No matter what side of the political divide you reside, this is horrible news for all who support a democratic process. I am praying that this will not be linked in anyway to the other official parties within the Pakistani political process.

... and this morning's National Post front page story on religious extremism leading to violence focused on, you guessed it, killing abortion doctors

Religion of anything but peace.

Hard to believe we're dealing with the Human Race this far along in it's evolution.

This may have nothing to do with religion, but rather extremist politics. Lets wait until all the facts come to light.

Brutal culture = brutal politics

More abortion doctors have been killed on "Law & Order" than in real life.

And among the real life murderers, the most famous, Eric Rudolph, isn't a Christian, and thinks Christians are idiots.

bhutto new she was in great danger 24/7.more senseless killings in the name of politics and religion....on the brighter side there is one less suicide bomber to use on the western world.

A muslim leader assassinated ! The Joooooooss!

"This attack did not have the same impact as the one in October in Karachi. In that case, the murderers boob-trapped a baby that someone tried to hand to Bhutto."

So, who donated and wired up the baby, mom or dad? Want to bet the baby was an expendable female. The depravity of these homicidal freaks and the religion that spawns them is breathtaking.

"Experts not surprised religious zealotry can lead to shocking violence"

What sensationalist sophistry!...the Post has gone downhill intellectually since Asper bought it, now he's making it as low-brow and preachy as his other rags.

It is POLITICAL zealotry that has killed 300 million people in the last century and continues to grind them up in its cogs today...as it did in this Pakistani political assassination....religion is the sanitizing cloak of the terrorist...primarily it is a political agenda they pursue.

Radical facist Islam or radical communist statist-globalism or radical Japanese imperialism or radical national socialism what's the difference together they have killed more people in the last century than all the religious wars in history.

The murder of Bhutto is sad and tragic, but hardly surprising (unfortunately). I expect to see mass protests, martial law and more bloodshed.

And in the National Post article, I just love the quote from the UC-Santa Barbara prof, who said, "Every religious tradition has this element." I wonder what "religious tradition" inspired Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold? They killed more than all the US anti-abortion murderers combined.

From the NP article:

"While there are millions of Christians, only a handful have picked up a gun in their battle to end abortion. Similarly, of the millions of Muslims around the world only a fraction engage in terrorism. Clearly, belief in religion or belief in any particular religion is not an invitation to violence. It is about extremes, the scholars say."

Are the f***ing kidding me. There is no similarity at all. How many so called Christians have "picked up a gun" or bombed abortion clinics, Let's go with an extreme number 1,000 (and that is very extreme indeed) while only a "fraction" of Muslims engage in terrorism. Let's go with a small fraction 1% of the 2.5 billion Muslims that would be 25,000,000.
I'll take my chances walking past an abortion clinic every time thanks.

Bhutto was shot in the neck and head. She died from gunshot injuries, not a bomb.

Allow me gently to differ with some of the other commenters. This is religious extremism. It may also be political extremism, but it is religious extremism. It is not true, however, that "every religious tradition has this element." Other religions may have had this element at some point in the past, but they don't now. When Terence Cardinal Cook was Archbishop of New York, his statement was, "Don't kill a doctor who performs abortions. Kill me instead." or words to that effect.

Individual Catholics or fundamentalist Christians may kill in the name of their faith, but their churches do not promote killing; rather, they condemn it. That's not true of Islam today.

Silicon Valley,

Well said.

This is definitiely not a good thing. Remeber that that in the days before Sept 11 Al Queda assisinated a key Afghan opponent. Bomb in the film camera of a fake newscrew (is there no end to this)

Anyway, that was seen as an important percursor to launching the attacks. I dont knwo if this holds the same potential. It seems that Al Queda may have given up on Afghanistan and Iraq in the short run and are seeking to decapitate the Pakistani leadership, especially if they were trying to get at the other PM candidate.

If they got those two then this makes it Mussaref against Taliban/Al Queda. Mussahref would have to either set himself up as head of the army again and cancel elections or continue but risk the same fate as Bhutto.

The Al Queda parasite has invaded Pakistan and seeks to control the host. The inidans wont stand for it, I dont even know if the Iranians will stand for it. Question is will the Chineses and the Russians?

This is not a good situation, I am just wondering what the next shoe to drop will be.

Just The Facts - I suggest you go look at the photos of the other bodies being hauled away.

I suggest you go look at the photos of the other bodies being hauled away.

The suicide bomber is obviously responsible for many other deaths. However, Bhutto died from gunshot wounds.

