Benazir Bhutto killed in suicide attack at rally

[2020hindsight]

sharif: the elections are now pointless, meaningless, and of no relevance at all

his party was also shot at yesteday it seems (CNN videos) - and 4 killed there as well

 

[2020hindsight]

Yeah, he's allowed the Taliban to control a few areas in Pakistan....

http://edition.cnn.com/
CNN has a video on ....
Pakistan: Terror Central 4:21
CNN's Nic Robertson reports on the Taliban's influence in Pakistan.
• CNN.com - CNN: Special Investigations
Unfortunately I haven't worked out how to post a direct link ..
Classic double-talk / denials from the Pakistan military about how many Taliban in northern Pakistan, and how easily they move around. "Almost all their leadership etc.

Nic Robertson seems to be pretty switched on ... another of his reports :-
Pakistan faces troubled future 5:07
CNN's Nic Robertson reports on who may be behind Benazir Bhutto's killing and what's next for Pakistani elections.


By coincidence there is a similar article (text - but with same title) - this one from when the "deal" was made with Taliban ... three months ago
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID={8A06C129-36E7-4CD9-B132-015B5DD74588}

Terror Central
By Kyle Dabruzzi
FrontPageMagazine.com | Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Within the past three weeks, the United States was dealt one of its greatest defeats to date in the war on terror. This defeat, however, was not courtesy of al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or any other terrorist organization. Rather, this setback was delivered by one of our allies in this fight, Pakistan.

In order to understand why Pakistan has done this, it’s important to have an understanding of its past record in combating terrorism. Additionally, this insight might shed some light on the likely future of Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts and determine whether Pakistan can save itself.

In the Counterterrorism Blog, Daveed Gartenstein-Ross has provided a continuing analysis of the current situation in Pakistan. As he indicates, the Taliban and al-Qaeda won a significant victory recently when the Pakistani government yielded North Waziristan to the Taliban and their militant allies. According to Pakistan’s English newspaper Dawn, the 3 page agreement calls for the Pakistani government to pledge not to undertake any ground or air operations against the militants in the region.

For their part, the militants have pledged to halt cross-border raids into Afghanistan. This is unlikely, however, for two reasons. Under the agreement, foreign militants are allowed to reside in the region, so long as they “keep the peace.” Allegedly, Osama bin Laden and many of his lieutenants are among those militants living in the Waziristan region. Furthermore, the recent assassination of the governor of the Paktika province on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, perpetrated by Taliban members, only amplifies fears that cross-border incursions will likely continue.

 

[noirua]

Will post some more information later. Yes, 2020, you are winning the discussion, errrr, so far that is.

 

[2020hindsight]

Will post some more information later. Yes, 2020, you are winning the discussion, errrr, so far that is.

noi ,
just trying to keep up with the theories - sheesh - 3 so far .. (the jpeg taken from CNN - I'm not as clever as you in posting direct links you 'll notice lol)

PS Afghanistan is becoming "surrounded" - Pakistan to the south, Iran to the West, etc - all with the potential to head into extremist territory

Why the hell did we ever take our eye off the terrorism ball and go chasing oil in Iraq

 

[2020hindsight]

speaking of cricket (Imran Khan speaking out about a proper judicial probe into the assassination, the possibility that AQ are not involved after all,

and also Sharif asking Musharraf to step down to "save Pakistan"
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/29/2128734.htm?section=justin

Pakistan's Khan backs call for Musharraf to quit
Posted 13 minutes ago

Pakistani opposition leader and former cricket star Imran Khan has called on President Pervez Musharraf to step down following Benazir Bhutto's assassination.

Ms Bhutto was killed yesterday in a suicide attack after a rally in the northern city of Rawalpindi.

Mr Khan says a consensus caretaker government should be set up and a judicial probe should be launched to investigate Ms Bhutto's death.

He also says elections, which are due to be held on January 8, should be postponed in the wake of the violence.

