Pakistan Leader Survives New Attack, 14 Dead

REUTERS ^ | Thu December 25, 2003 08:43 AM ET | By Mian Khursheed

[Flavius]

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf narrowly survived a second assassination bid in less than two weeks on Thursday when suicide car bombers attacked his motorcade, killing themselves and at least 12 others.

Officials said the two cars used in the attack were driven out of two petrol stations just 200 meters (yards) from a bridge on a main road in the city of Rawalpindi where Musharraf escaped a bombing on December 14.

The powerful blasts scattered debris and body parts over a wide area and damaged the windshield of the president's armored Mercedes, but he was unhurt, they said.

"The President and all his companions are safe and sound," said Major-General Shaukat Sultan. An aide said Musharraf, who had been heading home, was "in good spirits."

"It was an assassination attempt," said Information Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed. "Two suicide attackers in two cars tried to hit the president's vehicle. God has saved him. Three cars of the cavalcade, including the president's car, were damaged."

Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Rauf Chaudary said at least 14 people had been killed, including at least two bombers, and 18 people were wounded.

A soldier and three policeman were among the dead. Some police officers in the motorcade were hurt and a diversionary open-topped Mercedes at the tail end of the motorcade was blown across the road by the blasts.

Soldiers and police cordoned off the area on the road connecting Rawalpindi with the capital Islamabad. The route is used almost daily by Musharraf to drive to and from the capital.

ENEMIES

Sultan said it was too early to determine who might be responsible for the attack.

Authorities suspect Islamic militants, who Musharraf has targeted as part of his contribution to the U.S.-led war on terror, were behind the December 14 attack. Musharraf told Reuters a few days later it could have been the work of al Qaeda and he believed "destiny" had shielded him. Continued ...

[Flavius]

... and they are back... you think they need the nukes or what

[Fifth Business]

a diversionary open-topped Mercedes at the tail end of the motorcade was blown across the road by the blasts.

Somebody needs a new double.

[xrp]

or a helicopter

[abner]

and a new route to work.

[toddst]

. . . two cars used in the attack were driven out of two petrol stations. . .

Well, next time the terrorists will go with six cars coming in from all directions! Sounds like President Musharraf's security people need to vary the route of travel. The terroristss will get Musharraf if his people don't begin to think more about what they're doing to protect him.

[rpage3]

I've said it here before and I'll say it again, we need to take out whatever nukes Pakistan has or it will, sooner or later, fall into the hands of some Muslim fanatics.

[wita]

The man needs to clone himself after he... I am beginning to come to the end of my patience with anything having to do with anyone associated with the word mooselimb. Sorry if that seems harsh, but...

[Flavius]

TO everyone, I apologise apparently this is a second thread on this...

I dont really know what I'm doing but anways, if this is to much of the same news someone should delete this thread...

I dont know how that is done.

Anyway sorry for 2nd thread i did not see anyone post.
Marry Christmass...

[toddst]

I apologise apparently this is a second thread on this...

I dont really know what I'm doing but anways, if this is to much of the same news someone should delete this thread...

Don't worry about it. I didn't see the first post of the article so would have missed it had you not posted it.

And a Merry Chirstmas to you and your family.

[CWOJackson]

I'm glad he survived. The Islamic fundamentalists are attacking the governments of more and more nations that have previously provided them sanctuary. Not a real smart move, but one I'm glad for.

[Fishrrman]

toddst writes:
The terroristss will get Musharraf if his people don't begin to think more about what they're doing to protect him.

Hmmm... I wonder who "his people" are rooting for? Particularly after he was so quick to align himself towards the United States after the World Trade Center attacks? Pakistan is the heart of Islamic radicalism.

The recent attempts on Musharraf's life underscore how fragile the barrier that prevents Pakistan's nuclear arsenal from falling into the hands of Islamic radicals or their sympathizers. It is little more than one heartbeat away from that possibility.

Sooner or later, they _are_ going to get Musharraf. What will happen next?

I believe one of the most carefully guarded secrets of the United States could be a military contingency plan to sweep in and disarm Pakistan in a lightning strike if such a threat arises.

