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Pakistan's bloody curse

SAEED SHAH

From Friday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 3:36 AM EST 28/12/07

Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto assassinated in suicide attack in which gunman shot her, then detonated an explosive; enraged crowds riot across Pakistan ...Read the full article

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  1. Iam waldstein from winnipeg, Canada writes: Never mind what the curse of Pakistan may be. The curse we must all consider is its nuclear arsenal. I have no desire to see a single muslim die, but I am certainly praying that American and Isreali bombers are ready and able to wipe out that pathetic nation's weaponry at a moment's notice. If not, G-d help us all.
  2. a neumann from Chicago, USA, United States writes: Someone wanted to shut her up and they succeeded. Benazir Bhutto was killed becasue of her thoughts and her speech. The question is who wanted her dead more: the present Pakistan government or the militant Islamics? Perhaps there was cooperation between both sides to silence her.
  3. John Doe from Halifax, Canada writes: Maybe a Western backed dictatorship is not such a bad idea after all, in this particular country. What happens if Pakistan plunges into outright anarchy, even temporarily ? In the midst of widespread political and social chaos it might well be possible for certain elements in the armed forces to smuggle an atomic weapon onto a cargo ship bound for New York. The consequences of that would be simply unthinkable.
  4. M Warren from Ottawa, Canada writes: Bhutto herself foresaw the danger, and sent the following message to Mark Siegel:

    'Just wanted u to know if it does in addition to the names in my letter to Musharaf of Oct 16nth, I wld hold Musharaf responsible. I have been made to feel insecure by his minions and there is no way what is happening in terms of stopping me from taking private cars or using tinted windows or giving jammers or four police mobiles to cover all sides cld happen without him.' [source CNN]

    For the good of the future of Pakistani democracy, let us hope that Nawaz Sharif can take the reins and form a rival government, perhaps in the original capital of Karachi. A cohesive opposition government backed by the people would be preferable to aimless rioting, if violence is indeed necessary owing to Musharraf's intransigence.
  5. Steve Durocher from Windsor, Ontario, Canada writes: Pakistan is proof that NO Muslim nation should be the keeper of anything nuclear.
    Muslim nations if they want nuclear power for civilian use (dubious since civilians and soldiers are often interchangeable in that culture of Jihad) start with wind generators and solar cells then gradually working their way up to nuclear and ONLY rewarding them when they have proved to the rest of the world that they have purged themselves of their savage inclinations and compulsions.
    Medieval nuttery and 21st century weaponry are a very bad mix.
  6. John Doe from Halifax, Canada writes: Let me tell you, the images on TV of the masses of people running through the streets in Pakistan after Bhutto was assassinated shouting and screaming reminded me of the anarchy and chaos in the city of New Orleans after society collapsed there in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
  7. Fran Irwin from Medicine Hat, Canada writes: Let me tell You How It Is from Bellevue, Washington, United States writes: 'The images on TV of the masses of people running through the streets in Pakistan after Bhutto was assassinated shouting and screaming reminded me of my last visit to Toronto. None of the people were waving around Canadian maple leafs so I knew it wasn't filmed in Canada but then again it could have been.' Not such a humourous remark 'Bellevue' - US race riots have far surpassed any riotous crowds in Canada whose celebration of a sporting event may hit the wires. Strange that, with so many pages of comments in this paper discussing Canadian life and politics that you would choose this tragic story half-the-world away to make a feable insult to Canadian society.
  8. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:

    This Globe writer seems to think it was Mushareff while there appears to be another side to the story:( But who really knows whom is aligned with whom?)

    KARACHI--'We terminated the most precious American asset which vowed to defeat mujahideen.' These were the words of al-Qaeda’s top commander for Afghanistan operations and spokesperson Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, immediately after the attack that claimed the life of Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto on Thursday (December 27).

    'This is our first major victory against those (eg, Bhutto and President Pervez Musharraf) who have been siding with infidels (the West) in a fight against al-Qaeda and declared a war against mujahideen,' Mustafa told Asia Times Online by telephone.

