It was during Bhutto's rule that the Taliban gained prominence in Afghanistan. She viewed the Taliban as a group that could stabilize Afghanistan and enable trade access to the Central Asian republics, according to author Stephen Coll.[11] He claims that her government provided military and financial support for the Taliban, even sending a small unit of the Pakistani army into Afghanistan.

Recently, she has taken an anti-Taliban stance and has condemned terrorist acts committed by the Taliban and their supporters.

I wonder if the Taliban had anything to do with her death, given that she had "taken an anti-Taliban stance" of late.

http://www.dailykos.com/commen...

and

http://www.dailykos.com/commen...

It was in Rawalpindi.  That is hdqtrs for Iraqi Military and base for the Corps that was behind Musharraf's ability to seize power when took over by a coup.

as is often case early, the reports are somewhat conflicting.

I regret that I cannot follow it further - I have other responsibilities to which I must now turn.

But I am very worried - will Pakistan totally erupt, given the apparent attempt also on Sharif?   Will there be a total military crackdow?  Might the military split and there be civil war?   What are the implications for NATO operations in neighboring Afghanistan (after all, the principal supply routes are through Pakistan)?   How will India react to this and the aftermath?

And I have heard that Wes Clark is blaming this on Al Qaeda - why, and on what basis?

This will likely dominate today's news cycle.

``Bhutto symbolizes everything that's anathema to the extremists,'' Lisa Curtis, senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, said in a telephone interview. ``They want a Taliban-like theocratic state in Pakistan and she stands for democracy, modernity and change.''

Bhutto's moderate view of Islam and close contacts with the Bush administration made her a potential target for extremists in the world's largest Muslim nation after Indonesia. Islamic militants had threatened to assassinate Bhutto on her return from exile.

`A Symbol'

``I know that I am a symbol of what the so-called Jihadists, Taliban and al-Qaeda, most fear,'' she wrote. ``I am a female political leader fighting to bring modernity, communication, education and technology to Pakistan.''

Source

Maybe it's al Qaeda, maybe Musharraf.  She had plenty of enemies.

Occam's razor can easily cut towards Taliban, Al Qeada, or Musharraf.

I'm stickin' with Taliban/Al Qaeda as the murderers until proven otherwise.

The Qaeda network accused by Pakistan's government of killing the opposition leader Benazir Bhutto is increasingly made up not of foreign fighters but of homegrown Pakistani militants bent on destabilizing the country, analysts and security officials here say.

... historically there has been a lack of trust between the PPP [Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party] and Pakistan's military establishment, which has sought to control the country's foreign and defence policies even when the army was not in power directly.

Pakistan People's Party workers have set fire to police stations, vehicles and other parties' banners in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, GEO and AAJ television news reported Dec. 27. Rawalpindi's main thoroughfare, Murree Road, which is usually busy with traffic, is completely empty. Arson has also been reported in Karachi and Islamabad.

Source: Stratfor

 But we are supposed to believe that those men pointing machine guns at her in front of her house only a few weeks ago, preventing her from leaving, and then later providing her with "security," are not complicit in her assassination?  How exactly would a man with a gun and a bomb have infiltrated any effective security?  The answer is staring you in the face, you just have to look.

 Irrefutable proof that Musharraf was responsible: Fox News assured us today that he absolutely, positively was not responsible.

Pakistan can ill afford to sacrifice the few moderate leaders it has left. Bhutto's death will plunge the upcoming elections into uncertainty and the country further into instability. At the news of her assassination, many of her loyalists rioted in the streets of Pakistan. There will be many tense days ahead for the Musharraf government as it deals with this political crisis. And that's good news for terrorism.

Also, this is interesting:

On October 18th, a pair of bombs detonated in the midst a welcome home rally in Karachi for the former two-time prime minister, killing some 145 in a deliberate attempt on her life. The organization responsible for the carnage has not yet been identified, but Bhutto said she suspected al Qaeda and some unspecified members of Musharraf's government who did not want to see her return to power.

Statement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on the Death of Benazir Bhutto

"I am profoundly saddened and outraged by the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, a leader of tremendous political and personal courage. I came to know Mrs. Bhutto over many years, during her tenures as Prime Minister and during her years in exile. Mrs. Bhutto's concern for her country, and her family, propelled her to risk her life on behalf of the Pakistani people. She returned to Pakistan to fight for democracy despite threats and previous attempts on her life and now she has made the ultimate sacrifice. Her death is a tragedy for her country and a terrible reminder of the work that remains to bring peace, stability, and hope to regions of the globe too often paralyzed by fear, hatred, and violence.