Your choice to use the phrase "religion of detonation" suggests that Bhutto was killed by a suicide bomber. She was not.

You should be more interested in reporting the facts and less interested in directing your readers' reaction.

"Your choice to use the phrase "religion of detonation" suggests that Bhutto was killed by a suicide bomber. She was not."

Nope, it suggests that a bombing occurred. Which, as you already said, as did any number of news reports, happened.

"You should be more interested in reporting the facts and less interested in directing your readers' reaction."

Wow, a few hours in, with confusion and conflicting reports out of Pakistan, and YOU have the facts? Thank you for enlightening us poor souls bereft of your special insight to Pakistani politics.

Ooops, wait, latest news is she was shot and then bombed by the guy who shot her. I guess we'll wait for the autopsy to determine final cause of death and then declare a winner in the great "Who killed BB" debate.

This is so predictable. Let's throw all the religious people into one basket. UnderLYING theme: "Their all nuts, don't trust anyone who is religious"

"You should be more interested in reporting the facts and less interested in directing your readers' reaction."

Are you this stupid in real life, or is it something you reserve for the internets?

This was posted yesterday. The final sentence in this excerpt now seems vastly more understated.

U.S. Troops to Head to Pakistan

Beginning early next year, U.S. Special Forces are expected to vastly expand their presence in Pakistan, as part of an effort to train and support indigenous counter-insurgency forces and clandestine counterterrorism units, according to defense officials involved with the planning.

These Pakistan-centric operations will mark a shift for the U.S. military and for U.S. Pakistan relations. In the aftermath of Sept. 11, the U.S. used Pakistani bases to stage movements into Afghanistan. Yet once the U.S. deposed the Taliban government and established its main operating base at Bagram, north of Kabul, U.S. forces left Pakistan almost entirely. Since then, Pakistan has restricted U.S. involvement in cross-border military operations as well as paramilitary operations on its soil.

But the Pentagon has been frustrated by the inability of Pakistani national forces to control the borders or the frontier area. And Pakistan's political instability has heightened U.S. concern about Islamic extremists there....

I can't decide whether Jesus or Mohammad did it.Maybe even their frantic,fanatical ever loving followers.

Let me set the record straight regarding "fundamentalist" Christians. This term was given early in the last century to those Bible believers who would not succumb to liberal Christianity and held to fundamentals as creation as a direct act of God, the virgin birth and deity of Jesus Christ, his vicarious atonement on the cross for the sins of mankind, his bodily resurrection, etc. We who believe these things also know that "we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). You will look in vain to find that Baptists for instance, have ever persecuted anyone. Why is it written "For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are acconted as sheep for the slaughter. (Romans 8:36)? That is not to say we will not take up arms to defend our homes and country, but remember true followers of Jesus Christ behave as he did. The term 'fundamentalist" has been hijacked by the media as a negative slander, and one only has to google up the term to find its true historical usage. I just a few moments ago received email from "fundamentalist" Christian friends in Pakistan who are really sad for their country; however when I was there several years to teach in a Bible college, (you've got to love that: teaching at a Bible College in an Islamic Republic!) folks there generally preferred the less corrupt military regime to the previous totally corrupt "democratic" government under Bhutto.
Hope everyone is having quality time with friends and family this week, the Lord bless you all.

How could you set a record straight whilst teaching crap,of no historical fact.

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (Hardcover)
by Christopher Hitchens (Author)
Key Phrases: United States, Mother Teresa, Old Testament (more...)

Who killed Benazir Bhutto? The main suspects

The main suspects in Benazir Bhutto’s assassination are the Pakistani and foreign Islamist militants who saw her as a heretic and an American stooge and had repeatedly threatened to kill her.

But fingers will also be pointed at Inter-Services Intelligence, the agency that has had close ties to the Islamists since the 1970s and has been used by successive Pakistani leaders to suppress political opposition...

I thought so-called "occupation" was the cause of homicide bombing.

Pretty soon the excuses will move from "not all Muslims are terrorists" to "not all homicide bombers are successful."

Police confirm Benazir was shot before bombing ISLAMABAD, Dec 27 (AFP) Benazir Bhutto was shot in the neck by her attacker before he blew himself up in a suicide attack Thursday outside a campaign rally, police officials confirmed. She succumbed to her injuries in hospital but it was not immediately known if it was the gunshot wound that killed her. “The attacker fired and then blew himself up,” said one of the officials, who asked not to be named. (Posted @ 21:58 PST)

The National Post article is just another spewing equivalence and obfuscation.

