Benazir Bhutto assassinated — Page 2

From the AP article:

Other U.S. officials and presidential candidates also issued statements expressing shock at Bhutto's assassination. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden of Delaware, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said, "I am convinced Ms. Bhutto would have won free and fair elections next week. The fact that she was by far Pakistan's most popular leader underscores the fact that there is a vast, moderate majority in Pakistan that must have a clear voice in the system."

"This fall," Biden said, "I twice urged President Musharraf to provide better security for Ms. Bhutto and other political leaders." He said "the failure to protect Ms. Bhutto raises a lot of hard questions for the government and security services that must be answered." Biden urged Bhutto's supporters to refrain from lashing out in anger.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, said the killing was "a stark reminder that America must not only stay on high alert, but remain actively engaged across the globe. Pakistan has long been a key part in the war against extremism and radical jihadists. For those who think Iraq is the sole front in the war on Terror, one must look no further than what has happened today."

Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., called the assassination "terrible news for those who support a stabilized democracy in Pakistan, both in that country and around the world."

Feingold said, "The questions surrounding her assassination should have direct bearing on both the future of democracy in Pakistan and the relationship we will have with a country that is so critical in the fight against global terrorism."

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Romney, of course, misses the point.

Too bad Biden and Feingold are not players in the presidentail campaign. Both of them have a better grasp on the Near East and Mideast than either Hillary or Barrack.
Bhutto assassination throws wrench into US policy on Pakistan

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it could be much, MUCH worse than really bad, D.....this could be all out war

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I know S. Really Really Bad = war.

I am not trying to jump to a worst-case scenario, but this takes an already destabilized region, and throws further fuel on the chaos.

There is a really intersting book out I'd like to recommend. I read it and now when things like this happen, I can't help but wonder what will happen next:

"Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine advances a truly unnerving argument: historically, while people were reeling from natural disasters, wars and economic upheavals, savvy politicians and industry leaders nefariously implemented policies that would never have passed during less muddled times. As Klein demonstrates, this reprehensible game of bait-and-switch isn't just some relic from the bad old days. It's alive and well in contemporary society, and coming soon to a disaster area near you.

"At the most chaotic juncture in Iraq's civil war, a new law is unveiled that will allow Shell and BP to claim the country's vast oil reserves… Immediately following September 11, the Bush Administration quietly outsources the running of the 'War on Terror' to Halliburton and Blackwater… After a tsunami wipes out the coasts of Southeast Asia, the pristine beaches are auctioned off to tourist resorts… New Orleans residents, scattered from Hurricane Katrina, discover that their public housing, hospitals and schools will never be re-opened." "
The Shock Doctrine

They just announced that the Pakistani military has been put on alert.

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"Who loses?" is the bigger question, and the answer is the Pakistani people--and us. The United States is now, if you can believe it, LESS of a positive influence than ever before.

Not only did we prop up the Musharraf government--which supported the Taliban and allowed Osama bin Ladin sanctuary--but we also encouraged Bhutto to return, despite all intelligence saying she would be unsafe. Also--we supported HER government, and SHE supported the Taliban as well.

And whoever said she her corruption charges were trumped up by her opponents was not quite accurate. There are still ongoing corruption investigations from Spain and other European countries that want to know where their money went during her administration. Nothing as large as the $10 billion the Bushes gave to Musharraf, but Bhutto was no Mother Teresa.

I have said over and over that the Bush White House's lack of understanding of Near East politics is beyond shocking. They should be impeached simply for being stupid.

No outside country has EVER gone into the Near East and emerged victorious. Not England, not Russia and not us. The only thing Bush and Cheney got our of taking on Iraq/Iran/Afghanistan and Pakistan was a SH*Tload of oil. And perhaps that's all they wanted all along.

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Absolutely PJ- I got cut short before I could talk about the losing side. The US is the big loser in every respect. If you doubt that, check the financial page: Gold and Oil prices are way up as the Dollar continues to fall. The world community no longer has any faith in the US. Chalk up another "Victory" to Bush's team.

Unless of course this is what Bush and Cheney wanted all along: weak dollar means high oil prices. Hig oil prices mean large profits for oil companies.

Color and Light--Republican administrations ALWAYS lead to hopelessness. That's why we vote for Democrats.

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Yes PJ one does wonder if they are that short-sighted. And of course, will this act of "Terrorism" effect the US elections.

Our Stupid Leader had these words to say:

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

Pakistan's...democracy?

Apparently, no one in the White House told him Pakistan doesn't HAVE a democracy.

Or...scarier still...maybe they don't know.

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The Decider went on to say:

"Those who committed this crime must be brought to justice."

Apparently no one told him the assassin exploded himself.

Why, oh why, do they let him discuss world politics with language derived from DC Comics?

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a story was getting floated a while back that she was actually the candidate of choice by the extremists because they felt she would be the easiest to manipulate or - if necessary - eliminate.

it does set the stage for a protest candidate to rise from the ashes and ber swept into power on a wave of pervez hatred.

so pj, since the assassin blew himself up, you're satisfied that this was the work of a lone assassin and that no further investigation is necessary? just a single angry guy, huh?

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according to these guys aq has already claimed responsibility.
we kilt dat ho

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