Bhutto murdered

[sasvermont]

Fasten your seat belts. This death will most likely take us into another tense and tangled mess. I thought it was matter of time until someone was suscessful at their attempt. How sad. How scarey. What is this world coming to? :mad:

[cassiesmom]

The Middle East is so volatile.

Edited to add: I heard on news radio last night that the brother of president Musharraf is a physician in the Chicago area. I would really not want to be in his shoes right now.

[Karen]

It is tragic, both for her family, for her country, and for the world. She just recently said, "No true Muslim would do that," referring to an assassination attempt.

[lizbud]

It is tragic, both for her family, for her country, and for the world. She just recently said, "No true Muslim would do that," referring to an assassination attempt.


She was referring to the fact that she was a woman, and said it was
against Muslim law to kill a woman & that's what she meant by that
statement. These extremists recognize no limits with their blind hatred. :(

One news report I saw yesterday mentioned that she was the last of
her family (Bhutto) Her father, who was also a former PM in Pakistan,
and her two brothers were also killed by assasinations.

[Karen]

She does have a sister, still, but her sister lives in London and has for years, and has not been involved in Pakistani politics.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I have always admired Benazir Bhutto. I do not know the right or wrong of her politics - whether her regime was corrupt or not, but I think she was a incredibly brave woman. To have lead a Muslim nation - as a woman took such courage. To return to her country, knowing the distinct possiblity of harm...I could not have done it for one minute.

In addition to a nation (and possibly beyond) left in chaos, she leave three children. Teenagers I believe.

It is so sad how often violence is the answer.... :( :(

[caseysmom]

I read her autobiography several years ago. Even at a young age she was an extremely intelligent articulate young lady. Like ES said I don't know the right or wrong of her politics but I sure admired her.

[Catty1]

Interview: Benazir Bhutto
Former Prime Minister of Pakistan
October 27, 2000
London, England
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.achievement.org/achievers/bhu0/photos/bhu0-006a.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/printmember/bhu0int-1&h=176&w=256&sz=34&hl=en&start=13&um=1&tbnid=IGXy8QUi0jgEjM:&tbnh=76&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbenazir%2Bbhutto%2Bhusband%2Band%2Bch ildren%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dac tive%26sa%3DG


http://lh6.google.com/181981/RyNFid7RuoI/AAAAAAAAAO4/ECWVjZ7HrCo/Benazir%20family.jpg?imgmax=512
Former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto (C) and her two daughters arrive at a press conference in Dubai 17 October 2007. Bhutto confirmed today that she will return home tomorrow, October 18, after eight years of self-imposed exile despite government pressure to delay her homecoming. AFP PHOTO KARIM SAHIB

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050417/world.jpg
Asif Ali Zardari, husband of Benazir Bhutto, is escorted by a Pakistani policeman outside his residence in Lahore on Saturday. — Reuters photo

http://www.achievement.org/achievers/bhu0/large/bhu0-006.jpg

[Pam]

Some of the news coverage that I watched last night expressed concern that such a thing could happen in a country that also has nuclear weapons. The worry was that if security was not good enough to keep this from happening just how good is their security with regard to their weapons. Then again, we have nuclear weapons here and all sorts of horrible things have happened to us. *sigh* :( Unfortunately I don't think there is any place safe from madness these days.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

She was such a pretty woman as well as courageous. I remember seeing on the news when she arrived back in Pakistan. I could tell she really loved her country.

Such a sad sad thing! :(

[caseysmom]

I recommend "Daughter of Destiny" which is basically her life story, it was very good reading.

[Lizzie]

I've been reading the comments on BBC online, most of which have come from people in South Asia, the Middle and Far East and Africa, so extremely interesting to read.

I, too, was awed by the fact that she would go back to a country where her life was in imminent danger and, while shocked, I am not at all surprised by her assassination. My ex-husband knew her slightly at Oxford, where she was still known as Pinky Bhutto. I'd never known him so inarticulate in describing someone, he just said something like she was "quite something, very opinionated and forceful" and seemed lost for words after that. Those must have been golden days for her, while her father was still alive and the future looked challenging but positive.