Extremism, like anything else has a root cause.

Mohammad, the so-called 'perfect man' and the one Muslims are commanded to emulate said, "Kill the Jews wherever you find them." He said, "I've been made victorious through terror." And he said, "War is deceipt."

Christ said, "Love your enemies." He said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." And he said, "He without sin cast the first stone."

Islam is based on a foundationally violent, misogynistic, imperialist, racist and supremacist ideology. The texts and life of Mohammad are rife with it.

The opposite is true of the NT and Christ's life example.

Attempting to make the two equivalent is based on willfull ignorance or outright lies. It is not based on the facts which are there for all to read.

It is also dangerous. It maligns Christianity and misconstrues Islam - raising Islam to the moral level of Christianity, without merit, disregarding facts and further adding to the ignorance and susceptibility of the majority. (For example, witness jacks remark)

Multiculturalism and moral, cultural equivalence are the handmaidens to Islamic terrorism.

A very sad event!!She knew months ago that her life was in danger. She should have sought exhile in a protected area. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

From the Hindustan Times:
Quote: Police said a suicide bomber fired shots at Bhutto as she left the rally venue in a park before blowing himself up.

"The man first fired at Bhutto's vehicle. She ducked and then he blew himself up," said police officer Mohammad Shahid. End Quote.

So, it would appear she WAS killed by a suicide bomber, but perhaps not by a suicide BOMB.

[deleted - off topic. ED]

Thanks Wally for bringing some focus on that issue. We all need to be reminded of the true meaning of the Christian fundamentalist movement.

Silicon Valley has it right. To lump all philosofies together is intellectually lazy. Look at what the religion actually says. If some call themselves Christian and are violent you cant blame Christianity because the religion clearly rejects violence. Read the Koran. Mohamad was a warrior who justifies violence. To assume Muslims believe in a Christian type non violence religion is naive.

hehaw,

You've chosen the correct moniker. Your donkey headed posts are laughable.

Men are men and fallible. The ideology of Islam sanctifies and justifies evil actions. Christianity, on the other hand, condemns.

You, however, don't even have a foundation for rational thought. Pity.

Christ also said:

"I say to you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. As for my enemies who do not want me to reign over them, bring them here and kill them in my presence" (Luke 19:26-27)

religious texts, if not read within their proper historical and textual contexts, are easily distorted and manipulated.

This post is for comments relating to the Bhutto assassination. Stay on topic. Tangential discussions about religion are not.

[The same is true of the Islamic extremists who commit acts of terrorism, Prof. Juergensmeyer says. "The common thread is the justification of an act because of a belief in a higher moral purpose or higher moral commandment."]

["This is why religious violence is so insidious and frequently vicious," Dr. Incandela says. "Ultimately, what the person is trying to exhibit is who is in control of the universe."]

'extreemists'
'belief'
'higher moral'
'religious violence'
'insidious'
'control'
'universe'

The fanatics and extreemists are often 'the problem'. Not the problem itself. Religious, politial, social, environmental, ect.

Say, .... Al Gore behind the death threats on Tim Ball ?

Who cares if she was killed by a bomb

or

if she was killed by a gun shot

or

if she was killed by a gun shot AND a bomb

or if she was poisoned before she was shot or before the bomb exploded?

Radicals from the religion that treats women like cattle did it,
and that is all we need to know.

Or Bush did it because Bush is to blame for everything

( sarcasm )

Talking to a guy at the neighbourhood pumps today ( he's from Pakistan)...he brought up a salient point that will naturally be downplayed by the bra-burners on this side of the drink....he said Bhutto was assassinated directly because she was a woman. He said the Pakistani Muslim establishment would never allow a woman to be president....that plus Bhutto has openly stated she would bring in sweeping electoral reforms to give women full legally protected vote equity.

Where are the shill cries of outrage from the fembot left?

On the lighter side of this on-going insanity.

One report got it wrong and did a story on Bluto.

Check it out. HERE

At times like this ya gotta have sense of humor.

[deleted. Stop engaging the trolls. ED]

I'm amazed she wasn't killed even earlier; no one is truly safe from terrorists.....especially a woman in a predominantly Muslim country.

And just for the record, I would never condone killing physicians that perform abortions, but I certainly would not shed a tear for the physicians either. A physician wantonly and willfully takes the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of the unborn, and the world is suppose to condemn the person who takes a physician's life for doing so. I believe God will hold the nations accountable that condone abortion and practice the killing of the unborn; I can only wonder if the person that kills a physician who performs abortions will face a lesser fate.

