Bhutto Slaying Roils Pakistan

Pakistani Opposition Leader Shot By Suicide Bomber, Police Say

(CBS/AP)  Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday by an attacker who shot her after a campaign rally and then blew himself up. Her death stoked new chaos across the nuclear-armed nation, an important U.S. ally in the war on terrorism.

At least 20 others were killed in the attack on the rally for Jan. 8 parliamentary elections where the 54-year-old former prime minister had just spoken.

At least five people were killed across the country in rioting that broke out in the aftermath of the assassination. In the southern port city of Karachi, angry Bhutto supporters shot at police and burned a gas station.

At the hospital where Bhutto died, some supporters smashed glass and wailed, chanting slogans against President Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf blamed Islamic extremists for her death and said he would redouble his efforts to fight them.

"This is the work of those terrorists with whom we are engaged in war," he said in a nationally televised speech. "I have been saying that the nation faces the greatest threats from these terrorists. ... We will not rest until we eliminate these terrorists and root them out."

In the U.S., a tense looking President Bush strongly condemned the attack "by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy." White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said Bush spoke briefly by phone with Musharraf.

Musharraf convened an emergency meeting with his senior staff, where they were expected to discuss whether to postpone the elections, an official at the Interior Ministry said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. Analysts say Bhutto could have commanded around 26 percent of the popular vote in the elections, reports CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar.

CBS News correspondent Richard Roth reports that a claim for the killing has come from al Qaeda, but a feeling that Musharraf's government shares the blame for Bhutto's death, whoever pulled the trigger, is widespread among her followers who make up the country's biggest political party.

The government announced three days of mourning for Bhutto, including the closing of schools, commercial centers and banks.

Nawaz Sharif, another former prime minister and leader of a rival opposition party, demanded Musharraf resign immediately and announced his party would boycott the upcoming election.

The attacker struck just minutes after Bhutto addressed thousands of supporters in the Rawalpindi, a city 8 miles south of Islamabad where the army is headquartered. She was shot in the neck and chest by the attacker, who then blew himself up, said Rehman Malik, Bhutto's security adviser.

Sardar Qamar Hayyat, a leader from Bhutto's party, said at the time of the attack he was standing about 10 yards away from her vehicle - a white, bulletproof SUV with a sunroof.

"She was inside the vehicle and was coming out from the gate after addressing the rally when some of the youths started chanting slogans in her favor. Then I saw a smiling Bhutto emerging from the vehicle's roof and responding to their slogans," he said.

"Then I saw a thin, young man jumping toward her vehicle from the back and opening fire. Moments later, I saw her speeding vehicle going away," he added.

"Mangled bodies lay in a pool of blood and pieces of clothing and shoes were scattered on the road. The clothing of some victims was shredded and people covered their bodies with party flags.

There was an acrid smell of explosive fumes in the air.

Police cordoned off the street and rescuers rushed to put victims in ambulances as onlookers wailed nearby.

Bhutto was rushed to the hospital and taken into emergency surgery. She died about an hour after the attack.

Hours later, her body was carried out of the hospital in a plain wooden coffin by a crowd of supporters. Her body was expected to be transferred to an air base and brought to her hometown of Larkana.

A doctor on the team that treated her said she had a bullet in the back of the neck that damaged her spinal cord before exiting from the side of her head. Another bullet pierced the back of her shoulder and came out through her chest.

She was given open heart massage, but the main cause of death was damage to her spinal cord, he said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

"At 6:16 p.m., she expired," said Wasif Ali Khan, a member of Bhutto's party who was at Rawalpindi General Hospital.

"The surgeons confirmed that she has been martyred," Bhutto's lawyer Babar Awan said.

Bhutto's supporters at the hospital exploded in anger, smashing the glass door at the main entrance of the emergency unit. Others burst into tears. One man with a flag of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party tied around his head was beating his chest.

"I saw her with my own eyes sitting in a vehicle after addressing the rally. Then, I heard an explosion," Tahir Mahmood, 55, said sobbing. "I am in shock. I cannot believe that she is dead."

Many chanted slogans against Musharraf, accusing him of complicity in her killing.

"We repeatedly informed the government to provide her proper security and appropriate equipment including jammers, but they paid no heed to our requests," said Malik, the security adviser.

As news of her death spread, angry supporters took to the streets.

In Karachi, shop owners quickly closed their businesses as protesters set tires on fire on the roads, torched several vehicles and burned a gas station, said Fayyaz Leghri, a local police official. Gunmen shot and wounded two police officers, he said.

[ballanross]

Bhutto did not kill herself by hitting her head on the handle of the sunroof. What are we, freaking toddlers? Try killing yourself that way and see if you manage to fracture your skull in a way that kills you rather than knocks you out. Then try having your spinal cord severed and chest blown out by two bullets and see if the wounds look anything like "hitting your head on a handle." Please don''t let the Pakistan gov''t lie and get away with it; don''t let Musharraf bury the truth to save his own butt.

