Benazir Bhutto, at the rally where she was later killed.
Getty ImagesFirst the news said there had been a bomb blast at a Benazir Bhutto campaign rally in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Then it said the former prime minster had been hurt. And then it said Bhutto had been killed.
Don't know about you, I couldn't help feeling a little queasy in the newsroom -- if I'm not sure yet exactly why. You?
10:09 AM ET | 12-27-2007 | permalink
Sad day for the democratic process, besides a wonderful leader this woman was a pennacle of character.
Such fine allies we have in that country...always open to free elections.
What a tragedy. I am saddened for a loss of a true Humanitarian.
We all want to believe that hope exists, even in the most turbulent places and times. Bhutto's death was an assassination of hope, as well as of a courageous person. That is what is so disturbing.
My quesy feeling is in thinking of who is in the very long line of folks who wanted her out of the way? I feel justice will never be done and the top level culprits, American and/or Pakistani, will never be discovered. This is another gift to the now global comercial-military-industry
Yes, Laura, I am feeling very ill upon reading this story. I viewed Mrs. Bhutto as a strong voice for openness and transparency and a dedicated promoter of democracy. When I heard this morning that she was injured, I found myself muttering, "Oh, no" over and over, very much afraid that she would die from her wounds and that a powerful and recognizable voice would be silenced. I suspect we have lost more than we imagine today with the death of Mrs. Bhutto.
Maybe because an already less-than-stable, nuclear armed, third world country is on the verge of chaos?
i feel so bad when heard the news. i express my condolences to the family members of bhutto. it is the time for all countries to fight against terrorism.and all other neighboring countries of pakistan should try reimpose the democracy in pakistan..it is necessory to dethrone tyrrant mr musharrof.
May her soul rest in a perfect peace. Her death will not be in vain becouse she died for what she believe it right for her country.
It's sad that these militants can only affect change by blowing themselves up....thus creating a vicious circle of more militancy and terrorism. I do not see this as a way for change, only to quell it. Given the circumstances, there are thousands of people who have nothing to live for except to incite fear to others. When will it end?!!
Yes. I felt similarly. Not only sad for the county of Pakistan, but a sense of foreboding that this event would effect the world and the U.S. more directly than we realize now.
Benazir Bhutto was a symbol of positive and peaceful change in Pakistan. I also saw her as a tireless, intelligent, strong female voice who spoke out for injustice and hypocrisy in world politics. She will remain for me, a inspiration of how essential it is to continue to be an activist and speak up thoughtfully. I wouldn't say I feel queasy; the wind has been knocked out of me.
Former prime minster Bhutto's death is a discouraging setback for everyone hoping to see a positive change take place in Pakistan.
Today war is founded on symbols. It was no accident that AQ chose the World Trade Centre on 911. Not only were Americans killed on American soil - worse than Pearl Harbour - but the WTC was THE symbol of the American way of life.
This was no accident as was the attack on Ms Bhutto.
The "plan" for 911 was to get America so angry that it would "Go to war" - by sucking America directly into conflict the US would be both enmired and weakened because it would lose support in the rest of the west and would be split in two at home. This has happened.
Now in Pakistan, a country on the edge of chaos but with many nuclear bombs, Ms Bhutto is an equal symbol. She is first of all a woman. Woman in the new theocratic order cannot have any power or voice. She is a symbol of a movement to democracy. What can be predicted?
* Musharraf will be blamed both in Pakistan and more importantly in India - we will see a lot more violence - chaos will break out
* India will have to react to the risk of chaos and the bomb - the Indian people will demand that they are being protected
* The US will be caught in a bind - how can they support Musharraf but how can they stand by and let chaos reign? The US cannot win - all their moves are bad
* Europe will wring its hands in impotence - but as the violence in Pakistan builds, Europeans will look at their expanding Muslim populations - populists will fan the flames - look to France as the tinder box -
* All the worst of how we as humans can be can be unlocked after a 60 year sleep
But why would anyone want to see the 4 horseman unleashed? It helps to recall Lenin. The early revolutionary leaders in Russia wanted to have a new democratic government - in effect they wanted to replace the Tsar with a kind of English system. Ms Bhutto = Kerensky.