One of the sad aspects of this murder was that Ms. Bhutto's father was hanged, and two of her brothers met a similar fate to hers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benazir_Bhutto#Family

In terms of politically-motivated violent deaths, the Bhutto family has actually had it worse than Joe Kennedy Sr. and his kids.

Sorry, I shouldn't have gone with the flow and gone off topic.

My understanding at this time is that BB was killed for two reasons: poor security; and that SHE wanted to lead Pakistan, which the Islamists wouldn't tolerate. Fact is she was quite corrupt herself I understand, in a bad lot of leaders. Pakistan is at the nexus of Islamic terrorism, espionage, arms sales, drugs, and lots of other nasty things. That didn't change today.

Once again, the Islamists have miscalculated, giving Musharraf a free hand in nailing them. It's time to clean up that cesspool of a border with Afghanistan.

I did hear that it was Karzai's fault. Get this, because US invaded Afghan, that made Islamists in Pakistan use suicide bombing tactics. Yeah, someone made that argument today on CTV. Maybe they should blame Yasser Arafat.

From CTV News' report on the assassination, updated as of 1:31 PM ET:

"There are mixed reports regarding whether Bhutto was directly killed by the bomb or by gunfire shortly before the explosion....

"Bhutto's security adviser, Rehman Malik, said the leader was shot in the neck and chest by the attacker, who then detonated his explosive. Party supporter Chaudry Mohammed Nazir said two gunshots were fired on Bhutto's vehicle as it left the rally and then a big blast occurred."

If you're interested, the first radio reports on the assassination of John F. Kennedy said that he was shot and wounded, but not killed - even though he had taken a bullet in the head.

"Karachi, 27 Dec. (AKI) - (by Syed Saleem Shahzad) -

A spokesperson for the al-Qaeda terrorist network has claimed responsibility for the death on Thursday of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

“We terminated the most precious American asset which vowed to defeat [the] mujahadeen,” Al-Qaeda’s commander and main spokesperson Mustafa Abu Al-Yazid told Adnkronos International (AKI) in a phone call from an unknown location, speaking in faltering English. Al-Yazid is the main al-Qaeda commander in Afghanistan."

“Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods, for theirs (in return) is the Garden (of Paradise ): They fight in His Cause, and slay and are slain” (Quran 9/111).

Wholly based on their foundationally violent ideology, they are commanded and rewarded to do these attrocities.

"…. Although we were dishonored by them beyond human endurance, and had to put with their fabrications, yet we behaved like him who is depicted by the inspired writer, “But I am as a deaf man, I hear not, and I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.” - Maimonides

"Just over 800 years later, ignoring Maimonides sadly timeless observation about such feckless appeasement of Islamic supremacism—as the Israeli, most notably, and US governments are so wont to do—is truly “Meshugga,” with all the modern and ancient connotations of the expression." - Andrew Bostom, from his new book, The Legacy of Islamic Anti-Semitism.

There may be some good come of this, if Musharraf has the guts to take the bull by the horns. Bhutto was a corrupt politician who could have given thieving lessons to Canadian liberals. Her main reason for existence at this time was to act as window dressing for Musharraf's return to democracy, which was mainly for international consumption.

Now, if he has the courage, he can throw the Army into gear, and really go to town on the Islamists, while painting himself to the world as the "avenger of the great democrat Bhutto."

Should be an interesting few weeks to come in Pakistan.

The spin around the death of BB—may she rest in peace—is another death knell for truth and freedom in the West. However it happened, it appears that she was assassinated—itself a word derived from the murderous Islamic world—by a Muslim fanatic, an act now so common, one would think the useful idiots would have to finally concede we have a problem: with Islam, not with every other religion on the planet.

Irwin daisy said, at 12:20, “Multiculturalism and moral, cultural equivalence are the handmaidens to Islamic terrorism.” Amen to that.

I've previously recommended Dr. Kfir's The Crisis of Pakistan: A Dangerously Weak State. Here is his commentary on today's events:

Isaac Kfir, Analysis: The Assassination of Benazir Bhutto

As has been mentioned in many of the posts above, this is surely another example of the religion of peace at its best.

