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Benazir Bhutto Critically Injured At Rally [Update: Bhutto has died]
Sky News ^ | Dec.27,2007

Posted on 12/27/2007 5:12:06 AM PST by COUNTrecount

Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto has been critically injured after a suspected suicide attack at a political rally in Pakistan.

It was believed to be a suicide attackShe is undergoing emergency surgery at a nearby hospital, Sky News sources say.

The explosion went off just after Ms Bhutto left the rally in Rawalpindi, minutes after her speech to thousands of people.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; alqueda; asassination; assassinationplot; bhutto; dajjal; dhimocracy; gwot; islam; islamicjihad; jihad; martyrdom; pakistan; powerhungry; reckless; rop; taliban; trop; wot
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To: La Enchiladita
So, although India had the nukes previously, they couldn’t do as much with them as now.

Interesting opinion, with which I disagree entirely.

India has no more restraint on what she decides to do than, say, China or Russia. At least not insofar as U.S. "influence or pressure" is concerned.

821 posted on 12/27/2007 10:30:35 AM PST by Publius6961 (MSM: Israelis are killed by rockets; Lebanese are killed by Israelis.)
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To: peterpaul12345

She needed/wanted to martyr herself to further her cause, (imho of course).


822 posted on 12/27/2007 10:30:50 AM PST by ßuddaßudd (7 days - 7 ways Guero >>> with a floating, shifting, ever changing persona....)
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To: Jim Noble

OUCH...:-)

I think you nailed it. Petraeus knows how to make a difference, for the better.


823 posted on 12/27/2007 10:31:17 AM PST by La Enchiladita (For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given...)
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To: commish
Pakistani special forces just put on Red alert and put in charge of keeping control of security across the country.

I'll bet that will be pretty close to the proverbial "chinese fire drill".

824 posted on 12/27/2007 10:31:50 AM PST by OBXWanderer (dontvoteincumbent.com)
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To: Jim Noble

Condi Rice is a joke. She should be fired today.

I am amazed and saddened at what this adminisration has become.


825 posted on 12/27/2007 10:32:07 AM PST by se_ohio_young_conservative (Mike Huckabee for President !)
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To: alwaysconservative

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1944784/posts
Clinton Reaction to Bhutto Assassination
CBS News ^ | 12/27/07 | Fernando Suarez

Posted on 12/27/2007 12:58:14 PM EST by mylife

December 27, 2007, 12:21 PM Clinton Reaction to Bhutto Assassination Posted by Fernando Suarez

(CBS) From CBS News’ Fernando Suarez:

LAWTON, IOWA — Hillary Clinton reacted to the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Ministar Benazir Bhutto today saying, “The world is once again reminded of the dangers facing those who pursue democracy and free elections in Pakistan and elsewhere, in areas that are rife with conflict and violence and extremeism and anti-democratic forces at work.”

“I have known Benazir Bhutto for a dozen years and I knew her as a leader. I knew her as someone was willing to take a risks to persue democracy on behalf of the people of Pakistan. She wrote a very moving autobiography which begins with the assassination of her father who was had been the leader of Pakistan and was killed as well.”

“I grieve for her family, particularly her two children. And I grieve for the people of Pakistan who deserve to have an opportunity to vote for leaders of their choosing, who deserve to have democracy take root in a country that has tremendous potential that is not being realized because their system of government has oppressed or undermined the abilities and talents of millions of Pakistanis.”

“And I hope that if their is any opportunity for the government and people of Pakistan to respod to this tragedy appropriately, it would be to move more steadfastly and determinately toward democracy. She has given her life for that hope.”

“And I know to the people of our country stand in solidarity with those who believe, as we do, in the rights of people to be heard at the ballot box. We’re about to see that begin in our own country in just a week, and so it is a particularly poignat moment for us to extend our sympathy and condolensces to the Bhutto family and to the people of Pakistan. And I certainly will do anything I can to support the continuing efforts to democratzie a very important and critical nation to the future of that region and the world.”


826 posted on 12/27/2007 10:32:12 AM PST by COUNTrecount
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To: Publius6961

That’s a good boy...;^)
Or girl?


827 posted on 12/27/2007 10:32:30 AM PST by La Enchiladita (For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given...)
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To: peterpaul12345
If I had to guess, I don't think they had the funds for a decently armored car. The one she was using appeared to be some old handmedown. It had all sorts of dents in it.

These folks don't have the resources that western political parties have.

828 posted on 12/27/2007 10:33:13 AM PST by Cold Heat (Mitt....2008)
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To: ken5050
I wonder how this will effect the Iowa caucuses..if at all..

It should make ‘bama and hrc toast, and Biden and Dodd rise to the top of the pack.

829 posted on 12/27/2007 10:34:24 AM PST by valkyry1
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To: Publius6961

But, we don’t disagree, if you re-read what I said.
And if you look into the provisions of the new treaty.


830 posted on 12/27/2007 10:35:48 AM PST by La Enchiladita (For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given...)
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To: La Enchiladita; RightWhale
"Still making my way through the thread. Many have speculated “inside job,” that her security detail was infiltrated. Also, one or two pointed to Sharif. It was also mentioned he is fleeing, or has fled, the country."