"Let us pray that her legacy will be a brighter, more hopeful future for the people she loved and the country she served. My family and I extend our condolences and deepest sympathies to the victims and their families and to the people of Pakistan."

Source

I am shocked and saddened by the death of Benazir Bhutto in this terrorist atrocity. She was a respected and resilient advocate for the democratic aspirations of the Pakistani people. We join with them in mourning her loss, and stand with them in their quest for democracy and against the terrorists who threaten the common security of the world.

"This is a very dangerous moment for the world," Kucinich said.

"Benazir Bhutto represented a courageous effort to bring principles of liberty to Pakistan. She was truly dedicated to the people of Pakistan.

"The United States must change its policy direction in the region. It must stop adding fuel to the fire."

Kucinich met with Bhutto several times over the years in both Washington, D.C. and New York City.

Benazir Bhutto was a brave and historic leader for Pakistan. Her assassination is a sad and solemn event, and our hearts go out to her family and to the Pakistani people. But we will not let this contemptible, cowardly act delay the march of progress in Pakistan for a single second.

I have seen firsthand in Pakistan, and in meetings with Prime Minister Bhutto and President Musharraf, the instability of the country and the complexity of the challenges they face. At this critical moment, America must convey both strength and principle. We should do everything in our power to help bring the perpetrators of this heinous act to justice and to ensure that Bhutto's movement toward democracy continues.

Source

We are still learning the details of today's tragic events in Pakistan, but this is a stark reminder that America must not only stay on high alert, but remain actively engaged across the globe. Pakistan has long been a key part in the war against extremism and radical jihadists. For those who think Iraq is the sole front in the War on Terror, one must look no further than what has happened today. America must show its commitment to stand with all moderate forces across the Islamic world and together face the defining challenge of our generation - the struggle against violent, radical jihadists.

At this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers go to the family of Benazir Bhutto, and to all the people of Pakistan who are fighting against extremist forces that would commit such heinous acts as the whole world has witnessed today.

Source

The assassination of Benazir Bhutto is a tragic event for Pakistan and for democracy in Pakistan. Her murderers must be brought to justice and Pakistan must continue the path back to democracy and the rule of law. Her death is a reminder that terrorism anywhere - whether in New York, London, Tel-Aviv or Rawalpindi - is an enemy of freedom. We must redouble our efforts to win the Terrorists' War on Us.

Source

   HARRIS FAULKNER: Senator, your reaction, first, to the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

   FRED THOMPSON: It is a tragedy, of course. It reminds us that things can happen in faraway places of the world that can affect the United States. I think this should be of great concern to us. It is almost a perfect storm in a very bad sense because two forces are operating against each other that are both desirable. One is democracy: they were making progress in that regard in that country. Former prime minister Bhutto was an important part of that process. But the other is stability. Pakistan is a nuclear country, and we cannot afford to let nukes fall into the hands of dangerous Muslim radicals. We are hoping those two things can be balanced out. We can see the continued progress toward a democratic society but also maintain stability in the country, which seems to be very much in doubt right now.

   FAULKNER: I know you are running for the White House, so I don't want to put you in a position to second guess the president. But I'm interested in your opinion. President Bush is due to talk with Pervez Musharraf shortly. What do you anticipate that conversation should be like?

   THOMPSON: Those two things that I mention probably would be high on the agenda. What could be done to not impose martial law, to not crack down, but be mindful of the fact that there are radical elements in that country, and perhaps even within the government, that would like to see instability and chaos and see those weapons fall into the wrong hands. This is part of a bigger problem. We need to understand that this is not a criminal investigation any more - so we find the bad guys and bring them to justice - it's a war.

   This proves again the mindset of the radical elements that we are dealing with. We are seeing this all across Northern Africa and various places. We're seeing it across the Middle East and in parts of Asia including Indonesia and other places. We have to come to terms with that and do the things necessary to prevail. One of the things we need to be talking about is what Musharraf can do, additionally, to crack down on the Taliban. I think they have been insufficient in that respect.

