Bush Condemns "Cowardly Act"

Demands Those Responsible For Killing Benazir Bhutto Be Brought To Justice

(CBS/AP)  The United States scrambled Thursday with the implications of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination after investing significant diplomatic capital in promoting reconciliation between her and President Pervez Musharraf.

President Bush, speaking briefly to reporters at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, demanded that those responsible for the killing be brought to justice.

"The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy," said Mr. Bush, who looked tense and took no questions. He expressed his deepest condolences to Bhutto's family and to the families of others slain in the attack and to all the people of Pakistan.

His appearance came as U.S. officials here struggled to cope with the immense policy implications of the assassination on relations with a nuclear-armed country that has received billions of dollars in American financial assistance and is an ally in the war on terrorism. White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said Mr. Bush planned to speak with Musharraf as soon as it could be arranged Thursday.

"This is a critical moment for Pakistan, for the region, and for the community of nations as we encourage democracy and stability in Pakistan," said Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee.

Bhutto was mortally wounded Thursday in a suicide attack that also killed at least 20 others at a campaign rally in Rawalpindi. She served twice as Pakistan's prime minister between 1988 and 1996. She had returned to Pakistan from an eight-year exile Oct. 18. Her homecoming parade in Karachi was also targeted by a suicide attacker, killing more than 140 people.

The United States had been at the forefront of foreign powers trying to arrange reconciliation between Bhutto and Musharraf, who under heavy U.S. pressure resigned as army chief and earlier this month lifted a state of emergency, in the hope it would put Pakistan back on the road to democracy.

For the U.S., a destabilized Pakistan is a double threat, reports CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews. Street violence could derail the elections and it could make vulnerable Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.

CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports the Pakistanis are believed to have between 50 and 75 nuclear weapons. The weapons consist of bombs for aircraft and warheads for missiles, but they are stored in a disassembled form as an additional fail-safe.

Bhutto's return to the country after years in exile and the ability of her party to contest free and fair elections had been a cornerstone of Mr. Bush's policy in Pakistan, where U.S. officials had watched Musharraf's growing authoritarianism with increasing unease.

Those concerns were compounded by the rising threat from al Qaeda and Taliban extremists, particularly in Pakistan's largely ungoverned tribal areas bordering Afghanistan despite the fact that Washington had pumped nearly $10 billion in aid into the country since Musharraf became an indispensable counterterrorism ally after Sept. 11, 2001.

Irritated by the situation, Congress last week imposed new restrictions on U.S. assistance to Pakistan, including tying $50 million in military aid to State Department assurances that the country is making "concerted efforts" to prevent terrorists from operating inside its borders.

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World Leaders React
Presidential Candidates Respond On The Campaign Trail

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Under the law, which provides a total of $300 million in aid to Pakistan and was signed by Mr. Bush on Wednesday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also must guarantee Pakistan is implementing democratic reforms, including releasing political prisoners and restoring an independent judiciary. The law also prevents any of the funds from being used for cash transfer assistance to Pakistan, but that stipulation had already been adopted by the administration.

Despite the congressional move, Richard Boucher, the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian affairs who had been instrumental in engineering the Bhutto-Musharraf reconciliation, said he had little doubt that the administration would get the money.

In his comments in Crawford, Mr. Bush said, "Mrs. Bhutto served her nation twice as prime minister and she knew that her return to Pakistan earlier this year put her life at risk, yet she refused to allow assassins to dictate the course of her country."

"We stand with the people of Pakistan in their struggle against the forces of terror and extremism. We urge them to honor Benazir Bhutto's memory by continuing with the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life," he said.

Other U.S. officials and presidential candidates also issued statements expressing shock at Bhutto's assassination. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said, "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."

"This fall," Biden said, "I twice urged President Musharraf to provide better security for Ms. Bhutto and other political leaders." He said "the failure to protect Ms. Bhutto raises a lot of hard questions for the government and security services that must be answered." Biden urged Bhutto's supporters to refrain from lashing out in anger.

[simonsez40]

It wouldn''t surprise me if Bush helped in her assasination.......he seems to have a vested interest in keeping Mush in power...he supported him when he promoted military rule for several days...

Bush is as dirty as the terrorist he claims to keep us safe from!