"A doctor on the team that treated her said she had a bullet in the back of the neck that damaged her spinal cord before exiting from the side of her head. Another bullet pierced the back of her shoulder and came out through her chest."

"She was given open heart massage, but the main cause of death was damage to her spinal cord, he said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media."

[ubrew12]

Iceman_1960 said: "its hard to blame the Israeli hardliners too much, for fearing and distrusting these people. " That''s like justifying waterboarding because the ''enemy does it''. I have more respect for the Israeli''s than that they should justify their behavior through Sudan''s

[aaabee-2009]

Bhutto''s assassination also demonstrates the growing power and reach of militant anti-government forces in Pakistan, which pose an existential threat to the country, said J. Alexander Thier, a former U.N. official now at the U.S. Institute for Peace. "The dangerous cocktail of forces of instability exist in Pakistan -- Talibanism, sectarianism, ethnic nationalism -- could react in dangerous and unexpected ways if things unravel further," he said.

Ibid.

[aaabee-2009]

Oh and....

For Benazir Bhutto, the decision to return to Pakistan was sealed during a telephone call from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice just a week before Bhutto flew home in October. The call culminated more than a year of secret diplomacy -- and came only when it became clear that the heir to Pakistan''s most powerful political dynasty was the only one who could bail out Washington''s key ally in the battle against terrorism.

U.S. Brokered Bhutto''s Return to Pakistan
By Robin Wright and Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, December 28, 2007; A01

[iceman_1960]

"Israel treats its Palestinian residents like the Alabama State Police treated blacks in the 40"s and 50"s."
- Posted by hungry1968

Yes, but it"s really a whole different world over there.

I encourage everyone to check out the Brad Pitt [I know he"s a liberal...] documentary "God Grew Tired of Us," about young Sudanese kids who had to flee the Muslim attacks in the Sudanese civil war a few years ago.

Basically the Arab Muslims of northen Sudan moved on the Black Christians and Animists of the south and tried to exterminate them in the most brutal manner imaginable.

The Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza are living in paradise, compared to the conditions Muslims imposed on non-Muslims in the Sudan.

Frankly, it"s hard to blame the Israeli hardliners too much, for fearing and distrusting these people.

[neoconrcrazy]

yet far-left liberals never bother to do the proper research on what''''s really gone in the world.

Posted by singinrick


yeah, right - like your well researched statement;

"Roman Catholics are not christians"

Give a roman catholic anyday before one of those ignorant southern radical christian-creeps, pouring their sweaty dollars into Haggard''s evil hand.....

[neoconrcrazy]

Israel treats it''''s Palestinian residents like the Alabama State Police treated blacks in the 40'''' and 50''''s.

Posted by hungry1968

not really - because we didn''t outright murder people or destroy their homes, steal their land or imprison them without charges -

no, israel treats the palestinians like the South Africans treated their blacks - as racial inferiors in an apartheid system, i.e. roads only for jews, new housing only for jews, religious discrimination in favor of jews, a legal system for jews only.

that''s about the correct comparison.

[aaabee-2009]

...far-left liberals never bother to do the proper research...They simply sit back, and believe in all the propoganda that''''s pushed through their media outlets without actually going out and searching for the Truth on their own. This is why they constantly blame Israel, the Jews, and Christians..." Posted by singinrick at 08:27 AM : Dec 28, 2007

They. Them.
Next, will it be all liberals wear yellow stars?

Did you realize that you are the propoganda machine, singingrick? The above post contains nothing but lies by a person in one group about people in another group. I am a liberal and there isn''t one, not one, not 1! truth in your statement about me or liberals in general.

You denegrate, lie, and spew hate all across these boards about other people, THEN call yourself a Christian.

Man can hate all on his own without God.

What is religion for when God-fearing Christians jump on the liberal hating bandwagon, led by Dobson and his bunch, and hate right along with the unsaved? You demonstrate here the paper-thin validity of your faith and how easily derailed by fear and lies that faith really is.

I wish singingrick, you had actual faith. Then you would be fighting Satan for your soul, not fighting other human beings over political semantics.

And Sir, nothing is intended as disrespect.

[aaabee-2009]

---- Even during Christmas dinner I had to listen to a young college republican from Washington State echoing party line about the need for 1 party control of our nation ----- Posted by j-whitman at 01:49 AM : Dec 28, 2007

[hungry1968]

Attack the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel, and let the jihadists have a cookie.

Posted by singinrick at 06:26 AM : Dec 28, 2007


Ahmadinejhad is the democratically elected president of Iran, and he treats his citizens with much more respect than Israel''s leadership could ever hope to treat it''s citizens.

