Benazhir Bhutto's assassination was not unexpected...

[Blackhatjack]

She survived a previous suicide bombing/assassination attempt that killed 140 people in Kirachi.

There are reports 2 of her brothers in other parts of the world have died.

She returned from exile with support from a large amount of the population, and spoke out in opposition to Musharraf.

And yet one of the reasons she was ousted from power was extreme corruption in her own Administration.

This is going to demonstrate whether Musharraf is still in control of the military even though he no longer wears the uniform.

The US cannot say they were caught off guard by this assassination -- so events in the next few hours will demonstrate whether the US had developed a plan to deal with it once it happened.

[Blackhatjack]

1. And why has the US not issued an official statement? Where is the 'shoe-shopper'??

What is the US waiting for in this situation? Do they not realize that people are waiting for the US to weigh in on this crisis?

[EFerrari]

2. The US is so hated in Pakistan, maybe they're holding off

so as not to make things worse.

Although, that would require thought, so I suppose that's unlikely. If we had a president and not a corporate front man, a statement would have been issued by now.

[Blackhatjack]

3. IMHO the US needs to put some space between the US and these events....

We are widely viewed as having propped up Musharraf to the detriment of the larger population.

Our 'silence' will likely be read as continued support for the most likely source of the assassination.

I am not for hasty actions, but the US had to have an action plan on the boards in case Bhutto was assassinated.

[LiberalEsto]

7. Shopping for shoes, where else?

This is post-holiday sale week, after all. And the chimp-in-chief is probably either clearing brush or calling Ralph on the big white phone.

[TahitiNut]

17. She's ready to go to Pakistan and bare her sole.

:evilgrin:

[undeterred]

4. The morning shows have not departed from their lightweight stories.

I remember in 1982 when Sadat was assassinated. I was driving home from a graduate school interview and I had to pull over and be sick. It was all over the news. I don't think this is any less significant, but I think the news media has been so dumbed down that most people today wouldn't even know who she was or that she was a fighter for democracy.

[Karenina]

5. Regarding her father and brothers...

"Mrs. Bhutto's family history is intertwined with Pakistani politics — and violence. Her father, Zulkifar Ali Bhutto, was prime minister until his government was overthrown by a military coup in 1977. Bhutto himself was tried, found guilty of organizing a political murder, and executed by hanging in 1979. Mrs. Bhutto's brothers then organized a splinter of the Pakistan People's Party known as the Al-Zulfikar Organization, which was marginalized as terrorist. One brother, Shahnawaz Bhutto, died under shadowy circumstances in Paris in 1985. The second, Mir Murtaza Bhutto, was shot to death by police in 1996, during Mrs. Bhutto's second term as prime minister."

excerpt from NYSun 10/17/07

[Blackhatjack]

6. Sounds like the end of of the Bhutto family line as political leaders...now what?

Who will step into the vacuum created by the assassination of Benazir Bhutto?

Who will the radical faction in Pakistan rally behind?

[babylonsister]

10. So you're saying only the radical faction backed Bhutto?

Sincere question; I'm learning.

Also, what are the odds that Musharraf's henchmen killed her? I think the radical faction might already be backing him.

[Blackhatjack]

13. NOT at all.... I am saying the radical faction is now left searching for a leader to support...

And by no means does the radical faction make up the majority. Pakistan is populated with a large 'middle class' that has been on display protesting Musharraf's institution of martial law.

But the radical faction will take this as the defining event which requires them to rally behind someone who opposes Musharraf and the military.

The radical faction may not be the majority in number, but they do make up the most dangerous group in that population.

[babylonsister]

15. And what are the goals of the radical faction?

To solely cause chaos, or are they intent on getting one of their own in a leadership position? And why are they anti-Musharraf? Because he's 'friends' with the US? I am truly clueless. I was aware of the middle class who were up in arms when martial law was declared, and rightly so. I'm also aware our gov't had a tepid response when that happened.

[Blackhatjack]

19. Here is my take on the situation there...

There is an extremist faction in Pakistan (which is not a majority, but a large group) who want to see Pakistan become an Islamic State, with leaders similar to that presently in place in Iran. They have their own agenda which is anti-western, and they hate Musharraf who has received substantial assistance from the US. They see OBL as a hero, and are committed to opposing the present military backed Musharraf installed Administration.

