Benazir Bhutto assassinated

[szlamany]

Chances for democracy in Pakistan disappear...

What happens in the region next?

[mendhak]

Next, it becomes another puppet state to maintain power balances in the volatile, oil-rich region.

[szlamany]

Wasn't that what it was already?

Just new strings - eh?

[mendhak]

Alright, it was, but now... it's more subtle. Any new leader that rises up will be well controlled and not as 'dynamic' as Bhutto. This way, Musharraf ensures that if ever he's ousted due to an "election", whoever replaces him will continue on the same agenda, while the masses are satisfied that their democratic process has been restored. This tactic works because collective short term memory is very short.

Another thing to keep in mind that it's very very likely that Bhutto knew that this was going to happen. Conspiracies abound!!

[homer13j]

I hate to say it, but it was just a matter of time. If those fanatics were willing to strap a bomb to a 1 year old baby and detonate it in a crowd of hundreds they would not stop until the job is done.

It took quite a bit of courage to continue to hold public rallies when half the country wanted you dead. Still, it was pretty shocking news to wake up to.

[RobDog888]

It appears that she was shot in the neck at point blank range. Then the suicide bomber detenated himself.

Can you say "Operation Iraq Invasion?", .. err ... um I mean "Operation Pakistan Invasion".

[mendhak]

After the explosion, when she had brief periods of consciousness, Benazir Bhutto decided to herself that she would never go on any more rallies in Pakistan ever again.

I guess you could say she was an ex-Pak tour fan.

[oceanebelle]

I have read her over the news for so many times that this does not come as a surprise but quite unnerving nonetheless.

Someone with bombs is bound to get her.

[Nightwalker83]

Will he next Pakistani elections be fair now that Masharrif (spelling) is president and not the head of the army too?
I hope that Pakistan don't break out in civil war!

[mendhak]

You've missed the news haven't you? There were elections just a few months ago, Musharaff won in a shady situation, the Supreme court was about to rule on his legitimacy as president when he declared a State of Emergency and stopped everything.

[RobDog888]

What election is it that they are having in less then 2 weeks? Isnt it for PM?

[szlamany]

Yes - it's for PM

[RobDog888]

Just announced, she died from head trauma and not the gun shot wounds. She hit her head as a result of the shots.

[szlamany]

That's a convenient way to say she was not actually shot and killed.

Don't know if that's going to calm the masses much - hope it does.

[RobDog888]

They are supossed to release video of it later today.
I think its nothing more then an analysis of the incident and not meant to try to thumb their noses at the assassinator that they didnt really suceed in killing her. Only bad luck that she hit her head on the SUV she was riding in.

[Shaggy Hiker]

Head trauma! Ha! Ok, it can happen, but I don't believe it. The early reports were lead poisoning. If it turns out she wasn't shot at all, then maybe the head trauma was correct, but it doesn't fit what little I've heard.

[RobDog888]

They said she got shot in the neck and chest. Then fell and hit her head on the car she was riding in. Guess anything can happen.

Doesnt this remind you guys of all the JFK assassination? They analyzed it for years and still to this day. Wonder how long this will be analyzed for.

[Nightwalker83]

You've missed the news haven't you? There were elections just a few months ago, Musharaff won in a shady situation, the Supreme court was about to rule on his legitimacy as president when he declared a State of Emergency and stopped everything.

Ah ok!

[mendhak]

I'm sure the rioting masses are glued to their TV sets to find out whether it was the shot or the head trauma.

[RobDog888]

Yes, maybe they are watching the new reports on their new tvs

[Shaggy Hiker]

There would never have been a controversy over JFK without that grainy video. Basically, to avoid controversy, you need either very good video, or none, but she was buried today, so at least there won't be a lengthy post mortem autopsy to confound things.

After all, who really cares? Everybody is going to blame whoever they choose, and facts won't really get in the way of that.

[Nightwalker83]

I'm sure the rioting masses are glued to their TV sets to find out whether it was the shot or the head trauma.

Damn frog! Now I can't post the article I found because you already know about what it is talking about!

[RobDog888]

Now they are saying its a conspiracy!

She evidentally may have died from the shots and its propaganda trying to draw atention away from the military leader placing a hit on her.

Her son is now going to take over her position and run in the elections for her.

[Nightwalker83]

Her son is now going to take over her position and run in the elections for her.

Why her son and not a member of the party who is already in Pakistan? Strange!

[mendhak]

Bhutto's father was a politician too, as was she and now it'll be her son. So sometimes you get these political "dynasties" which have a hold on the country for long times. George W Bush is George Bush's son, and there were a load of Gandhis that ruled India for a long time.

[RobDog888]

There was a "load of Ghandis"? I thought it was just one? How many are in a "load"?

[mendhak]

Three.

[RobDog888]

Thats lame. It should be Base 10 or 12 so as to be more easier to count multiple loads.