[Catty1]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/pakistan_investigation

Pakistan says Bhutto died of fractured skull, not bullet wounds

1 hour, 56 minutes ago

By Munir Ahmad, The Associated Press

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Benazir Bhutto died from a skull fracture suffered when her head slammed against her car during a suicide attack - not from bullet wounds, the government said Friday.

Pakistan's interior minister blamed al-Qaida and the Taliban for Thursday's assassination and said another key opposition leader, Nawaz Sharif, is also under threat of militant attack.

The government released a transcript Friday of a purported conversation between militant leader Baitullah Mehsud and another militant.

"It was a spectacular job. They were very brave boys who killed her," Mehsud said, according to the transcript.

On Thursday, authorities said Bhutto died from bullet wounds fired by a young man who then blew himself up, killing 20 other people. A surgeon who treated her said earlier Friday she died from the impact of shrapnel on her skull.

But later Friday, Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said all three shots missed her as she greeted supporters through the sunroof of her vehicle, which was bulletproof and bombproof.

He also denied that shrapnel caused her death.

Cheema said Bhutto was killed when she tried to duck back into the vehicle and the shock waves from the blast knocked her head into a lever attached to the sunroof, fracturing her skull.

At a news conference, Cheema played a videotape of the attack showing Bhutto waving, smiling and chatting with supporters from the sunroof as her car sat unmoving on the street outside a campaign rally. Three gunshots rang out, the camera appeared to fall, and the tape ended.

Bhutto was slain while campaigning for the Jan. 8 parliamentary elections in which she hoped to return as prime minister. Upon her return from exile in October, she survived an assassination attempt. She had repeatedly complained that the government of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf did not give her adequate security.

On Friday, Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz told The Associated Press that the government had evidence that al-Qaida and Taliban were behind the suicide attack.

Later, Cheema blamed Mehsud, described him as an "al-Qaida leader" and said he was also behind the Oct. 18 bombing against Bhutto's homecoming parade through Karachi that killed more than 140 people.

Mehsud is a commander of pro-Taliban forces in the lawless Pakistani tribal region of South Waziristan, where al-Qaida fighters are also active. His forces often attack Pakistani security forces.

This fall, he was quoted in a Pakistani newspaper as saying that he would welcome Bhutto's return from exile with suicide bombers. Mehsud later denied that in statements to local television and newspaper reporters.

Cheema said Mehsud was "behind most of the recent terrorist attacks that have taken place in Pakistan."

He said Pakistani security forces would hunt down those responsible for Bhutto's death.

Cheema also said Sharif, also a former prime minister and now the most prominent opposition leader in Pakistan, was among several politicians under threat of militant attack.

He named others as Fazlur Rehman, the leader of an Islamist opposition party; former Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, a close ally of Musharraf; and former Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao, who narrowly escaped a suicide bombing last weekend that killed 56 people.

[dukedogsmom]

It's so tragic. I really admired her a lot. I was so glad when she escaped death a month or so ago. She was a very brave woman who won't be forgotten.

[Lady's Human]

The more I read, the more doubt I have.

For starters, Bhutto was not the angel depicted in the western media. There's a REASON most of that family have been assassinated.

Second.....Al Quaeda? Give me a break. There was no announcement from them (atypical at best), and the more I look at the sequence of events, the more it screams spec ops..........in the case of Pakistan the ISI. (Pak state intel agency) They are out of control of the central government and military, and have been for a long time. Al Quaeda has the capability to pull of a hit, but the combined bombing/sniping takes more coordination than AQ's typical minimally trained footsoldiers. It takes a hell of a lot of intel to pull off something like that, and the AQ just doesn't have the skills to do it. They're terrorists, not military.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

The more I read, the more doubt I have.

For starters, Bhutto was not the angel depicted in the western media. There's a REASON most of that family have been assassinated.