Lenin had no ambitions to simply take over the existing state - he wanted to create a Theocracy - a new ideal state based on a religion. AQ have the same desire.
AQ do not want to take over the existing state of Pakistan. They want to set in motion events that will dismantle all states. They want chaos in Pakistan that will lead to conflict with India. They want the US to back order and Musharraf so that when M falls, the loss for theUS will be even greater. They want Euopeans to fear the Muslim immigrants and to have a reaction thus building up the tension inside Europe.
This creates the ideal conditions for a tribal theocracy.
I think that we have been checkmated - I am not sure what we can do but to play out the end game.
All this happens in an election year, during the greatest financial crisis since the depression, while the US forces are overstretched. Also expect oil prices to go through the roof and expect what that will do to our economy to layer onto all of this.
The one state that I think will do very well - Russia. They have the oil and the money. They also will have no compunction in cracking down on their own internal Muslim threat. China is very vulnerable. Their leaders depend on a vibrant world economy. What will happen to them as this falters? Maybe they will have to break with a history of isolation and find a foreign adventure to keep the masses happy?
The brilliance of this move is that while I think I can see how it can all turn out, I can't think of how I would do anything but follow the script that they have forced upon us. Like in 1914, the powder charges have been laid over 40 years. Now the fuse is lit - the bang is inevitable
I agree. Just heard the news at work and it's extremely unsettling. It???s frightening to think what this means for the state of affairs in the Pakistan and the Middle East. What's also odd to me is that only one other person I work with has even reacted to the news.
Why is anyone surprised ?- we've killed King, Kennedy's, and a whole lot of other lesser known opponents in the U.S. and MANY other countries that oppose the powers that be. And we support lots of dictators like Musharef. And Bhutto was another corrupt ruler in her day.This is the way of the world for a long time. It's barely news.
i am very saddened by this.
and it's ridiculous to see pictures of musharraf and his afghani counterpart committing to "fighting terrorism" when musharraf's party are terrorists!
Dear Rob Paterson, thank you for your hatemongering commentary.
The fact is Bhutto had a lot of secular enemies too and it struck me as strange that you, and many people for that matter, seems more at ease to blame Islam for this.
Indeed, you've failed at other points. How can you not consider that the attacks on the WTC were a result of American policies towards the Arab countries ? How cannot American support for corrupt and oppressive Arab regimes breed hatred for America ?
And by the way, study the history of Chechnya and Xinjiang before condemning the conflict there as proof that Russian and China have their own "internal Muslim threat".
The point is that your comments are bereft of facts which is of course not surprising since hatred and bigotry usually do not make sense.
truly the worlds mothers deserve better than this!!!!
Sad, sad day. Reading that Ms. Bhutto has been killed brought dark clouds to my mind. Somber. My deepest condolences to her family. My deepest condolences to the people of her country. My deepest condolences to all of us who care about courage and hope and peace.
Sincerely,
Kim B.
Oh give me a break ! Everything I've read aboout Benazir Bhutto indicates she was an elitist,supremely arrogant and scheming individual with a messiah complex. She didn't do much, when she was Prime Minister of Pakistan, to further democratic processes for that country or to improve the position of women. As Prime Minister she was one of very few leaders to recognize the Taliban as legitimate rulers in Afghanistan. Together with her husband, she was also facing prosecution in Switzerland, Spain and elsewhere for corruption and the transfer out of Pakistan of huge sums of money into their private bank accounts. Also, allegations have been made that, as Prime Minister, she was involved in the murder by police, of her brother, who had criticised her for corruption. He had set up a rival party. Google in the name of her niece Fatima Bhutto and former sister in law Ghinwa Bhutto to check out their stories.
I am very saddned by Bhutto's assassination, despite all its political motives. She was a great SYMBOL...to the whole entire world!