   FAULKNER: Taliban also supporters of al Qaeda in that country. Pakistan has been an important ally in the war on terror, so have do you walk that line?

   THOMPSON: You just walk it. No one said it has been easy and simple. Pakistan has never been easy or simple. I had a chance a few years ago to talk to Musharraf before things got quite as complex as they are now. But it has always been an important part of the world. They're next door to India. They've had a crisis after crisis with regard to them. They're next door to Afghanistan, and they're important to us. They've been helpful to us. But we' re going to have to walk that line between democracy on the one hand and stability on the other. But I think it's possible.

Source

I am deeply troubled by the news accounts this morning of Pakistani opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination in a suicide attack. This is devastating news for the people of Pakistan, and my prayers go out to them as we follow developments regarding this dire situation.

The terrible violence surrounding Pakistan's upcoming election stands in stark contrast to the peaceful transition of power that we embrace in our country through our Constitution. On this sad day, we are reminded that while our democracy has flaws, it stands as a shining beacon of hope for nations and people around the world who seek peace and opportunity through self-government.

Source

Benazir Bhutto was a courageous woman. Her death, and the deaths of so many of her supporters, is more than just a tragedy. It is a testament to the will of the Pakistani people to see democracy restored. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who died today.

Ms. Bhutto knew the dangers to her safety. But she would not be intimidated. We also must not be intimidated.

A leader has died, but democracy must live. The United States government cannot stand by and allow Pakistan's return to democracy to be derailed or delayed by violence.

We must use our diplomatic leverage and force the enemies of democracy to yield: President Bush should press Musharraf to step aside, and a broad-based coalition government, consisting of all the democratic parties, should be formed immediately. Until this happens, we should suspend military aid to the Pakistani government. Free and fair elections must also be held as soon as possible.

It is in the interests of the US that there be a democratic Pakistan that relentlessly hunts down terrorists. Musharraf has failed, and his attempts to cling to power are destabilizing his country. He must go."

Source

This is a terrible day.  My heart goes out to Benazir Bhutto's family, friends and followers.

Like her father before her, Benazir Bhutto worked her whole life - and gave her life - to help Pakistan become a democratic, secular and modern Muslim country.  She was a woman of extraordinary courage who returned to Pakistan in the face of death threats and even after an assassination attempt the day of her return, she did not flinch.  It was a privilege to know her these many years and to call her a friend.

I am convinced Ms. Bhutto would have won free and fair elections next week.  The fact that she was by far Pakistan's most popular leader underscores the fact that there is a vast, moderate majority in Pakistan that must have a clear voice in the system.  Her assassination makes it all the more urgent that Pakistan return to a democratic path.

This fall, I twice urged President Musharraf to provide better security for Ms. Bhutto and other political leaders - I wrote him before her return and after the first assassination attempt in October.  The failure to protect Ms. Bhutto raises a lot of hard questions for the government and security services that must be answered.

I know that Benazir's followers will be tempted to lash out in anger and violence. I urge them to remain calm - and not play into the hands of the forces of destruction. I urge Pakistan's leaders to open a fully accountable and transparent investigation. We must find out who was behind this and bring those responsible to justice.  And the United States should offer any assistance necessary, including investigative teams, to get to the bottom of this horror.

The way to honor Benazir Bhutto is to uphold the values for which she gave her life: democracy, moderation and social justice.  I join with the Pakistani people in mourning the loss of a dear friend.

Source

Today's news from Pakistan is both shocking and saddening. As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, I have had the opportunity to travel to Pakistan and come to know Former Prime Minister Bhutto very well over the years. I spoke to her personally several weeks ago and have stayed in close contact with her since. She was a respected leader who played an important part in moving Pakistan toward democracy.

As we recognize the loss of a leader today, we must also recognize the implication of today's tragedy to the security of the region and to that of the United States.

At this critical time we must do everything in our power to help Pakistan continue the path toward democracy and full elections. Our first priority must be to ensure stability in this critical nuclear state.

The United States should also stand ready to provide assistance in investigating this heinous act. And as Pakistan perpetrators to justice, it should also demonstrate that it will not allow such violence to derail democracy and proceed with elections in a timely manner.

Source

She openly threatened al Qaeda, and she had American support...If al Qaeda could try to kill Musharraf twice, it could easily do this.