"I do not understand how you can have elections on January 8. It makes no sense at all," he said.

"Who's now going to go in a public rally? It's very easy to palm any killing [off to]... Al Qaeda, or the Taliban, or terrorists, but who is to know what really happened?"

interesting comment that last one.
Certainly Musharraf has recently shown himself to be as cunning as a cut snake, swapping the judiciary with corrupt "predictable" judges - and Khan has been very critical of course - including escaping arrest. etc

Yesterday, former Pakistan prime minister and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif called for Mr Musharraf to resign immediately to "save Pakistan", after the death of Ms Bhutto.

Mr Sharif says Mr Musharraf is a threat to the stability of Pakistan and the source of "all the problems confronting the nation."

"I demand that Musharraf quit power, without delay of a single day, to save Pakistan," he said.

The inference is that Musharraf is now a lame duck as well.... Any public support he had is gone / vanished apparently.

 

[noirua]

Her final moment videos (there are a few better ones that appear to be held, at the moment, by Youtube): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1rH1SmvGyU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi_o8Vr2Kk8

 

[2020hindsight]

Her final moment videos (there are a few better ones that appear to be held, at the moment, by Youtube): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1rH1SmvGyU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi_o8Vr2Kk8

exactly !!!!
the first one shows the gunman with pistol at superclose range to Benazir - arm fully extended, supported, etc. car going super slowly -
Three shots !!
It would be impossible to miss!!! - sheesh

The second youtube is the one the "govt spokesman" uses - skips past the gunman - saying some blast threw her against the sunroof latch. and says with military precision (paraphrased) "trust me, this clears up any ambiguity" - such words reek of "spin" - especially when they skip most of the evidence.

Just like with JFK's autopsy, (ignoring the pristine "magic" bullet hand-placed on his stretcher) , her body would be all the evidence necessary - either there was or there wasn't a bullet wound to the neck.

 

[2020hindsight]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...CMP=KNG-powersearchSEM1&HBX_PK=benazir+bhutto

Babar Awan, Bhutto’s lawyer, said: “The surgeons confirmed that she has been martyred.”

Footage Of Benazir Bhutto Shooting Released

The same footage as you just posted noi, but with more information attached (bludy worrying though understandable - revenge etc ) :-

Bhutto was killed in the army garrison town of Rawalpindi.
....
Party officials dismissed the government's new theory about Bhutto's cause of death and said a proper investigation was needed.
........
"I personally saw the body," said Babar Awan, a leading member of the party who was at the rally. "That is a false claim. It was a targeted, planned killing."

The people's anger was overwhelmingly targeted at the government, particularly President Pervez Musharraf, blamed by most people for being directly or indirectly responsible for Bhutto's death. Many questioned why security precautions had not been stepped up after a previous suicide attempt on Bhutto, which killed 140 people the day she returned from exile 10 weeks ago.

Bhutto's supporters say it is unlikely any of them will believe the government, whatever officials say in the coming days to try to stem the violence.

Witnesses say Bhutto died while waving from a sunroof at supporters after a political rally in Rawalpindi and was shot at least twice just before a suicide blast killed at least 20 people, less than two weeks before upcoming parliamentary elections.

But Friday night, Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said Bhutto died not from gunshots, but because she ducked when shots were fired, and the force of the blast knocked her head into the lever of the sunroof, crushing her skull. The government also blamed the suicide blast on the militant leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud, who lives in the remote and lawless tribal areas near the Afghan border.

Party officials dismissed the government's new theory about Bhutto's cause of death and said a proper investigation was needed.

"I personally saw the body," said Babar Awan, a leading member of the party who was at the rally. "That is a false claim. It was a targeted, planned killing."
...........

 

[mayk]

Why would her corrupted husband not allow a full post martum ( autopsy ) to clarify the cause of her death? Somethings from Benazir's family don't add up. How can you call for an inquiry if you are not allowing to do a simple wound matching test. Should not take more than 10 minutes...