The impact of this action may yet be far beyond our comprehensions today. If order in Pakistan breaks down anymore more than it already has, Afghanistan stands no chance. If the inastability poors into India we have a crisis the like of which have not been at least since the cultural reformation in China in the 1970's, only this has a potential to be more politically significant for the progress of Asia and the middle east. There are simply too many people in the region teetering on the brink of destitution for any amount of instability to be absorbed.
Truly a sad day. May she rest in peace. Ms. Bhutto's body died but her spirit will live on mirrored in the lives of those who espoused her beliefs. May her countrymen, our brothers, soon find the peace they so need and deserve in order to continue her mission.
A courageous effort towards democracy was being made by all leaders involved in Pakistan. It was hopeful to see the forward movement - even in the slow, dangerous nature of it. Would not jump to quick conclusions as to who engineered this horrendous plan. The current leader could very well be next. Don't think it had much to do with Pakistan and their struggles. Could have much more to do with foreign interests and Afghanistan. Yes, I feel very queasy, and now, even more sad for all of us. I am so very sorry for the families and loved ones of all who perished. Now we wait and see.
she was mother of our nation..weve lost our guardian today..
This is a total shock to me. When I first heard the tail end of a report, I was overcome by the prospect of the possibility that it could be true. I hoped that it just was a "What if..." situation. But when the report confirmed that she had been killed, I felt my insides go numb.
This is a total disaster! I fear for the world. If something like this had happened in the USA, it would be tantamount to Hillary being assasinated. What a horrible situation for Pakistan, the Middle East and the fight against terrorism.
I can still hear the interview where Mrs. Bhutto acknowledged that although she was in danger she felt strongly that she would never be killed.
At this point all we can do is pray for her and hope that God helps us out of this mess!
I'm feeling queasy because:
Yet another voice for democracy has been violently silenced by right-wing extremists.
And i'm queasy because all over the blogosphere people are saying that Mrs. Bhutto was somehow courting this disaster by returning. Some are even so desperate as to suggest that her own party has staged this. These killers and their supporters cloak their avarice in the trappings of religiosity; but they are no different than anyone else who has ever murdered for political and economic gain. Like Rabin in Israel, Sadat in Egypt, all 3 Ghandis in India - it will be discovered (if it is ever uncovered)she was killed by a male inculcated with the conviction that progress in society and civil rights for women equates to a loss of place and face for all men, that anyone who deviates from his "true" faith is fair game, and that G*d looks lovingly on people who murder in His name.
Despite the fact that Mrs Bhuto has been assasniated, I have faith that her voice and her dedication to Democracy will not die and someone will rise up to take her place and continue what she so strongly lived and ultimately died for. History over the years have a way of snuffing out the candles of hope in our society. Her real killers will be flushed out and exposed. God has a way of bringing injustice to light just when it is needed. I mourn for her, her family, and her country. May God rest her soul.
It was brave of Ms. Bhutto to return to her country, and a terrible catastrophe that she would be so brutally murdered,
Lets mark this as the begining of the end of extreme fundamentalism that exist in this part of the world, final nail in the coffin of extremism is been nailed. Downfall of extremism begins here
Though whatever happened is a sad incident, she was not a saint either. She was a dirty politician like others involved in murders and massive corruption charges.
Mr Faris Abdat: What makes you think that Rob Paterson was blaming it all on Islam. He was talking about AQ's strategy and chain of events which might get started.
I will always think that she was a wonderful and courageous leader, who died fighting for the right cause in
a part of the world where the right thing is difficult to do!
I have been feeling queasy since Musharraf has been willing to ignore the rule of the law within Pakistan, claiming to be an ally of the US but all the while harboring those that want nothing more than our downfall. Even if he and his supporters are not directly responsible for Mrs. Bhutto's murder, the air of suspicion that he is involved and that he is party to a repression of open elections allows the chaos that is sure to come. How many more leaders will even be willing to risk their lives to keep a semblance of truth in the governments that are faced with terrorism. What is truly sad is that so many Americans will be completely unmoved by this (and will not even understand why it matters) - one more tragic event in the history of humankind. If there is a higher power, it is watching us with morbid curiosity just to see how very far the insanity of religion will take us.