Islamic nations _cannot_ be trusted to possess nuclear weapons. Not now, not ever.

Cheers!
- John

[aristeides]

Presumably part of an Al Qaeda plan for a series of coordinated attacks over Christmas and New Year's.

Didn't the failed attack on Musharraf a couple of weeks ago use C4 (which would suggest a state sponsor)?

[toddst]

The recent attempts on Musharraf's life underscore how fragile the barrier that prevents Pakistan's nuclear arsenal from falling into the hands of Islamic radicals or their sympathizers. It is little more than one heartbeat away from that possibility.

This is no doubt true.

I believe one of the most carefully guarded secrets of the United States could be a military contingency plan to sweep in and disarm Pakistan in a lightning strike if such a threat arises.

An interesting proposal but very difficult to manage - perhaps impossible. I do believe we have various plans in place but have no idea what they might be.

[aristeides]

Both attacks in Rawalpindi. Isn't the headquarters of the ISI in Rawalpindi?

[SevenDaysInMay]

Pakies' "tribal stans" are still off limits to us offering safe have to qaeda.

Allah's boys will murder their way to the nukes, so it will be up to our SFs to target them for heavies to blast to litter.

This is going to be a problem, even if AlGore knows their names.

[milestogo]

29 October 2001

US commandos train with Israelis to take Pakistan nukes if Musharraf falls: report

The US force is training in the United States with members of Israel's Unit 262, a commando team that has engaged in behind-the-lines operations including theft and assasinations, according to the New Yorker.

The US unit, operating under Pentagon control with CIA assistance, specializes in slipping undetected into foreign countries to find, and if necessary disarm, nuclear weapons, the magazine reports.

US sources told the magazine that Pakistan has at least 24 nuclear warheads that can be delivered by intermediate-range missiles and F-16 airplanes. However US intelligence cannot be sure of the precise location of all of the Pakistani warheads, officials said.

US regional experts quoted by the magazine say they doubt Musharraf's ability to control the military and Pakistan's nuclear arsenal if there is a coup -- and say dissident fundamentalists within the military might try to seize a nuclear warhead.

[Flavius]

More fun..

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/sns-ap-pakistan-nuclear-scientists,0,5398625.story?coll=ny-worldnews-headlines

jist of it..

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan said Tuesday that rogue scientists driven by "ambition and greed" may have spread nuclear technology to Iran -- Islamabad's most explicit acknowledgment of such help, prompted by questioning from the U.N. atomic watchdog.

[Flavius]

And everyones favorite...

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1224/p06s03-wosc.html

Jist of this one...

They are everywhere," says Mr. Salam. His beefy hands steer the beat-up Toyota past a collection of young men, wearing the distinctive black turbans of Islamic seminary students. "Not everyone here is a fighter, but everyone here supports the Taliban."

and something to consider

But Mr. Suddle, the police chief, says the problem is not policy; It's geography, and culture, and time.

"My jurisdiction is only towns and cities; that's only about 5 percent of the state, but with about one-half of the state's population," says Suddle. "If the Afghans are ready, we are happy to send everyone - all the Afghan refugees - across." In fact, he notes, Pakistani police have done this on occasion, but the Afghan government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees complained and forced the Pakistanis to take them back.

"These are rather difficult issues that people should understand before we start labeling Quetta as a safe haven for the Taliban," he says.

I just cant imagine where they are getting these recruits...
peace (not the hippy kind)

[prairiebreeze]

I'm glad you posted the article. The other one seems to be from Wash Pist and is therefore excerpted. I refuse to answer their biographical info and sign up to read the rest. Thanks and Merry Christmas

Prairie

[swarthyguy]

Rawalpindi and Islamabad are sister cities, virtual military cantonments.

KSM was found in an affluent section of Rawalpindi, comprising the residences of many senior and retired miltypes.

The administration may wish for calm in 2004 but it looks to be shaping up as a rather eventful year.

Suicide carbombs are not unknown in Pakistan; in 1995 Zawahiri's group carbombed the Egyptian embassy in Islamabad.