Second.....Al Quaeda? Give me a break. There was no announcement from them (atypical at best), and the more I look at the sequence of events, the more it screams spec ops..........in the case of Pakistan the ISI. (Pak state intel agency) They are out of control of the central government and military, and have been for a long time. Al Quaeda has the capability to pull of a hit, but the combined bombing/sniping takes more coordination than AQ's typical minimally trained footsoldiers. It takes a hell of a lot of intel to pull off something like that, and the AQ just doesn't have the skills to do it. They're terrorists, not military.
Well, from what I heard on the news this morning, (which I do not agree with), it was all her own fault. She stood up and waved. If she had stayed seated like a proper lady, she would not have been killed. They say she died because she hit her head on the car roof when she ducked the gun fire. sheesh!!! :rolleyes: Already they are trying to pass the buck!!!

Will this be the next coverup? :(

[Lady's Human]

Her supporters are screaming about the lack of security.........well, then she shouldn't have been standing in the open sunroof of an unarmored vehicle. Regardless of how lax the security provisions were, common sense has to play a part.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Her supporters are screaming about the lack of security.........well, then she shouldn't have been standing in the open sunroof of an unarmored vehicle. Regardless of how lax the security provisions were, common sense has to play a part.

Wow. Perhaps she should never have left her home. Or perhaps she should not have returned to Pakistan.

[jennielynn1970]

It's just a shame what happened. I can't say that I didn't see it coming, because face it, a woman in a Muslim country being outspoken and saying her opinions and views... it was kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop to see what was going to happen.

I don't think for one minute it was Al Quaeda or Taliban... unless the president paid a Talibani to kill her. Gov't is behind it. 100%.

She was a force to be reckoned with, and that was intimidating to them, and if she had won as a president, how humiliating would that have been for the president now... I believe he had her killed.

[caseysmom]

In her fathers death cell she promised him she would continue his legacy, I truly believe she felt obligated to do that. She also would have to come close to the people to keep their support and she knew the risks.

As far as her not being an angel are you trying to say she deserved this?

[Lady's Human]

I'm about as surprised about this as I am when I get up and the sun rises.

I'm not saying she deserved this, what I'm saying is that her family is far from clean, and has made many, many enemies, among them the ISI. Their government is not the monolithic block that western countries have. it is fragmented, with each part controlling their portion, with no one truly in complete control.

ES, I'm not saying she should have never gone back, what I'm saying is that the VIP being protected has to take some resposibility for their own protection. She should have arranged for a more secure means of transport for herself, especially in light of the bombing that greeted her when she returned to the country. No one is truly secure at any time, but reasonable measures can be taken.

[critter crazy]

Hadnt she ever heard of the pope mobile???:D

[Edwina's Secretary]

I'm about as surprised about this as I am when I get up and the sun rises.

I'm not saying she deserved this, what I'm saying is that her family is far from clean, and has made many, many enemies, among them the ISI. Their government is not the monolithic block that western countries have. it is fragmented, with each part controlling their portion, with no one truly in complete control.

ES, I'm not saying she should have never gone back, what I'm saying is that the VIP being protected has to take some resposibility for their own protection. She should have arranged for a more secure means of transport for herself, especially in light of the bombing that greeted her when she returned to the country. No one is truly secure at any time, but reasonable measures can be taken.

And it was her responsibility that there were no police around too I suppose.... :rolleyes:

She could have had her home hidden from Google, lived in an underground bunker, or avoided any places where those who opposed her might lurk. There are certainly other politicans who do these things.

But find me a politician who isn't hated. Hatred of politicians, crocked political families and nut cases who will sacrifice themselves are just as likely as your sun is to rise.

I just find your response to this...well callous... among other things. But apparently you know more about the situation and how she should have handled it than she did.

[Catty1]

I have read that she cancelled an earlier rally at the government's insistence, as security was a concern.

(And how do you know your security there is not partisan or paid-off?)

Also, I did initially read that she stood up to wave thru the sunroof and got shot. The government's latest version of that is that she DID stand up in the sunroof, ducked so the bullets missed - but that the force of the suicide blast slammed her skull against the sunroof lever, fracturing her skull (or possibly causing the neck vertebra injury reported by the surgeon.)

