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India-Pakistan
Benazir Bhutto killed by suicide bomber
2007-12-27
FORMER Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a bomb attack.
The ultimate failure of the Pakistani state...
At least 20 people were killed when the bomber struck after opposition leader Mrs Bhutto addressed a political rally, witnesses said.
That's kinda the Pak political process in a nutshell, isn't it? Rather than answering arguments, kill them. Kill as many bystanders as you can. Kill yourself, too.
A witness at the scene said he heard two shots moments before the blast. “As party leaders, including Bhutto, started coming out a man tried to go close to them and then he fired some shots and blew himself up,” said a police officer, at the scene.
The police look particularly competent when the guy's not only wearing a boom vest, but waving a gun. Obviously they were right on top of things.
Police said about 15 people had been killed in the blast. Earlier, party officials said Bhutto was safe.
That's the other Pak characteristic: lie, even if it's to your advantage to tell the truth.
Body parts and flesh were scattered at the back gate of the Liaqat Bagh park, in Rawalpindi, where Bhutto had spoken. Police official Abdul Karim had said Bhutto had already left the area in her vehicle when the blast went off, just minutes after her speech to thousands of supporters.
Doesn't look like she got far.
Another police official, Saud Aziz, said it was a suicide attack.
The signature of Islamicism...
The road outside was stained with blood. People screamed for ambulances. Others gave water to the wounded lying in the street. The clothing of some of the victims was shredded and people put party flags over their bodies.
Posted by:Delphi

#15  al-Qaeda will claim it but will blame it on the USA and George Bush, with a nod towards Israel.
Posted by: RD   2007-12-27 13:31  

#14  Benazir was not pro-amerrican and was no secularist. She would have gladly supported islamists if that would helped her. The only thing prevented this scnerio was Islamist unwlligness to be ruled by a wymin not her not wanting.
Posted by: JFM   2007-12-27 11:35  

#13  Good find, doc. But, of course Al Qaeda claimed it. They haven't exactly had many big wins (or even small wins) for quite some time. It will be interesting to see who else claims the triumph.
Posted by: trailing wife   2007-12-27 11:02  

#12  AQ: We Did It.
Posted by: doc   2007-12-27 10:48  

#11  Jules Crittenden:

More likely the jihadis got lucky. No peaceful transition to civilian leadership for Pakistan, with the murder of a major popular pro-American secularist. Questions:

Jihadis, ISI, or some combination?

Does this unite them against jihadis or just further fragment Pakistan to the jihadis benefit?

Does the election even go ahead, or is it straight to martial law? Short-term or long-term suspension, and in the event of an election, who rises?

If they buy the “dog Musharraf dog” line, or if it’s true, how bloody will the demonstrations be, and will they lead to a coup? If there’s a coup, who and what ends up on top?

No good answers to any of that yet. I have a very bad feeling about all of this. The potential for critically destablizing a flank that was difficult enough as it was, is huge. IÂ’d feel slightly better if Rumsfeld had doubled the size of the Army, and wish Bush and Congress would crank that up. This war is far from over. This war is no artificial Bush creation or figment of anyoneÂ’s imagination, and should still be very much part of our own election, wishful thinking notwithstanding.
Posted by: Mike   2007-12-27 10:22  

#10  A couple kooks "got lucky," perhaps, but that's because somebody has a strategy of throwing dozens of boomers out there on the assumption that some of them will succeed.

I don't think Perv did it, but he set up the situation that made it possible by being in bed with the Talibs.
Posted by: Fred   2007-12-27 10:18  

#9  I wouldn't be surprised if it was the work of the talibunnies/al-quada and the ISI working together. And in reality, this is the last thing Musharraf needed. I think we might be looking at the first stages of a Islamic taker.

The other possiblity is a couple kooks got lucky. But it the fallout will be similar to scenario one.
Posted by: DarthVader   2007-12-27 09:38  

#8  At this point, Im not sure a PPP-Perv power sharing agreement would work. The agreement with Bhutto had already broken down. To prove he wasnt involved, hed have to give up more.
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2007-12-27 09:27  

#7  Chalk another one up to the Religion of Pieces
Posted by: PlanetDan   2007-12-27 09:26  

#6  In practical terms, who is going to do what?

Bhuttos people are initially blaming Perv, but that could quickly change if he offers them power like he did Bhutto. While it won't be all sweetness and light between them, they will not refuse power.

But then what?
Posted by: Anonymoose   2007-12-27 09:22  

#5  The leftoids at the office are already blaming... the Americans! "They said they would protect her.", etc. With what f*cking magic wand?
Posted by: Excalibur   2007-12-27 09:09  

#4  Agreed Steve, and not "interesting" in a good way, either.

'Hawk, you're right, whether Perv did it or not, he'll get blamed, and it will be to the advantage of many to push that meme.
Posted by: Mike   2007-12-27 09:08  

#3  Her supporters at the hospital began chanting ``Dog, Musharraf, dog,'' referring to Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf.

Even if he didn't have anything to do with it, he's gonna get the blame. Things are going to get interesting, real fast.
Posted by: Steve   2007-12-27 08:59  

#2  that will confirm, for many, that Perv did it both to get rid of her, and as an excuse for martial law.
Posted by: Liberalhawk   2007-12-27 08:53  

#1  Martial law, anyone?
Posted by: M. Murcek   2007-12-27 08:50  

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