[Con Mohrat]

SgtRDS wrote "He took us to war for his own personal glory and for the profit of himself and friends. He used our military as a thief uses a gun, to steal with. That''''s treasonous. "

A war no president of any political will ever win. The troops will be withdrawn in a year by the next president because there is no money left.

[sgtrds]

Show documented proof from law for what you are claiming, steamingpileo''''lies. You have never been able to do it. All you do is quote the Constitution, but never show one act of the President which is anything resembling treason under the law.

Posted by TheGateway1 at 06:09 AM : Dec 28, 2007

He took us to war for his own personal glory and for the profit of himself and friends. He used our military as a thief uses a gun, to steal with. That''s treasonous.

[sgtrds]

If Bush thinks that Pakistan is a democracy, no wonder why he treats our constitution as a scrap of paper ...

Posted by abbe91 at 10:14 AM : Dec 28, 2007

Bush lies about Pakistan being a democracy because it''s the same kind of government he wants here in America. A nation that is a democracy in name only but that is really ruled by a tiny group of a ruling elite. A dictatorship by committee, the committee being headed by himself and that as*shole Cheney.

[abbe91]

"The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan''s democracy," said Mr. Bush ..."

How could they undermine something which doesn''t exist ?
If Bush thinks that Pakistan is a democracy, no wonder why he treats our constitution as a scrap of paper ...

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by DemWatcher at 06:44 AM : Dec 28, 2007

No Sir, he also has the power to appoint Federal and Supreme Court judges, which directly affects the way our laws are interpreted and then set case law precedents, which is very dangerous...aka Constitutional Law. He also has the ability to make appointments in the justice department which enforces our laws. Why do you think our Senate is keeping itself in session during the holidays?

We don''t need any more Bush appointments in our judiciary system.

Treason is the act of levying war against the United States or adhering to the enemies of the United States, giving them aid and comfort. Allowing Al Queda into our country to commit murder upon our citizens is certainly high treason, although I''m sure he has covered his tracks well and it will never be proven. Even the money trail would be impossible to follow, especially given the fact that our soldiers are hanging out cash in the streets of Iraq to God knows who. There are billions of our war dollars that cannot be accounted for, and I suspect nobody is ever going to hold him accountable for that money either. Only if we can find a money trail that leads to Al Queda can we prove the crime of high treason against him.

His lying to our country and leading us to make war on a country that was no threat to us, causing the murder of it''s leader, and it''s people is simply a War Crime.

[searingtruth]

"SearingTruth, you think you could go spam over on ABC or Fox and leave us alone."
FloydZepp


Or then again, you could attempt to counter my arguments.

But if you''re a committed Republican or Democrat that isn''t possible.

You have to be an American to have any reasonable chance of stepping up to the plate.
ST


"The problem with truth, if you''re evil, is that you can''t fight it."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[searingtruth]

"When Nancy Pelosi said ''impeachment is off the table'' she was invoking the Fifth Amendment."
SearingTruth

"Enemy Combatant - A term fabricated by Bush and his henchmen in a failed attempt to commit crimes against humanity without consequence."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[searingtruth]

"...The President in NOT a part of the judicial system, he is at the top of the EXECUTIVE BRANCH. The ONLY thing he can do is grant pardons AFTER a trail has be completed.

You stupid, ignorant Liberal. Ya''''ll need to change your name to SMEARINGTRUTH."
DemWatcher


Ummm ....

I couldn''t agree more about an American Presidents powers.

That''s why Dictator Bush''s declarations that the judicial and legislative branches of our government have no authority over him are treason.
ST


"When liberty is abandoned it is no longer secure."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[demwatcher]

"Name calling disgusts me when invoked while we are on the verge of nuclear war as a result of bilateral Blair and Bush dysfunction. Rice should be replaced by Bush with someone whose thinking somewhat parallels reality ..."

Posted by glaswolf at 05:49 AM : Dec 28, 2007

You sonny, are a friggin hypocrite. You denounce ''name-calling'' AND use it in the very same paragraph.

Typical Liberal lemming P.O.S.!

[demwatcher]

Dictator Bush has committed treason against The United States of America.
ST

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by SearingTruth at 06:36 AM : Dec 28, 2007

Ya''ll need to look up the meaning of the word ''treason'' and also ask someone knowledgable how the judicial system works.