Sad day in pakistan polictical history..zia
from
Miami
In sorrow, my condolences to her family, the families of all those who were killed and injured today and for all of us who live in this world where voices are silenced, whole peoples eradicated because of villainous hatred and deliberate or slothful ignorance. It's a very sad day, it's a very mad world.
Queasy is an understatement. We've lost a great woman today.
This is much worse than if Hillary were assassinated. In fact... well thats a different discussion.
Is there any question that Musharraf is behind this? Not really.
Its time for Bush and the US administration to light up Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan like a glowing parking lot.
I refer readers/bloggers to the recent book titled Deception: Pakistan, the United States, and the Secret Trade in Nuclear Weapons, profiled on Fresh Air in November.
see: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16251052
Hello people, let's not forget that East Pakistan (Bangladesh) will be under water in 50 years. What was Bhutto going to do about that?
Reading stuff like Rob Paterson's is what makes me queasy. Yes, Bhutto's murder is tragic. Yes, it will cause unrest, but as the the earth-shattering nature of her death I have severe doubts. As a famous Vulcan once said, "History is replete with turning points." Musharraf will keep his power, and AQ will continue to hole up in PK without much effort on anyone's part to find them (their continued existence being too useful for some powers that be). This will not precipitate a nuclear struggle between India and PK, nor will it cause China to invade some other country. Countries will crack down, governments will grow paranoid, but that is what they have been doing since they first formed in Mesopotamia. Her death will not lead to Mad Max. If any one person had that power, look to our own shores--thankfully he'll be off the world stage in a year.
My heart and soul ache for the family of Primeinester Bhutto. This is tragic, and confirms my felling that these attacts are the only way cowards can remain in power.These actions reflect the pitiful ignoarnce of a man who knows he can not win a true democratic election. This women was a great and powerful leader and no matter what she will always remain this way! My condolences to your family and your country Prim. Bhutto, I am truly sorry.
ronen
I am not surprised that this happened, though sad that it did.
Also Mr Faris Abdat, I do not agree with your conclusions of Rob Paterson. You are just being very sensitive. Rob Paterson was talking about AQ.
Sometime close to twenty years ago I listened as Ms. Bhutto was interviewed by Diane Rehm on WAMU. She was then incredibly bright, articulate, and full of hope and promise. That is the way she carried herself throughout her life, with a courage that most of us cannot truly appreciate. Now that Ms. Bhutto is gone I shudder for the people of Afghanistan for whom she served.
How can the White House say with a straight face that the "enemies of democracy" were responsible, when Musharraf was in fact the primary obstacle to democracy. Additionally, how is it that US media and the White House appear to be convinced that the Taliban or other extremists were responsible, when those same extremists had far better capabilities to kill her when she actually was president (before the Taliban fell). Additionally, Musharraf should be the obvious first suspect, why is this not the primary question in US media? Her father and brother were killed by the state, and yet US media is so quick to blame the women-hating Taliban.
I was 12 years old when Anwar Sadat was assasinated and I feel now as I felt then. I am profoundly saddend. People like Bhutto represent what is best about humanity and it is disheartening and painful to know that there are people in the world who hate civility and democracy so much that they would murder the source of their own hope. Godspeed you on your way, Benazir.
our diply sorro and we all gone suffer for great parsnality such humanbing and grat strong person evan by nre resident.
Pardon me, of course I mean Pakistan!
What ever one may thinkabout her polotics---to be shot down in te street like a animal is sickening to me. this ill always be a brave..and courages woman in my eyes. She was well aware that hr live was in danger --yet decided to stand strong for democaracy !
God bless her---and may her GOD watch over he..
Alternately ---may the union of the willing strengthen their resolve to face down these Muslims extremists...that want to keep all woman in subordinate ...lowly positions...I hope they are all wiped from the face of this earth.
I feel sick to my stomach after hearing the news of the assassination of Mrs. Bhutto. Sad day for democracy, humanity and women.