Source: ABC News

Obviously, one of the reasons that Pakistan is in the distress that it's in is because al-Qaeda is resurgent, has become more powerful within that country and that's a consequence of us taking the eye off the ball and making the wrong judgment in going into Iraq. That's a serious difference between these candidates and I'm sure that people will take that into consideration.

We have people such as Bhutto who pay the ultimate price for freedom, democracy, and who stand up against dictators, terrorists and kleptocracy.

Yet many of us here are willing to compromise our values.  We quickly forgive or forget all of the politicians who are beholden to special interests - who have their hands out for corporate money.  These very politicians are an affront to democracy.  They sell our votes to the highest bidder.  Yet we so quickly forget.  

Shame on us.  God bless Bhutto.

She was the democratic choice.  Compared to whom she was running against - a dictator that forcibly seized control - she was quite selfless.

As far as her history, accused of corruption, you must remember that it was the current dictator who made those accusations.  I'm not saying she wasn't corrupt, maybe she was.  What I am saying is that at the end of her life her acts were by definition selfless.

Bhutto maintained that the charges leveled against her and her husband were purely political. "Most of those documents are fabricated," she said, "and the stories that have been spun around them are absolutely wrong." An Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) report supports Bhutto's claim. It presents information suggesting that Benazir Bhutto was ousted from power in 1990 as a result of a witch hunt approved by then-president Ghulam Ishaq Khan. The AGP report says Khan illegally paid legal advisers 28 million Rupees to file 19 corruption cases against Bhutto and her husband in 1990-92.

It's tough for us to know the truth, given our detachment from that political system.  But, as you just pointed out, charges can quite easily be manufactured against someone.

28,000,000 rupees is nothing to sneeze at.

The only thing you need to know
Bhutto died doing what she believed in

~

The ease with which the American public has been suckered by a slick PR campaign to move herself back into power in Pakistan should be surprising, but it's not.  "She's a woman in power in a Muslim country!  That has to be a good thing!"  And we stay blind to everything else.  That sort of willful ignorance is just one of many reasons that US should not stick its hand too far into Pakistani affairs - at best, we're just knocking around blindly.

This isn't about if she is a nice/good person or not.  This is about robbing people of their right to the democratic process.  One man can't be the decider for millions.  That isn't democracy.

The issue is that the democratic process was interrupted.  What occured was a tragedy.

Finally, your timing here really sucks.  Her body is still warm.  Show some respect.  Really, if you want to discuss her positions on the issues can it not wait a few weeks?  The issue today is that a person was murdered by political foes and democracy was interrupted.  This murder will likely destabilize the region.  At this point, who really cares if what you say is true or not?

And as to who really cares about the nature of Bhutto is the same people who care about why this happened, and what it means next for Pakistan.  You (and many many other people) are sloppy enough in your thinking and analysis of the situation that it strikes me that it's not all that important to you.  Doesn't matter if you get it wrong, because it's some occurrence far far away.  Which is fine.  In fact, the less the US gov't involves itself in this, the better, I think.  But don't go around making grand pronouncements on a matter about which you seem to know little.

I don't agree.  I know about her past and the accusations.  But I must also weigh where the allegations came from.

I believe that Bhutto, sorted past or not, was attempting to replace a dictator in a democratically held election.  She knew that her life was at risk - and stated as much.  She also had a prior attempt on her life.

Despite the risks, Bhutto still charged on.  She was willing to risk it all for what she believed.  Her final acts in the last months of her life appear to be anything but selfish, to me at least.

It sounds to me like you have a dog in this fight.  Why do you seem to dislike Bhutto so much?  

Pakistan was born in tragedy, and has rarely seemed to be able to escape it, spending most of its life in one existential crisis or another.  While there are certainly some external forces to blame for that, it is primarily due to the incredibly poor leadership that has plagued that country.  Bhutto is but one in a long line of those leaders (tho' her family does seem to have a special talent for it).  I don't "dislike" her any more than I dislike, say, Putin (I condemned the first attack on her here).  But I do resent this great misrepresentation of what she was, is, and could have been, to Pakistan.  A failing infrastructure?  Corrupt gov't? The rise of the Taliban?  You can lay a fair portion of those problems at her feet.  