She knew the risks. And yes, LH, there are few clean hands in the eastern political system, and even in the West. She knew the risks.

Politics aside, I feed sad that a brilliant, beautiful and brave woman, mother of 3, has died so young. That doesn't have to do with whether she was clean.

It's just sad for Pakistan all around...

[carole]

All i have to say is that i felt extremely sad at hearing this news, she was indeed a beautiful woman, and far too young to die, but i guess she knew the risks., and took them, very sad indeed.

[Giselle]

Can somebody explain the *significance* of her death and prior life?

I hate how the American media always dramatizes everything. Buuuut... On the other hand, I read that Pakistanis absolutely hated her. So far, from the American media, I understand that she stood for democracy and was a US ally (correct me if I'm wrong). But then I hear that Pakistanis despised her. Why - I have no clue. I'm guessing it has to do with all the charges of corruption. Again, why? I have no clue!!!

So can somebody please enlighten me?

[Catty1]

Giselle: My impression only - some loved her, some hated her. Certainly there was very little apathy where she was concerned.

She certainly had enough supporters that many got violent enough and wrecked property, rioted, set fires - that Musharraf told security to do what they had to to curb the violence. That doesn't sound to me like 'all Pakistanis hated her'. In fact, her popularity was strong enough for her to BE an assassination target.

She had been a known figure on the world stage for some time, for reasons good and bad. As Oscar Wilde said, "There is one thing worse than being talked about - and that is NOT being talked about."

It is my understanding that she wanted to bring democracy to Pakistan, which would be 'their' version to begin with, and a process, not an event.

One writer referred to the family as the Kennedys of Pakistan - a rich and powerful family where so many of them have been killed deliberately or by a weird twist of fate.

Benazir's 19-year-old son is now co-chair of the PPP, along with his father. The father will take over the actual operations of the PPP chair while Bilawil (son) finishes his education in England. And yet another person will be candidate for Prime Minister if the PPP prevails.

JMO

[Miss Z]

Her supporters are screaming about the lack of security.........well, then she shouldn't have been standing in the open sunroof of an unarmored vehicle. Regardless of how lax the security provisions were, common sense has to play a part.

Could the same thing be said for JFK, Malcolm X, perhaps Martin Luther King? I'm sure he knew the risks of what he was doing with his ideas in that period of history, but did it anyway because it was what he believed was right.

I am really shocked at her death. Corrupt or not, she didn't deserve a death like that. And whilst Al Quaeda may not be to blame for this one, sure as eggs are eggs they're going to find it a lot easier to operate in a panic-stricken, angry, unrestful nation. :(

[Lady's Human]

Could the same thing be said for JFK?

Not really. Had there been any active, credible threats against JFK the Secret Service would have forced him to ride in an enclosed limo, as opposed to allowing him to ride in a convertible.


And whilst Al Quaeda may not be to blame for this one, sure as eggs are eggs they're going to find it a lot easier to operate in a panic-stricken, angry, unrestful nation.

In all actuality, this makes no difference for AQ, as the area they operate in is under the control of no one. If you look at the borders in that area of the world on most maps, they are dotted lines. The border areas are under the control of mountain tribes who haven't been under anyone's control for centuries. Besides, angry and unrestful (restless?) describes Pakistan's entire history, not just the past few years. Panic stricken? Probably not in the least. Assassination is business as usual for Pakistan. Again, just look at their history.

[RICHARD]

Hadnt she ever heard of the pope mobile???:D


Is that a cell phone service? :confused:

--------

Notice the back pedal about her cause of death.

The latch was a nice feint to keep the Mussharaf regime from being blamed-
The latch killed her, not lack of security.

THat is what makes the western countries different from any others.
The gov't. always takes the steps of offering any dignitaries security because of the "Not on our watch/NIMBY" rules. You don't want anyone to get axed in your front yard.

I believe that Mussharaf invited Bhutto back with the intention of having her killed. She shows up and gets axed before the elections...Perfect solution?

Lock down the Pakis again with martial law and cancel the elections...it didn't happen but?