I really think that Ms. Bhutto chose a bad time to return to Pakistan, and was never going to be in control of the country. Despite the unfortunateness of the events perpetrated by evil Islamists, I don't wonder if she'd won an election and come to power if we would have seen similar events with much higher stakes. Pakistan controls nuclear weapons, so any coup that takes place puts the perpetrators in control of them. Perhaps if the Islamists had waited a little while longer they would be in a position to do more damage than just assassinating an opposition leader.

The assassination is a victory for the Taleban, Al Queda, and the rest of the extremist Islamists who are at war with with all of us.

It is certain that the days in which an educated, independent and strong woman could aspire to high office in any Muslim country are over.

Pakistan lost a great leader today. One that could have brought equality and peace to the region.

Anyone who professes to understand what goes on in Pakistan is either lying or just plain wrong. Chief among those is Eric Margolis (who is both), who CTV refers to as a "Terrorist Expert". They could just leave out the "Expert", or perhaps exchange it for "Apologist", and be more accurate.

I think he should be investigated for his writings in Middle-East publications. If you think what he says here in Canada is ridiculous, you should see the unedited/expanded versions. Incendiary and dangerous! If I can find examples, I'll post them in future reader tips.

Pakistan - what a mess. And they have nuclear weapons.

It seems previous posters were correct in pointing out Bhutto (and her husband) was utterly corrupt. That said, it's not why she was killed. I'm hoping for the best now, but fearing the worst.

So now Lefties, including especially the deluded Mr. Jeff Davidson, is it starting to look like a really, REALLY good thing that we have an army on the ground in Assghanistan, conveniently located right next door to Explode-istan?

They have nukes there, y'know. Them things that blow up whole entire cities at one shot? You heered a them, eh? Just the ticket for a fruitcake general to obliterate a whole beach-head of soldiers, or a carrier battle group, or Israel...

How dandy that the West (meaning us, the Brits, the Yanks and any Euro countries whose leaders don't have a big yellow stripe up their backs) can reinforce in nice, safe Afghanistan and roll over Pakistan from two or three directions at once.

One might almost think that was planned.

This from NRO , as well .

Jack Layton shivers in his boots, saying "Canadians should be worried about events in Pakistan" (I paraphrase).

Good grief,a wimp and coward is "worried",. a couragous person observes and prepares.

"America symbolizes modernity, diversity and democracy, and it is these three things which are the fanatics´ worst fears"

More here:
http://www.johannorberg.net/?page=displayblog&month=12&year=2007#2496

My 'pologize, too, for this snip from Angry; it's beyond the pail. A dead Bhutto? It's a real Tsk.
...-
Who is responsible for another dead Bhutto?

Apologies for the crude title, but it is the title of a thread on the Pakistani Defence Forum at PakistaniDefence.com concerning the news that Benazir Bhutto has been killed today. There is a poll there that is very revealing. Though we might count supporters of Pervez Musharraf or elements of the Pakistani Security Services in the ranks of suspects, it is interesting to see the world's number one villain bubbling to the top of the list in this unscientific survey.

The United States. Of course. It's so obvious when you think about it.

Presumably Stephen Harper and the Conservatives are cackling in neocon glee. ...-
http://stevejanke.com/

It's not democracy I care about, but the mullahs getting Pak's bomb (inefficient tho it is).

That doesn't mean support for Musharraf as he is having great difficulty holding the islamo-fascists back; Bhutto would have had problems too, but at least have some "legitemacy" from elections. Sharif is head of a religious party; he will be swamped by the mullahs.

I know many Pakistanis have left Pakistan for a better life and avoiding this crap; now is the time for them to fight back against the horde.

Thanks, Bill D. Cat (4:47 pm), for the link to a most level headed analysis.

Hey, not all murderous islamo-fascist homicidal bombers dislike peaches.

Some troll will undoubtably post something like: "A rush to judgement, we do not know who did it", he said tauntingly.

fc,
Just hoping all parties keep a cool head . Next few days there are going to be chaotic , at best .

Like all other nations with an inability to achieve or maintain a civilized state, one of the destabilizing factors Pakistan faces is the emigration of very large numbers of its citizens who are unwilling to tolerate such an existence.

As distasteful as it may be, shutting down all immigration from such countries would be of long-term benefit to the stability of those nations.

(Yes, I remember the SS St. Louis; the situations are not parallel).

As distasteful as it may be, shutting down all immigration from such countries would be of long-term benefit to the stability of those nations.

Tenebris ,
There's an interesting conversation waiting to be had , nicely put .