I am not saying that their is no conspiracy theory, but making one out of nothing is important as well, Regarding the pace of a murder inquiry in pakistan. First prime minister of Pakistan Liaqt , Ironically was shot in exactly the same place around 60 years ago !. His case is still pending ( 6 decades ....). A lot of theories surround that case as well, because the shooter was shot down by the police and hence silenced after being captured.

Please donot make a saint out of her, yes she was courageous women but she was corrupt, she is responisible for the death of her brother ( ask her niece Fatima Bhutto!!). She never ordered any enquiry in her brothers death ( who was killed by police in Karachi...). Her brothers were involved in hijacking planes and trying to plot terrorist plot against Pakistan....

My point is take the views of all side but don't trust anyone, even her party has political motivations. And unfortunately we might never know which version is true

And ultimately death was caused by the explosion directly or indirectly. Hence she was killed. The people who murdered her should be caught and brought to justice, no point in making conspiracy theories. Remember no point in killing more innocent people in the name of revenge. Around 40 people so for have died in riots, were their lives not worthy? This madness should be stopped at all cost.

 

[Aussiejeff]

Oh, now I get the Pakistani government line....

(1) The attack was by the (relatively) obscure Pakistani arm of the Taliban.
(2) Bhutto's death was really just an unfortunate accident. She ducked into a hatch handle. How silly of her! If she had ducked more carefully, she would still be alive!

Really.......





AJ

 

[2020hindsight]

.... And ultimately death was caused by the explosion directly or indirectly. Hence she was killed. The people who murdered her should be caught and brought to justice...

? mayk, I disagree - a couple of those 3 bullets killed her (as per the original theory / report of her wounds),

and the assassiin blew himself up.

If you are saying the Taliban and/or AQ should be brought to justice - great! - but I wouldn't hold your breath if I were you - (but who nose? I hope you are right ).

Incidentally, that youtube entitled "Footage Of Benazir Bhutto Shooting Released" has some attached text ....which ends with ..:-

The death of Bhutto has far-reaching implications. Some say it means the end of her political party, the most popular in Pakistan, because there is no clear successor. Others ventured to say it could mean the end of Pakistan, if the violence continues. In Bhutto's ancestral home, where she was buried, people shouted not only slogans against Musharraf but against the nation. "We don't want Pakistan," they yelled.

Across the country, people attacked anything to do with Musharraf's ruling

so yep, it's bludy serious.

 

[ithatheekret]

Methinks the government line was more concerned with staying put , even more so the lobbyists , I mean the Taliban etc. , when across the border the Hindus have just rolled in on a landslide victory mimmicking that of Kevs .

Not for one second do I think Musharraf has a care factor over the opprobrium attached to this event .

MayK stated facts ..... period . The lady was drop dead gorgeous , but she carried skeletons and I would very much doubt that any political opponent doesn't , didn't , has or even had .

The remoulding of the region will not be without bloodshed , Musharraf would know his days are numbered now and if I can extrapolate that down here from my little patch of sunshine , I can just imagine the in your face view he has .

When it boils down to it though my care factor on his fate is zero , right whack .

 

[2020hindsight]

gotta feeling that Ron Paul's version isn't how it's gonna pan out ..

ron paul on benazir bhutto assassination; usa foreign policy

 

[mayk]

This is the ignorance of people, AQ killed her, they should unite against fighting terrorism. It is definately not the end of Pakistan, Benazir political party has much to benefit from this tradegy (Sad I know but that is reality...), worst part is newspapers are tipping her corrupt husband to be the successor of the party if that happens then I am sure it will be end of Bhutto's party.

I would personaly like another bhutto to take control of the party. ironically her mother has witnissed the death of her husband , and three childerns (all killed...) I can only imagine her pain and suffering.

I think martial law followed by free and fair elections is a viable option if the situation gets worse in Pakistan. Musharraf has to go to calm people down ( even if he is not responisble for her death).

 

[chops_a_must]

Who wants to make a bet on US forces storming Pakistani sites to steal their nukes?