    He said the death squad consisted of Punjabi associates of the underground anti-Shi'ite militant group Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, operating under al-Qaeda orders.

    http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IL29Df01.html

    .
  9. Duane Freemantle from writes: It will take time to determine who actually ordered to have her killed, or if this person acted alone. Leaders of the west have been victims of assassination attempts, but we never direct the blame to a group. It is strange how we place different rules for people who are not part of our society. Unlike others I will not read into this, other than someone who wanted her dead succeeded. There are words that can be used by those that are speculating on the reasons and the results. We should hope that Pakistan returns to some form of stability soon.
  10. Roop Misir from Toronto, Canada writes: Is the world bearing witness to the events leading to the dissolution of an artificial state?

    Surely, the world can do a lot to help alleviate the suffering of the innocent people of this long-traumatized region of the world.

    A true leader is one who is willing to die for the people. May we always
    remember Ms. Bhutto's courageous sacrifice for her people.
  11. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:

    A fascinating read in today's Washington Post titled:

    'U.S. Brokered Bhutto's Return to Pakistan.'

    Always amazing to read how far the US tentacles stretch-their involvement in the affairs of sovereign nations politics.

    '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.

    'The U.S. came to understand that Bhutto was not a threat to stability, but was instead the only possible way that we could guarantee stability and keep the presidency of Musharraf intact,' said Mark Siegel, who lobbied for Bhutto in Washington and witnessed much of the behind-the-scenes diplomacy.

    Much easier to understand why Al Qaeda is most likely to have taken her out.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/27/AR2007122701481.html?hpid=topnews

    .
  12. Mrs. Whiggins from Canada writes: And all Canada's Prime Minister (Harper) can say is that he hopes the vote will carry on. Sad.
  13. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:

    This has the prospect to get very ugly and very out of control in the short term with spill overs everywhere.

    I hope our forces in Afghanistan do not get caught in this possible huge cross-fire

    Interesting to note that 1 day BEFORE the assassination of Bhutto, the US and Pakistan signed an agreement for a 'surge'of US special forces to go into south western Pakistan.

    'Beginning early next year, U.S. Special Forces are expected to vastly expand their presence in Pakistan, as part of an effort to train and support indigenous counter-insurgency forces and clandestine counterterrorism units, according to defense officials involved with the planning.'

    http://blog.washingtonpost.com/earlywarning/2007/12/musharrafswoeshaveopeneda.html?nav=rssblog

    The basic agreement from November:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/washington/19policy.html?    r=1&oref=slogin

    http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22978944-2,00.html

    .
  14. Mr. Justice from Canada writes: The idea that Puppet-Dictator Musharraf didn't know about this plan or that somehow this assassin managed to evade Musharraf's soldiers and secret police is nonsense. . . . this will give him an excuse not to hold the 'elections' (whose vote count was, in any case, to be done by the puppet-dictator's minions . . . but intermittently supervised by international monitors, mostly members of human rights rights groups -- groups that right-wing morons here at G&M obviously despise, as does their hero Musharraf.
  15. James C. from Shenzhen, Guangdong, China writes: ' Mrs. Whiggins from Canada writes: And all Canada's Prime Minister (Harper) can say is that he hopes the vote will carry on. Sad.'

    ----------

    we should nuke em right mrs whiggins.... :-)
  16. Ronald Roketta from Canada writes: So much for George Bush's foreign policy about the 'Axis of Evil'

    It's been Pakistan all the time.
  17. Mei-Xing Xu from Canada writes: Iam waldstein from winnipeg, Canada writes: 'Never mind what the curse of Pakistan may be. The curse we must all consider is its nuclear arsenal. I have no desire to see a single muslim die, but I am certainly praying that American and Isreali bombers are ready and able to wipe out that pathetic nation's weaponry at a moment's notice. If not, G-d help us all. '

    --

    Never mind what the curse of israel may be. The curse we must all consider is its nuclear arsenal. I have no desire to see a single jew die, but I am certainly praying that Iranian and Syrian bombers are ready and able to wipe out that pathetic nation's weaponry at a moment's notice. If not, God help us all.

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