Ms. Bhutto is no particular loss for us. She was just another corrupt Muslim leader whose only distinction was being a "attractive female" corrupt Muslim leader. She was no white knight to save Pakistan, democracy or be our friend no matter how hard the US state dept. naively hoped.

She gave birth to our friends the Taliban for goodness sake.

Upheaval in the Land of the Pure? Like this is new?

Unlike the west, which spend an inordinate amount of time separating any reference of church from state, Pakistan and most if not all of the countries in that region have their politics and religion intertwined. So was the assasination/suicide bombing a political or religious act? Or perhaps both. I'm predicting marshal law declared pretty soon.

Bottom line is that nuclear power is in termoil and the facts that any nuc conflict would be very bad mojo for the rest of the world.

Bill Clinton did it!!!

Does anyone think that she thought she was safe going back? She did it ... period.

This is very sad news. She believed in a secular government and was strong against extremists. I think she did good in terms of building the PPP into a party that could win a majority in the next election.

In a way, this may have a positive result. This will delay the elections for probably 6 months while a new leader of the PPP is chosen. This will give Musharraf more time to stabilize the country and provide a good excuse (with much more political support) to increase activities against extremists.

Time is the main thing. It is the enemy of AQ and all such extremists. They cannot sustain themselves ideologically over the long term.

I read this article about Ms. Bhutto in November. If you remove her sainthood for having been martyred, I think it sheds a more accurate light on Ms. Bhutto. Disgusting as the assassination is.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-bhutto14nov14,0,2482408.story?coll=la-opinion-center

I think she martyred herself. She had to go back or become irrelevant in the country's history.

She'll go down in history as a great leader of Pakistan instead of being remembered as someone who was exiled from the country because of politics/corruption.

It could also start a civil war, which would elevate her status even more.

13 billion dollars. Thats the amount of money she may have stolen from Pakistan's coffers. Her husband is known as Mr. 10%. Thats the bribe he expects to get things done.

Her father died at the hands of a colorless religious zealot who was promoted because of his apparent apolitical stance. That man went on to become the man who turned Pakistan upside down - General Zia Ul Haq. The Islamisization of Pakistan took place under him.

Zia was no villain in the west. He was Reagan's great ally in the war against the godless commies. Reagan was very fond of him, as were the Saudis and all those billions of dollars from the Wahabbis and CIA went into Pakistani coffers and were used to fund Osama's last Jihad -against the Soviets.

Zia died mysteriously - in a plane crash that also claimed the life of the US ambassador. He had hanged the senior Bhutto, and he backed Nawaz Sharif.

Benazir became PM but the real powers lay in the hand of the military (Gen Mirza Aslam Beg) at the time. Under her, Pakistan's ISI sent in the now famous Taleban, to turn war-ravaged Afghanistan into, as the Pakistanis called it back then, "strategic depth" for Pakistan. She was tossed out of the country on the basis of corruption - to the tune of $13 bn.

And now, she is dead. At the hands of the Taleban that she herself supported in the early 1990s. Reagan, Zulfikar Bhutto (her father), and Benazir have one thing in common - their little Frankensteins have turned on them. Short term interest turns into long term problems when one plays games that stir up religious extremism.

Whither Pakistan? Ironically enough, the Indians must be hoping not. Its easy to look at it from here and get alarmed, but frankly speaking, South Asia has more than its share of intellectuals. Someone else will fill the void - I do not doubt it.

Pakistan may have lost a famous name, but theres no need to be alarmed just yet. They'll figure their way out of this mess. They ve done it before.

not bullets

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071228/bhutto_burial_071228/20071228?hub=TopStories

She wanted to be a martyr, because she wasn't stupid beyond comprehension. Why is that so surprising anyway? The guy that killed her got his wish as well...

Saint Benazir was her party's "president for life", and I she willed that position to her 19 year son [http://www.newsweek.com/id/82403]. Yay democracy!

Here's the motto of her Party:

"Islam is our Faith - Democracy is our Policy - Socialism is our - Economy - All Powers to the People"

http://www.ppp.org.pk

From their "2008 Manifesto":

"The first principle of the Party is: Islam is our
Faith."

Of course passges like this have to be taken with a grain of salt, since Albanians will be on the moon before any of these things could actually take place:

"The PPP reiterates its firm commitment to provide
Food, Clothing and Shelter (Roti, Kapra Aur
Makaan) to every poor family in Pakistan through
our unique emphasis on full employment. The
PPP is the only party with a coherent vision of a
welfare state for Pakistan where market forces
are balanced with safety nets for the
underprivileged and the poor."