This terrible event would never get as many headlines if Bhutto was not a woman--simple as that. We sit here and grieve because SHE was a "loving mother of Pakistan." Our emotional response to this murder proves that the romantic view of women as "innocents" and "saviors" is alive and well even here in the West. If she was a man, with a similar political record, Bhutto's image in the West would simply not have been very special. We egalitarian democrats are admitting our hypocracy by demonstrating that, yes, we really do feel that women deserve a different place in politics than men. Good news for fundamentalists everywhere.
the last HOPE had flown away ! sorry, people of Pakistan
I had so much hope for Pakistan through Bhutto. What a sad, dark day.
It's an idyllic scene here. Typical America. As I lay in bed this morning, my first thoughts turn to the 17 year old boy who was mauled by a Tiger. The thought brought such a wash of sadness over me. My own 17 year old lay sleeping in his bed after a graveyard shift at the retail store where he works. While I say a prayer for the dead boy, I can't help but feel thankful that my own son is safe.
My husband is sleeping lightly next to me. Our daughter is flying her RC helicopter in the living room while her best friend laughs and encourages her to "dive bomb it."
Our silly old dog is tap dancing in the hallway, her toenails clicking in earnest agitation. She hates that damn copter.
But my day doesn't start without first reaching for the radio and getting my daily dose of NPR. That's when the words hit me. Benazir Bhutto is dead. She's dead. And for some reason, I think of the tiger and my sleepy brain registers that the tiger is dead. They have killed the tiger.
Queasy. Yes. That was the feeling. And anxious. And frightful.
The town I live in is beautiful, but shallow. Nice cars. Gorgeous houses. All the latest gadgets and gizmos. Christmas budgets that exceed the collective IQ. No one here would care that Benazir is gone. I wonder if anyone here knows who she is. I know the answer. And the sad truth is that this is the prevailing attitude of this nation. As long as we can score some free downloads for the IPod, pay someone to stand in line for us to get our hands on the latest Wii, or record the episodes of Gray's Anatomy or Biggest Loser so as not to miss out, we don't care.
Benazir Bhutto's death is one of the biggest events to happen in our lifetimes and we don't even know it.
I think perhaps that is where some of the queasiness comes from. The world is about to unravel. I'm hardly Chicken Little, but the tiger is dead and I'm afraid that does not bode well for the world.
I thought Pakistan learned from the last rally. There was enough death and injury there, so why didn't we improve the state of things during this rally? Musharraf could have mandated tighter security measures. I am not at all surprised by the news in such a flailing country. Pakistan is important to the US and we need to react in a pro-active manner. I am extremely sickened by the news, but not at all surprised. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Mrs. Bhutto and her family.
A very very sad day for the world. That is what happens when dictators like Musharraf go unchecked and unpunished. All the dictators of the world now use "war on terrorism" as an excuse to clamp down on opposition and to continue with human rights abuses. What a shame?
Sent by Mbett
There are a lot of others who are queasy as well - and like you, not entirely sure why. A killing is one thing - the word "assassination" has so many other, darker connotations. I don't think anyone can see all the political implications this event will have in the next few days.
I have followed the career of Benazir Bhutto for many years and I always felt she would be assassinated.I can't express the hurt I feel at this horrible atrocity.
Well, considering the current Political aray, they are in as much danger as the Prime Minister (Bhutto) was. Who / Whom would benefit by throwing the entire country into Caos? The Extremists, I believe, would Most likely be the nominee here. I surely hope cooler heads take hold of the situation. Let's not forget other outside countries who would benefit from this. I believe one of which was on the brink of Nuclear war with Pakistan. Just which side is playing which in this scenario? Muslim extremist, Pakistani Nationalist, The current Regime, India, the U.S(I doubt). What of Russia? Is Putin drawing the U.S. into a Global confrontation in the Mid-east to sap it's resources like we did them in Afghanistan?
Nothing will change in Pakistan with Bhutto's death. She would not have been panacea in a nation where anything can be bought - including the presidency.Her death is sad because she was brave in the face of certain death.