Unless of course you consider launching tear gas, rockets, and missiles into residential neighborhoods, turning attack dogs loose on protesters, breaking the arms of those same demonstrators, etc, etc.

Israel treats it''s Palestinian residents like the Alabama State Police treated blacks in the 40'' and 50''s.

[crater7]

MUSHARRAF HAS COMPLETED HIS PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN.
BHUTTO WAS THE LAST OPPOSITION THREAT TO HIS RE-ELECTION.

HE HAS REMOVED ALL LEGAL AND POLICITAL OPPOSITION, BY ARRESTING, REPLACING THE SUPREAM COURT, LAWYERS, AND ANYONE WHO IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO HIS POWER.

NOW THAT THERE ARE NO OPPOSITION, THE BUSH BACKED DIC-TATOR, CAN NOW HAVE A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION.

BUSH WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS EVIL RULER, WITH SHOWERS OF TAX PAYERS MONEY..........

[searingtruth]

"We became evil to fight evil, assuring its victory."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[poopusbuttus]

LASTDANCE : The epitome of a cowardess fool. Impotent? Perhaps. On drugs? You bet.

But the most important thing to know about LASTDANCE is that he is a left wing poltroon. Never having to know how to stand up for what%u2019s right. Never having to know what it means to fight for his country. He is, as they say, a weakling.

LASTDANCE is a small person, an agitator with little to no power, or better yet, he is a mischievous little child - commonly referred to as an %u201CImp%u201D.

Throughout our nation%u2019s great history, there have been many %u201CBrave%u201D souls that have fought and lived, and, fought and died, to keep this country great. Not just in wars, but in all facets of everyday life. LASTDANCE is not one of them.

I could write many things about LASTDANCE but I%u2019m limited to the number of characters to post on this board. So, having said that, and, in closing, I want all of you to know that LASTDANCE%u2019s feeble minded attempts to discredit the people he disagrees with is not only laughable, but down right farcical.

LASTDANCE is a nincompoop, a dumkopf, if you will%u2026%u2026

Yes LASTDANCE, you%u2019re the enemy. You%u2019re the disease that needs to be cured.

Love, Poopusbuttus.

[poopusbuttus]

LASTDANCE : The epitome of a cowardess fool. Impotent? Perhaps. On drugs? You bet.

But the most important thing to know about LASTDANCE is that he is a left wing poltroon. Never having to know how to stand up for what%u2019s right. Never having to know what it means to fight for his country. He is, as they say, a weakling.

LASTDANCE is a small person, an agitator with little to no power, or better yet, he is a mischievous little child - commonly referred to as an %u201CImp%u201D.

Throughout our nation%u2019s great history, there have been many %u201CBrave%u201D souls that have fought and lived, and, fought and died, to keep this country great. Not just in wars, but in all facets of everyday life. LASTDANCE is not one of them.

I could write many things about LASTDANCE but I%u2019m limited to the number of characters to post on this board. So, having said that, and, in closing, I want all of you to know that LASTDANCE%u2019s feeble minded attempts to discredit the people he disagrees with is not only laughable, but down right farcical.

LASTDANCE is a nincompoop, a dumkopf, if you will%u2026%u2026

Yes LASTDANCE, you%u2019re the enemy. You%u2019re the disease that needs to be cured.

Love, Poopusbuttus.

[poopusbuttus]

LASTDANCE : The epitome of a cowardess fool. Impotent? Perhaps. On drugs? You bet.

But the most important thing to know about LASTDANCE is that he is a left wing poltroon. Never having to know how to stand up for what%u2019s right. Never having to know what it means to fight for his country. He is, as they say, a weakling.

LASTDANCE is a small person, an agitator with little to no power, or better yet, he is a mischievous little child - commonly referred to as an %u201CImp%u201D.

Throughout our nation%u2019s great history, there have been many %u201CBrave%u201D souls that have fought and lived, and, fought and died, to keep this country great. Not just in wars, but in all facets of everyday life. LASTDANCE is not one of them.

I could write many things about LASTDANCE but I%u2019m limited to the number of characters to post on this board. So, having said that, and, in closing, I want all of you to know that LASTDANCE%u2019s feeble minded attempts to discredit the people he disagrees with is not only laughable, but down right farcical.

LASTDANCE is a nincompoop, a dumkopf, if you will%u2026%u2026

Yes LASTDANCE, you%u2019re the enemy. You%u2019re the disease that needs to be cured.

Love, Poopusbuttus.

[poopusbuttus]

LASTDANCE : The epitome of a cowardess fool. Impotent? Perhaps. On drugs? You bet.