And further, this sort of facile and unfounded analysis doesn't just make the speaker look ill-informed, it contributes to a larger erroneous public perception of the problem.  And when that public is the American public in an election year?  And we  have candidates that seem to be willing to try and wring some political advantage out of the situation?  It's irresponsible and potentially dangerous.

What I'm leading up to is - can you give us something more to support your view of Bhutto than just laughing at people who believe she was better than you think she was?  What are your  sources?  Are you going on this based on your conversations with people in Pakistan, or is there some book or document you can point us to?  I'd just like to know.

That said (tho' I fear ignored), I don't think it does everyone who's left behind any favors to rewrite what she was.  I don't doubt that some of the charges were trumped up.  I also don't doubt a core of truth behind them, though.  As I said, I think it does harm, because it contributes to the misunderstanding of a country.  If it didn't have that impact, I'd not feel compelled to say a thing. One point I will admit, however, is that the misrepresentation of her story/motives now isn't nearly as important as it was.

Where do I get my opinions?  About a decade of following Pakistani politics closely (tho' almost entirely from afar).  Regular readings of The Dawn.  Close Pakistani friends (among them you can find supporters of Bhutto, Musharraf (tho' less so of late), and (surprisingly, to me) Sharif.  Even the odd Imran fan).  Infrequent, but regular, much-treasured night-long Scotch fueled conversations with Pakistanis who are old enough to remember Partition.  Direct  experience of being there on the ground, and seeing first hand how things work (I am not, however, trying to paint myself as a frequent traveler there).

Hard to cite that stuff, I'll grant, so I suppose I can be easily dismissed.  But here are a couple of links to get any genuinely interested googler started.  An out of date - but nonetheless excellent - primer on the troubles of Bhutto can be found here. (Don't let the amateur-hour formatting fool you - profiles of the (deceased) author are here, if you'd like to check the source).  Take the terms and names (especially her husband's) from that story and run with them.  Keep in mind, however, that US partisanship pales in comparison to Pakistani partisanship, so try and suss out the agenda of the author of any source you land on.  

For an interesting overview of the long-term structural problems of Pakistani democracy, check out this recent blog post (and be sure to follow into the comments, too.).  

That's what I've got.

Several years ago I had the honor of meeting the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto. At a reception at the home of a well known Pakistani-American many gathered around her, out of admiration, curiosity and some in awe. The Radcliffe educated woman had a aura of confidence that comes with having grown up in the public arena. Her father had been the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, only to be arrested and killed by a military coup. She had fled her own country to live in exile with her family. But rather than dwell on past sadness, she was radiant and charming.

[...]

In the speech she gave just before she was assasinated she said, "I know that by being here I put my life in danger but I also know my country is in danger". Isn't that what we call patriotism? This ability to set aside ones self for the greater good? The world today is a darker place because this Pakistani Patriot is gone.

Just so we are clear, I have attempted to follow everything written about Benazir Bhutto since 1979, when her father was killed.  She has always been one of my personal heroes.  It takes courage even in London or the United States to follow the path she chose.  Just ask Orlando Letelier or Ronni Moffit.  I am familiar with the corruption charges, and am not speaking out of ignorance, as some seem to think.  To me, this discussion seems utterly beside the point.

The individuals who will always be my heroes are those out of power who stood up at a turning point in history, uncertain of the outcome, at great personal peril, to defend democracy, truth, and freedom.  The student who faced down the tank in Tienanmen Square, the elderly Russian woman in a babushka who fussed and wagged her finger at a Soviet soldier with a machine gun until he walked away, embarrassed, the teenage students in Prince Edward County who walked out of school in protest of their appalling conditions, the leaders of Solidarity, the protesters who danced on the remains of the Berlin Wall, the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, the Freedom Riders, there are more but you get the point.  There are many more we will never hear of because they did not survive.  (It is sad to realize how often our own government is on the wrong side of these struggles.)

To me, Benazir Bhutto was one of those people, and was even before her return to Pakistan.  She did not know the outcome, but she knew that a turning point had been reached, and that it was time to stand up.  So she stood up, knowing the risk to her life.  She died at the hands of a cowardly and thoroughly corrupt dictatorship.  It is my hope that the turning point has not passed, and that others will stand up and take her place.

We march ever closer to a short, nasty brutal nuke war, that as usual, will kill many poor folks.

I think we should take out the oilfields too.    We eventually need to get weaned off oil, might as wlll start now.