My partner woke me up this morning with the news. I lay there half-asleep, half-awake, wondering why I suddenly felt queasy as well. Others are right: it is an attack on the democratic process, the end of an amazing role-model of a woman, who spoke out in the face of threats and danger for her people and for the ideas in which she believed. Of course Pakistan will move on, as does any person or state after tragedy, but it is nonetheless a tragedy. I am still, like you, uneasy and sad.
religious zealots of all religions, not just islamic, must be wiped from the face of the earth. Our soldiers will not rest until every terrorist is dead.
Just because I might not like Democrats, I would not go and hug the Republicans. In the same way, it is not prudent to hug Bhutto or Shariff when Musharraf becomes a tyrant.
Whatever happened is a sad event and no one should be killed this way. But after knowing Ms. Bhutto's past and her political career, atleast I would not show any sympathy/empathy to her.
She had been a cunning, corrupt and murderous politician. Majority of bloggers who are unaware of her past thinks that she was fighting strong for democracy but it was her unrelenting quest for power that took her life.
A true committed politician who dreamed of secure nation...her loss is the whole nation's loss...
Would it not have been fitting for Bhutto to have been Time Magazine Person Of The Year.After All The Year is not over yet.
Bhutto was an imperfect leader but perhaps a glimmer of hope for a democratic and stable Pakistan. What a shame that the Pakistani military did not do more to protect her. Extremism rears its ugly and evil head once again. Sickening and disheartening.
9/11 happened right after Ahmed Shah Massoud was assassinated in Afghanistan, allowing al-Qaeda to have a refuge in the tribal areas between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Now Benzir Bhutto is assassinated. I hope everyone's on red alert.
I always felt that Benazir Bhutto was destined to be assassinated as her father was. She was almost like a mythic figure: powerful, imposing, charismatic, courageous, and daring. The fact that all of this was embodied in a woman, I imagine, had posed an unfathomable fear in this male-dominated place.
This is very sad time for all Pakistanis and I fear for the country's desperate struggle to stability.
Regardless of the kind of leader Benazir Bhutto was (and I am not saying that she was not corrupt), the fact remains that she (a woman) led a fundamentalist country like Pakistan at one point in time. I don't think anyone can really imagine what THAT must have been like. I was a little girl living in Pakistan when she was in power and all I can remember is constant criticism of everything about her by the fundamentalists (the way she dressed, talked, spoke Urdu, governed etc. etc.). In fact, I remember making fun of her myself with my school buddies...But, as I grew older, I realized that it is absolutely shocking that a person with her upbringing actually had the courage to not only aspire to become the leader of a fundamentalist country like Pakistan but to actually govern it for as long as she did while dealing with all the opposition that she encountered. I don't care how corrupt she was. All I know is that she was a brave woman and that the fact that she governed Pakistan was a great step forward for the country and that is how I intend to remember her.
Musharraf who failed to guarenttee Bhutto's safety should be held accountable. Those in the Pakastani security services Bhutto pointed too and who are harboring AQ & Taliban should be targetted. Bush, Cheney, and there ilk who encouraged Bhutto's risky gambit should be bannished from our national life.
Whatever she was or meant to others; she loved her country and was a true patriot. Hope, courage, and intellect was sacrificed with her as well.
In Feb, 2007 I visited my family in Rawalpindi, Pakistan and had an interesting conversation about Pakistan's future with one of my father's doctors at a local hospital. His main questions were:
How can we reform Pakistan? Can it be done?
All I could say was that even God does not help nations who are unable to help themselves........It has to start from an average citizen to the President.
Its a really bad day for Pakistani peaple .Its deadth of democracy and justice. I cant express my feeling about this incident . We lost many hopes with Bhutto.ITs very bad day for Pakistani peaples.
Musharraf may have withdrawn the corruption charges, but three other cases are proceeding in Switzerland, Spain and Britain. In July 2003, after an investigation lasting several years, Daniel Devaud, a Geneva magistrate, convicted Mr and Mrs Asif Ali Zardari, in absentia, of money laundering. They had accepted $15 million in bribes from two Swiss companies, SGS and Cotecna. The couple were sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to return $11.9 million to the government of Pakistan. "I certainly don't have any doubts about the judgments I handed down," Devaud told the BBC.
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v29/n24/ali_01_.html
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