But the most important thing to know about LASTDANCE is that he is a left wing poltroon. Never having to know how to stand up for what%u2019s right. Never having to know what it means to fight for his country. He is, as they say, a weakling.

LASTDANCE is a small person, an agitator with little to no power, or better yet, he is a mischievous little child - commonly referred to as an %u201CImp%u201D.

Throughout our nation%u2019s great history, there have been many %u201CBrave%u201D souls that have fought and lived, and, fought and died, to keep this country great. Not just in wars, but in all facets of everyday life. LASTDANCE is not one of them.

I could write many things about LASTDANCE but I%u2019m limited to the number of characters to post on this board. So, having said that, and, in closing, I want all of you to know that LASTDANCE%u2019s feeble minded attempts to discredit the people he disagrees with is not only laughable, but down right farcical.

LASTDANCE is a nincompoop, a dumkopf, if you will%u2026%u2026

Yes LASTDANCE, you%u2019re the enemy. You%u2019re the disease that needs to be cured.

Love, Poopusbuttus.

[poopusbuttus]

LASTDANCE : The epitome of a cowardess fool. Impotent? Perhaps. On drugs? You bet.

But the most important thing to know about LASTDANCE is that he is a left wing poltroon. Never having to know how to stand up for what%u2019s right. Never having to know what it means to fight for his country. He is, as they say, a weakling.

LASTDANCE is a small person, an agitator with little to no power, or better yet, he is a mischievous little child - commonly referred to as an %u201CImp%u201D.

Throughout our nation%u2019s great history, there have been many %u201CBrave%u201D souls that have fought and lived, and, fought and died, to keep this country great. Not just in wars, but in all facets of everyday life. LASTDANCE is not one of them.

I could write many things about LASTDANCE but I%u2019m limited to the number of characters to post on this board. So, having said that, and, in closing, I want all of you to know that LASTDANCE%u2019s feeble minded attempts to discredit the people he disagrees with is not only laughable, but down right farcical.

LASTDANCE is a nincompoop, a dumkopf, if you will%u2026%u2026

Yes LASTDANCE, you%u2019re the enemy. You%u2019re the disease that needs to be cured.

Love, Poopusbuttus.

[poopusbuttus]

LASTDANCE : The epitome of a cowardess fool. Impotent? Perhaps. On drugs? You bet.

But the most important thing to know about LASTDANCE is that he is a left wing poltroon. Never having to know how to stand up for what%u2019s right. Never having to know what it means to fight for his country. He is, as they say, a weakling.

LASTDANCE is a small person, an agitator with little to no power, or better yet, he is a mischievous little child - commonly referred to as an %u201CImp%u201D.

Throughout our nation%u2019s great history, there have been many %u201CBrave%u201D souls that have fought and lived, and, fought and died, to keep this country great. Not just in wars, but in all facets of everyday life. LASTDANCE is not one of them.

I could write many things about LASTDANCE but I%u2019m limited to the number of characters to post on this board. So, having said that, and, in closing, I want all of you to know that LASTDANCE%u2019s feeble minded attempts to discredit the people he disagrees with is not only laughable, but down right farcical.

LASTDANCE is a nincompoop, a dumkopf, if you will%u2026%u2026

Yes LASTDANCE, you%u2019re the enemy. You%u2019re the disease that needs to be cured.

Love, Poopusbuttus.

[j-whitman]

In the mean time Terrorism strikes America again =

Radical Christian terrorism strikes America again =

A rash of attacks on abortion and family planning clinics has struck Albuquerque this month, the first such violence there in nearly a decade.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/1
2/28/us/28albuquerque.html?_r=1&oref=slo
gin

[poopusbuttus]

LASTDANCE : The epitome of a cowardess fool. Impotent? Perhaps. On drugs? You bet.

But the most important thing to know about LASTDANCE is that he is a left wing poltroon. Never having to know how to stand up for what%u2019s right. Never having to know what it means to fight for his country. He is, as they say, a weakling.

LASTDANCE is a small person, an agitator with little to no power, or better yet, he is a mischievous little child - commonly referred to as an %u201CImp%u201D.

Throughout our nation%u2019s great history, there have been many %u201CBrave%u201D souls that have fought and lived, and, fought and died, to keep this country great. Not just in wars, but in all facets of everyday life. LASTDANCE is not one of them.

I could write many things about LASTDANCE but I%u2019m limited to the number of characters to post on this board. So, having said that, and, in closing, I want all of you to know that LASTDANCE%u2019s feeble minded attempts to discredit the people he disagrees with is not only laughable, but down right farcical.

LASTDANCE is a nincompoop, a dumkopf, if you will%u2026%u2026

Yes LASTDANCE, you%u2019re the enemy. You%u2019re the disease that needs to be cured.

Love, Poopusbuttus.