In terms of US action... this is a rare occassion I would support it. But Dubya was an absolute moron to not insist on Pakistan de-arming before their alliance/ aid package et al in 2001. Clap clap.

 

[noirua]

Why would her corrupted husband not allow a full post martum ( autopsy ) to clarify the cause of her death?

Because he wants to become leader of the party and knows that if everything can be quietened down in the next few weeks, an election can be called in February 2008 and he should win and achieve his wife's wishes.

 

[2020hindsight]

As Imran Khan suggested when he said "easy to blame AQ, but who knows what really ghappened - need a judicial enquiry"

surprise, surprise, maybe the AQ were not involved ...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/29/2128806.htm?section=justin

Al Qaeda militant did not kill Bhutto: spokesman
Posted Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:31pm AEDT
Updated Sat Dec 29, 2007 6:35pm AEDT

Al Qaeda-linked Pakistani militant Baitullah Mehsud was not involved in the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, his spokesman says.

"I strongly deny it. Tribal people have their own customs. We don't strike women," Mehsud's spokesman Maulvi Omar said by telephone from an undisclosed location.

The Pakistan Government said on Friday that Mehsud was responsible for Ms Bhutto's killing as she left an election rally in Rawalpindi on Thursday.......

And more people who saw the bullet wounds (multiple , in + out) - wounds were weeping as they were cleaning her body for burial
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/29/2128839.htm?section=justin

Bhutto's party rejects Govt 'lies' over death
Video has been released showing someone waving a gun near the vehicle just moments before the explosion, but the interior ministry says the body had no gunshot or shrapnel wounds.

Senior members of Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) have dismissed the Government's version of events as "lies" and "nonsense".

Ms Bhutto's spokeswoman, Sherry Rehman, was in the former prime minister's motorcade at the time of the gun and suicide attack and was then part of the party that prepared Ms Bhutto's body for the funeral.

Ms Rehman said she saw a bullet wound in Ms Bhutto's head as she bathed her body after her assassination.

"There was a bullet wound I saw that went in from the back of her head and came out the other side," she said.

"We could not even wash her properly because the wound was still seeping. She lost a huge amount of blood."......

 

[2020hindsight]

Is fecit, cui prodest. (?)
"Done by the one who profits from it." (?)

 

[mayk]

I will take any advise from someone who is not a professional doctor with a grain of salt, she has to gain some political mileage out of this scenario. They were saying that a bullet hit her chest as well, now she is saying that a bullet only hit her head, they have also changed their position, just like government .

Newspapers are tipping her 19-year-old son to be the next chairperson of the party, but her corrupt husband will remain to be the king maker in the party.

On a side note, it is such a shame that an ardent supporter of democracy will not allow the democratic values to be in corporated in her party. Which is autocratic.

 

[2020hindsight]

I will take any advise from someone who is not a professional doctor with a grain of salt, she has to gain some political mileage out of this scenario. They were saying that a bullet hit her chest as well, now she is saying that a bullet only hit her head, they have also changed their position, just like government ..

mayk, mmm
I don't think it's a change of story - there were three bullets were there not?

Are you saying you think, from that video, that that gunman could have missed? with all of the three shots?

Are you saying that blind freddy couldn't tell multiple bullet wounds. ?

Are you saying you believe the sunroof lever theory in preference to the bullet(s) theory (or give it equal weight)?

Here's another question - no real importance this one (this is "pinch of salt" territory, my own theory ..) ... if the blast of the bomb was significant where her head was (since it went off behind the car - and then the lever killed her, etc - and if the bomb was full of pelletts - then why doesn't she have at least a pellet or two in her body.?

As for who takes over the party now etc , and their level of "corruption" - how do you score Musharraf on corruption? I would agree with Imran Khan when he says he's blatantly corrupt.

PS apparently she left "instructions / her preferences / whatever" in her will as to how she would wish the party to go into the future in the event of ,,, etc etc