Bhutto headed up an extremely corrupt Administration when she was ousted from power and driven into exile. When Musharraf announced elections would be held, she was enticed to return to Pakistan. Almost immediately after she returned an assassination attempt against her was foiled.

She remained in Pakistan and spoke out in opposition to Musharraf's imposition of martial law. Now that she is gone, there is a void or vacuum in the group most prone to seek overthrow of the present Musharraf Administration. It is very dangerous since a radical leader could step into that void and mobilize these groups to act upon their extremist beliefs.

Our government cannot remain silent because to do so 'feeds' the suspicions of this group that at least the US helped create the circumstances that led to Bhutto's assassination, and at worst the US was complicit in the planning, support and carrying out of the assassination.

And the wild card in this is that relations between Pakistan and India (who both possess nuclear weapons TODAY) could be strained and an unintended consequence could be open warfare between the two.

Hope this helps.

[babylonsister]

20. Thank you, Blackhatjack. That does help. nt

[Blackhatjack]

22. Of course Bhutto was not the leader of the extremists... in fact they hated her because...

AS a woman she was seeking an office that they deemed only acceptable for a man to hold. She stepped out in advocating secular positions that government should pursue, which violated the beliefs of those who want a strick theocracy in power.

But those outside the Pakistani middle class hate Musharraf, and the power in northern and northwestern Pakistan is held primarily by tribal groups under individual warlords. THis is where OBL is thought to be holed up.

Even so, the chaos that is bound to follow Bhutto's assassination will create doubt as to who is in charge, and who should be in charge. That vacuum won't last last long before someone with an agenda steps into the ring.

[notadmblnd]

8. Cheney is on recharge and bush is still playing wiht his xmas toys?

So I'm sure they can't be bothered right now.

[ProSense]

9. Musharraf, Karzai, and others have escaped multiple assassination attempts

That doesn't mean it's not unexpected. The question is why the security was so poor?

[DemReadingDU]

11. Supposedly, security was foolproof

RAWALPINDI (updated on: December 26, 2007, 16:44 PST): Code of conduct has been finalised between City administration and Pakistan People Party (PPP) local leadership regarding holding of public rally at Liaquat Bagh on Thursday, which will be addressed by Benazir Bhutto.

A meeting in this connection was held at DCO office chaired by District Coordination Officer (DCO) Irfan Elahi here on Tuesday.

Besides local leadership of PPP and senior officers including SSP Yasin Farooq, Chief Traffic Officer Sabir Ahmed, DSP Special Branch Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif, Former MNA Zamurd Khan, Agha Riaz Islam also attended the meeting.

All out efforts would be made to maintain law and order situation in collaboration of political parties, he added.

He said that foolproof security would be devised during the election campaign and holding a public meeting.

About the PPP public rally being held at Liaquat Bagh, he said complete security would be ensured for law and order and peaceful atmosphere. The main gate would remain closed, however, walk-through gates would be installed for the protection of the public, he added.

DCO said that implementation of code of conduct agreed between PPP and district government would be ensured, saying no person would be allowed to carry weapons with him, adding the people would not be permitted to enter the public meeting in the shape of procession.-APP

http://www.brecorder.com/latestindex.php?latest_id=6858&cindex=21¤t_page=1


edit: from this blog
http://icga.blogspot.com/

[Blackhatjack]

12. The US has an action plan for every change in world leadership...

With the failed assassination attempts over the last year, you know that the US has 'gamed' this particular event numerous times.

So I think it was 'expected' and it is naive to think that the US is not presently executing its pre-planned protocol once the assassination took place.

[ProSense]

14. Including our own.

Protocol: crisis management.

That's hardly the same as expected.

[CorpGovActivist]

16. Sadly Enough, You're Right on All Counts...

... even in her recent interviews, there seemed to be a bit of resignation to the likelihood.

A sad and frightening day, indeed.

- Dave

[Zynx]

21. Indeed. I felt like I was watching this movie I saw on Sadat where I had

already known the outcome and was just waiting for it to happen.

[CorpGovActivist]

23. Sadat...

... was one of my earliest political/world news memories.

It reminds me of Yitzhak Rabin, too.

- Dave

[bdamomma]

18. makes you sort of wonder why Negroponte went out there

when he had, what to tell Musharraf to take off his uniform??? I don't think so, this reeks of something very sinister again, we always had prompted up dictators, just like Saddam, will Pervez have the same fate?