Benazir Bhutto Assassinated

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by fotze

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...icle624126.ece

FORMER Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a gun and bomb attack.

At least 20 people were killed when the bomber struck after opposition leader Mrs Bhutto addressed a political rally, witnesses said.

It has been reported that Mrs Bhutto was shot in the neck and the chest before the bomber blew himself up.


It's going to get crazy.

Not a surprise there would be attempts but . . . . . that's a wow event in terms of what the impact is likely to be.

EDIT: This piece is highlighted right now on the cover of Al Jazeerah, obviously written just before her assassination but talking about who is after her and pretty contemptious of the religious aspect of it all.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exer...6AA4CD0F1C.htm

Cowperson

[metal_geek]

I felt it was only a matter of time give all the attention and political turmoil.. but still hard to believe it would ever really happen.
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Cheap Airsoft Tactical

[Bobblehead]

A Martyr has been born.

[habernac]

well, she can never say she wasn't warned. She was doomed from the moment she set foot back in her country.

[CaptainCrunch]

Not a big surprise as most have pointed out here, but incredibly bold and ultimately not very smart.

If I was conspiracy minded it would be a pretty easy leap to look at Musharraf or ISI having a hand in this. It would allow either of those to have a free hand in dealing with the extremists while getting rid of what many to be a dangerous opponent.

Look for even more stringent long term suppression of the general population there anyways.

[Claeren]

I am impressed people are this aware of this and the surrounding political turmoil! Although i shouldn't be surprised, it IS Calgarypuck...


Just brutal though. Pakistan has been a big blackhole for a while now. $10 Billion in US aid (gone where?), nuclear arms technology, wedged between Iran, Afganistan and India, a militaristic but outwardly American-friendly government, and Osama Bin LAden playing nearby! Could it get any more complicated (particularily for American geo-political strategists) than the martyring of the primary force towards democracy?! Yeish....


Sad for Bhutto though, her whole family (almost, it seems) is now dead from politics and standing up for what they believe in!


Claeren.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Claeren

Sad for Bhutto though, her whole family (almost, it seems) is now dead from politics and standing up for what they believe in!


Claeren.

Actually, by most accounts, Bhutto and her family were exceedingly corrupt and not exactly a shining example of the triumph of human spirit.

On most other days, certainly in earlier years, this event might have been viewed as "good riddance."

Today though, it's probably too bad considering the alternatives.

The three oldest professions, prostitution, organized crime and corruption in government, are better alternatives to religious fanaticism.

Cowperson

[CaptainCrunch]

I agree with Cow, I don't think that we should be jumping on Saint hood after the fact for Bhutto or the political machinations of her family. While some good did come out from her and may come out after her death. She wasn't exactly a better ruling alternative to the current regime.

[Bobblehead]

I was thinking about this, how bad can things have become when Bhutto had become the beacon of hope for Pakistan?

[transplant99]

The ramifications from this event are going to be far reaching and long lasting.

Stability in that part of the world was almost non-existant as it was, now it will be nothing but chaos and anarchy.

This is really bad news for the entire world.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I was thinking about this, how bad can things have become when Bhutto had become the beacon of hope for Pakistan?

It's probably worth noting who it is that claimed that Bhutto had become a 'beacon of hope.' Most likely western journalists, politicians, etc. In reality Bhutto represented a possible future stability that Western countries could use to further their interests in the region. Little do they care about proper domestic governance in Pakistan.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

It's probably worth noting who it is that claimed that Bhutto had become a 'beacon of hope.' Most likely western journalists, politicians, etc. In reality Bhutto represented a possible future stability that Western countries could use to further their interests in the region. Little do they care about proper domestic governance in Pakistan.

True, but she was the one who appeared to be fighting against martial law.

Then again, this could just be one of those, "I voted for Kodos" type moments.

[gildo]

No matter what you say abut her or her family she was an incredibly well educated person being raised in a country and era that "shunned" women to be bold, educated and involved in the wrokforce not just Pakistan but the entire world just lost someone who wanted to try to make positive changes in a country filled with turmoil on a regular basis. It makes me sad sometimes that people like this are killed so easily and morons like George W. Bush continue to walk around like they have done nothing wrong and run a country like the U.S. who's economy is facing great deprssion, there future / youht are dying everyday in a war that has exceeded $billlions +++++ in cost.

[transplant99]

Little do they care about proper domestic governance in Pakistan.

Absolutely disagree with this sentiment. The more stability in ALL areas of that "country" the better for all concerned. Its not a stretch to think that this is a beginning of a series of events that could end in a very very bad way. Western countries are just as vulnerable to the possibility of nuclear attack as anyone else in that region.

Bhutto, as has been mentioned, was hardly a saint but she did represent the best chance for keeping those with ill intent out of a position to start using what is a pretty impressive arsenal of weapons meant to destroy entire regions.

[FlamesAddiction]

Pakistan is already probably the most dangerous country in the world when you think of the fact that it has a high number of extremists, a nuclear arsenal, and is a corrupt dicatatorship. Adding this recent event sure won't help anything.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by fotze

The most disturbing part of this is that not one person I mentioned this today, had the foggiest clue of who she (most think its a he) is/was. Don't people ever watch the news, like ever?

I know a lot of people tune out the international news. And when networks like Global separate out the National and International news into its own 30 minute show, I'd be willing to be that a portion people skip that to watch Wheel of Fortune and then come back to catch the local news.

[Machiavelli]

Her father was hanged, one brother shot, another brother suspected of being poisoned.

Anyway, a dark day for Pakistan indeed.

[gildo]

It's going to be ugly (and sad) to see the ripple effects of this in a country that already has ongoing crisis it may hit rock bottom from the outcome of this from things like riots etc.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by gildo

It's going to be ugly (and sad) to see the ripple effects of this in a country that already has ongoing crisis it may hit rock bottom from the outcome of this from things like riots etc.

It's going to be ugly (and sad) to see the ripple effects of this in a country that has nuclear bomb capabilities. (not to minimize the human aspect, but on a larger scale, yikes)

[Claeren]

The best (worst? saddest?) part is that Mischa Barton probably did it on purpose just for the media attention... (and she will get it)

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And i didn't mean to support the bigger picture of what her family has done over the years - and it is hard to judge so far removed from the culture, the people, and the reality of what is in the hearts of the Pakistani people today and back then.

What i do know is that in the more recent past she had come to represent (for better or worse) the movement for free(er) elections (good?), and was fighting two fronts (extremists and the government) for her own right to represent her own supporters. At there core i think those are good things? And she died for them? She had already come close to death and knew it was a possibility every time she spoke up, yet she kept speaking up.... again, for better or worse, more than most people are willing to do these days.



Claeren.