actually do -- oftentimes, these are not one and the same. And in Pakistan, if ya wanna stay alive, ya gotta yak the right yak. In many, many ways, it's a game. i think Bhutto was, as is true of Musharraf, "conflicted." And it's very difficult knowing what their real agenda is...(maybe they don't even know themselves). For the benefit of the West (and western aid money, which I hear has been horribly mis-spent) Prez M will yak -- "We're out to get the terrorists! Yeah." Then, conduct some half-hearted effort, for "show" purposes -- then return to "business as usual" and that's to ignore them. (Reports say that large, large sections of Pakistan, and it's not just in those fabled "tribal areas" are not really under government control). Also, the reality is that given the level of "non-control" -- it would be suicidal to launch a real attempt to "clean up." you'd anger too many, and they'd get you...

RIP

thanks to the ROP

Musharraf is the one with the most to lose from the assassination of Bhutto.

With a Parliament loyal to him and Bhutto, Musharraf and Bhutto could have taken Pakistan toward a more secular state. Bhutto was committed to a secular state and had the following of the middle class on her side.

With Bhutto holding the middle class in check and Musharraf still pulling the strings of the army the country could have been more secure from the radical islamists. Musharraf is a dictator, not a radical supporter of terrorists.

Musharraf realized that he must move to the center and was willing to allow Bhutto to gain some advantage in the upcoming election as he was secure as president.

Musharraf did not want Sharif to gain control of the Parliament as this would allow the radical islamists a large power base to cause much more trouble for him. Sharif is very closely tied to the Tali ban and to Al Qaeda and would not attempt to shut them down.

The only way Sharif could become strong was to either eliminate Musharraf, which has been tried at least 4 times, or to eliminate Bhutto. Remember that upon Bhutto's initial return she avoided Sharif and was willing to work with Musharraf. Musharraf screwed up when he did not immediately meet with her and begin the process of open elections.

As for total war against the Tali ban and Al Qaeda, Musharraf must move very carefully. The Pakistani intelligence agencies are heavily infiltrated by Tali ban and Al Qaeda members. It makes it very hard to be fully aggressive when the enemy knows your plans at the same time you do.

Well God rest her.

Those barbaric bastards. I won't call them animals, it's too good for them, and I wouldn't insult animals.

re: #100 svines

Well, I think that if Musharraf thought he had the most to lose by the assassination of Bhutto then he would have done more to keep her safe and he didn't do that. Guy on CNN is complaining that she had asked for more protection but that protection wasn't forthcoming. To my mind Musharraf pretty much thought she would be successfully assassinated and why would he want her around anyways? She was someone who was trying to take his power away from him. Without her, there is nobody with a shot (so to speak) of doing so. I think he is doing what a lot of the leaders in the Middle East are doing - waiting Bush out and seeing what there is after him. Musharraf might get someone who will be more hostile to him and so why bother shaking off all the dictatorship powers when he's likely to pick them up again. He's not got a situation where he can hand over power and then go retire at his villa in Pakistan. Ex leaders in Pakistan get dead and Musharraf is doing what he can to hold on while playing the ends against the middle. He believes he can ride this out, ride out until the US elections and then see where he stands then.

I found the women covered from assholes to eyeballs in black in this video to be the most frightening aspect.

Have you ever seen insanity walking, well I have. You know the tune.

rip
kthxby
teh rop

(h/t to airedale @ #99)

Mock them, no false god can withstand this.

re: #99 Airedale

RIP

thanks to the ROP

of course, I'd rather have it the other way 'round.

Also, svines (re: #100) ... great comment, good to have you around. You make a decent case that Musharraf may have politically been hurt the most.

I find it hard to believe that he did not obstruct, or at least not fully aide her protection needs.

Sadly, Bhutto did not learn JFKs hard learned lesson to the worlds politicians. Important politicians in trying times perhaps should not stick their heads out of moving cars in public. :/

On a semi-related note, my sister was 10-15 feet from our own GWB sticking his head out and waving from his limo in 2004, when he was politicking in the midwest. He was leaving an event, and she was one of the few people who knew the area well enough to realize what corner he had to come around to get out of the center where he made an appearance. She waited, and he stuck his head out an waved to the group of a half dozen supporters waiting by that corner.

Thank God I don't live in Pakistan.

re: #2 shug

George Bush wants to bring the guilty party to justice.

The attacker blew himself up. That makes a trial slightly complicated

On the President's comments: I realize he's on vacation and all, but he could have at least combed his hair for the press conference! And he looked totally hungover and dragged out of bed. Anyone else noticed that?

Yes, I love the "guilty party to justice" line. Like it was a carjacking.

Some things are worse than military dictators. Bhutto continually squawked about Musharraf, even blaming him for her death in that letter from the grave to Wolf Blitzer. But she seemed to have a huge blindspot in regards to the Taliban and AQ. Perhaps they weirdly appealed to her Marxist leanings (a grassroots Peoples' Movement! Yippee!).

My advice to Musharraf is to expel the Western media immediately and go to work. It's the 4th quarter, and he knows it.

re: #100 svines

Musharraf is the one with the most to lose from the assassination of Bhutto.

With a Parliament loyal to him and Bhutto, Musharraf and Bhutto could have taken Pakistan toward a more secular state. Bhutto was committed to a secular state and had the following of the middle class on her side.

With Bhutto holding the middle class in check and Musharraf still pulling the strings of the army the country could have been more secure from the radical islamists. Musharraf is a dictator, not a radical supporter of terrorists.

Musharraf realized that he must move to the center and was willing to allow Bhutto to gain some advantage in the upcoming election as he was secure as president.

Musharraf did not want Sharif to gain control of the Parliament as this would allow the radical islamists a large power base to cause much more trouble for him. Sharif is very closely tied to the Tali ban and to Al Qaeda and would not attempt to shut them down.

The only way Sharif could become strong was to either eliminate Musharraf, which has been tried at least 4 times, or to eliminate Bhutto. Remember that upon Bhutto's initial return she avoided Sharif and was willing to work with Musharraf. Musharraf screwed up when he did not immediately meet with her and begin the process of open elections.

As for total war against the Tali ban and Al Qaeda, Musharraf must move very carefully. The Pakistani intelligence agencies are heavily infiltrated by Tali ban and Al Qaeda members. It makes it very hard to be fully aggressive when the enemy knows your plans at the same time you do.

Good post.