The President in NOT a part of the judicial system, he is at the top of the EXECUTIVE BRANCH. The ONLY thing he can do is grant pardons AFTER a trail has be completed.

You stupid, ignorant Liberal. Ya''ll need to change your name to SMEARINGTRUTH.

[searingtruth]

Amendment 6
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.



Dictator Bush has committed treason against The United States of America.
ST

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[searingtruth]

"... Show documented proof from law for what you are claiming, steamingpileo''''lies. You have never been able to do it. All you do is quote the Constitution, but never show one act of the President which is anything resembling treason under the law.

Shut the fvck up with your self-advertising drivel. Go back out and anti-war protest some more, you fvcking coward. Or better yet, join the Venezuelan military and do some real work for a despotic ruler."
TheGateway1


Well my goodness.

I guess you missed all the parts about the illegal abduction of American and foreign citizens, their indefinite incarceration in secret prisons without charge or representation, and their institutionalized torture and murder.

And the universal surveillance of American citizens without warrant.

And the illegal declaration, via "signing statements", that you''re beloved Dictator Bush doesn''t have to follow the "laws" he "signs".

Sorry about that.

And all the quoting of the Constitution stuff.

Can you imagine what''s coming next?
ST


"Some judged them misguided, or unusually patriotic, but in truth they were just evil."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[woodjd42]

Musharraf and bush claim that Bhutto was killed by extremists. Let''s look at facts.
1. Bhutto was the target of extremists.
2. bush has been giving Musharraf billions and billions of dollars for security.
3. bush has stated that Musharraf was a good man and a needed ally.
4. Musharraf controlled security.
5. Bhutto on many occations requested more security.
6. Musharraf was urged by many to give Bhutto more and better security.
7. Bhutto was going to beat Musharraf in the elections.
Now I ask you what would be the easiest way for Musharraf to do away with the threat of losing the election without pulling the triger himself?

[glaswolf]

Bush should stop claiming success and stop calling people names. The guy he called a coward stood within pistol distance with explosives in an ambiance that would have got him killed. Most folks in the world would use words like "bravery" and "courage" to describe such actions ... he accomplished his mission. The President degrades the honor of our Presidency by acting like a kid on a playground. If security listens to him and only looks for cowards, we will probably never resolve this problem of terror. Name calling disgusts me when invoked while we are on the verge of nuclear war as a result of bilateral Blair and Bush dysfunction. Rice should be replaced by Bush with someone whose thinking somewhat parallels reality ... Bush is being advised by folks who are either suicidal or hostile to the US. I find it difficult to accept the level of error following myth in our foreign affairs. They have crippled the competency of our current Presidential office. Some of our nonpolitical senior military officers from the Pentagon should sit down and talk that boy, he clearly has problems with his comprehension and advice at the expense of our national security and the stability of the world.

[watcher269-2009]

Well, there is one thing this President does know and that is Cowardly acts = This president is famous for his own cowardly acts.

As they say - takes one to know one.

[searingtruth]

Huh?

The first President in American history to not only commit outright treason, but commit it literally thousands of times, condemns his main ally for a "cowardly attack"?

Gosh.

I bet the whole world is listening.
ST


"Who would say freedom is not free, with the price being freedom itself."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[degraded-2009]

I couldn''t have said it better if I tried, lastdance. It''s funny how a coward can call someone else a coward. Why is it so easy to assasinate political people all over the world except for the one who would be a likely candidate?

[harp1963]

With a father who headed the CIA, and a grandfather who traded with Nazi Germany during WW 2, I wonder if George Bush and his cronies are the ones who took out this woman?

These souls who crave power over their fellow man will one day wish they had never been born. Eternity is a lot longer than 70 or 80 years. And there is a Hell where the souls of the condemned go. Name me one person who is globally known and whose name has carried across 2007 years. If you don''t believe, then you are naive.

Even in spite of my own unworthiness, I can''t help but feel sorry for these "leaders" who use their position to dominate their fellow man.

"Christ triumphs through humility," Saint Josemarma Escriva

[brianbwb-2009]

Bush Condemns "Cowardly Act"

A "pot and kettle" monent for Bush...