You must be kidding me. Bhutto’s assassination was set up by Paki Intelligence, using shills. JFK was NOT killed by Lee Harvey Oswald (and if you believe the Warren Commission I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you); the JFK hit was a professional action. The Lebanese PM was taken out by Syrian Intelligence. The Mossad regularly takes out high-profile targets; so did the KGB. Pope John Paul II’s would-be assassin was working for Bulgarian Intelligence.
Sure there are random nuts who once in a while try to kill someone powerful or famous. But the serious hits are almost always done by professionals.
Which heads of state and high ranking officials are you referring to?
Leaders in Lebanon, Pakistan, India, for example; former Soviet or Russian leaders...
Which of these leaders were taken out by professional assassins recently? You might be confusing "professional" assassins, with fanatical religious terrorist types.
I would note the recent assassination of Bhutto was hardly a hit by a professional assassin, due to the fact a "professional" in that sense, would not have blown himself up along with many others creating a very messy scene in the process. Looking at the scene images, you can see one individual pointing a handgun. A handgun would not be the weapon of choice for a professional assassin.
I would guess Bhutto was killed by extremist, terrorist, religious fanatics etc, not what one would consider a "professional" assassin.
The term "professional" would seem to suggest someone who is highly skilled, makes a very detailed plans, and surgically executes that plan with precision and gets away with it.
Incidents like Hinckley and Reagan are aberrations
Actually they're typical.
Modern notable assassins/attempted assassinations in the U.S. would include Reagan, JFK, Wallace, Martin Luther King, John Lennon, Robert Kennedy etc...None of which were killed by what one would consider "professional" assassins.
Even going way back to Lincoln, the assassin was hardly a professional.
Bhutto’s assassination was set up by Paki Intelligence, using shills.
Could you provide a link for those arrested for that assassination? The fact is no one was ever charged. In addition, it is believed those responsible blew themselves to pieces. Again, not hardly what a "professional assassin would do. Fanatical terrorist? Yeah, professional assassin? No.
JFK was NOT killed by Lee Harvey Oswald
Yes he was.
The Lebanese PM was taken out by Syrian Intelligence.
The Lebanese Prime Minister was killed along with about a dozen others, and it is believed, the young "suicide bomber" was among the dead. Again, not what one would consider a "professional assassin. Again, you seem to be confusing, "professional" assassins, with common terrorist and religious fanatics that will generally blow themselves up in the process.
The Mossad regularly takes out high-profile targets
Uh, the Mossad is the Israeli intelligence agency, much like the CIA. It's not an organization for "professional assassins. Most of their work is counter intelligence.
Sure there are random nuts who once in a while try to kill someone powerful or famous. But the serious hits are almost always done by professionals.
Wrong. You are again confusing Mid Eastern terrorism and religious extremist, with professional "hit men".
Professional "hit men" are not known to blow themselves to pieces on a one time job.
Incidents like Hinckley and Reagan are aberrations
Actually they're typical.
Modern notable assassins/attempted assassinations in the U.S. would include Reagan, JFK, Wallace, Martin Luther King, John Lennon, Robert Kennedy etc...None of which were killed by what one would consider "professional" assassins.
Even going way back to Lincoln, the assassin was hardly a professional.
You have to understand, a terrorist, a fanatical religious zealot willing to die for their "cause" are not professional "hit men".
BTW, you say Oswald didn't kill Kennedy? Who did?
Lower level assassinations, or murder for hire, contract killing etc, of spouses, business partners, DA's etc are hit's where a .22 handgun is often used.