Would not surprise me the least if her security detail was infiltrated. As for Sharif supposedly his party was attacked hours before killing four of his supporters. His blaming Musharraf supporters but it could be Sharif's way of throwing suspesion of himself if he is responsible for the Bhutto attack. What a mess and in a country that has nukes.

831 posted on 12/27/2007 10:35:49 AM PST by peterpaul12345
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To: La Enchiladita

BBC reporting the UN security council is convening an emergency session . . .

i’m afraid this assasination has serious potential ramifications


832 posted on 12/27/2007 10:36:46 AM PST by jhpigott
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To: Cold Heat
Mansoor Ijaz predicting civil war; says a targeted assassination is NOT the hallmark of AQ.
833 posted on 12/27/2007 10:36:46 AM PST by txhurl (Yes there were WMDs)
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To: txflake

when Mansoor talks, I listen. He has got a pretty good feel for the region


834 posted on 12/27/2007 10:37:59 AM PST by jhpigott
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To: jhpigott; Dog; AdmSmith; TexKat; Coop; jeffers; nuconvert; Arizona Carolyn; BurbankKarl; SE Mom; ...

This is a lot to assimilate. It will take time to process. Early thoughts:

1. Bhutto enjoyed a large following in Pakistan. They’re not going to be happy.

2. Bhutto incited some heavy opposition while in office, some spillover from those happy to see her father forced from office and killed, and an additional increment from those who believed the allegations of rampant corruption in her government. They’re not going to be happy watching Bhutto supporters acting out.

3. Pakistan has nukes, and my guess is that the security of these in Bush’s primary concern for now. Bush was leveraging Musharraf, mostly because he paid lip service to our anti-terror efforts, but happily took delivery of the arms payoffs, loan forgiveness, and straight cash we traded for his “support”.

4. It won’t matter to many, even most perhaps, in Pakistan, who killed Bhutto. Each faction has already seen close calls before and “knew”, before Bhutto was killed, who was against her. Truth and reason will not find fertile soil in these minds.

5. A lone shooter, strapped with explosives, getting lucky at an unplanned motorcade stop is one thing. Getting a plant all the way inside Bhutto’s security detail is quite another. Per Bush, and supposedly a top Al Qaeda liason in Afghanistan, AQ ran this op. Before taking that to the bank, I really need to see evidence of more than a lone shooter getting lucky. Not saying it’s not there, but it isn’t visible yet, and therefore, you have to read the whole board both ways, AQ did it, somebody else did it. Key point in there, if AQ did it, “it”, whatever “it” happens to be that day, is ALWAYS part of a larger plan.

In summary then, we have nuclear Pakistan with its current leader soft(er than the US wishes, rates of change at our desired pace may not be politically possible in Pakistan at this time) on terror, blamed by a sizable fraction of his population for outright murder, while just about every other dog in the fight blames somebody and wants revenge, and the current leader has been levered into an open election corner by the US carrot and stick.

At the same time, we have a major opposition figure off the board, yet another forced to find cover, as in “will stop bullets”.

Add riots at minimum, an ongoing insurrection with a reasonably comfortable base in the tribal areas to fall back on and maneuver offensively out of, and the strongest current political figure in the country has strained, at best, relations with the US.

My best hope is that the powers who put Musharraf in power in the first place are still pulling the strings, from behind the scenes, and have another general all groomed out and ready to go.

I think a Pak leader, who can take an offense to the tribal areas effectively, and who can, at the same time maintain a tight rein over the military, is essentially a contradiction in terms. I don’t say the military “sides” with the terrorists or extremists per se, but the relationship has given so much strategic depth to the effort in Kashmir, over such a long period, that both the extremist and military ranks are heavily infused with individuals who have long established relationships with the “other side”.

It wasn’t easy to see exactly where Bush has been coming from lately. He could have been set on Mushie, but using Bhutto et al as a club to modify Mush behavior, or he could have completely broken with Mush.

Either way, the relationship between the US military communities and the Pak army’s ability to enforce stability in Pakistan and Kashmir are at least as closely intertwined as the Pak army and the extremists. The extremists are closer to home, and effectively more in numerical pressure, but the US swings a huge pocketbook and outstanding military technology.

Very short answer, Pak stability trends downwards in the near to midterm future for certain, for all these and more yet reasons. In the worst case projections, there is cause for concern over security of the nukes.


835 posted on 12/27/2007 10:38:32 AM PST by jeffers
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To: COUNTrecount

Thanks so much! (I love FReepers!)


836 posted on 12/27/2007 10:39:13 AM PST by alwaysconservative (Glad tidings of great joy!)
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To: txflake

I tend to agree, although they have been threatening her and it would benefit them to take her out


837 posted on 12/27/2007 10:40:05 AM PST by RDTF
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Comment #838 Removed by Moderator

To: txflake
a targeted assassination is NOT the hallmark of AQ.

Yes, Alqaida also does not call up and claim credit.

839 posted on 12/27/2007 10:40:39 AM PST by RightWhale (Dean Koonz is good, but my favorite authors are Dun and Bradstreet)
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To: Braak

Possibly al-Qaeda simply wants to plunge Pakistan into chaos to help them in their fight in Afghanistan and in the border regions.


840 posted on 12/27/2007 10:40:41 AM PST by tlj18 (Mike Huckabee is nonsense on stilts.)
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