Some impressions on the murder of Benazir Bhutto
I guess as I sit in my house and watch MSNBC and the other news channels reporting on the murder of Benazir Bhutto, the opposition leader in Pakistan who was challenging the American-backed dictator Pervez Musharraf and whose father was murdered by a dictator years before, I am most angry about how political media whores like Joe Scarborough are trying to turn her murder into a defense of people like Rudy Giuliani and how aides to President Bush are trying to use her killing now to shore up their own failed policies.
So here are some thoughts as the tragedy of the Bhutto murders by a man who allegedly shot her and then blew himself up points not towards Giuliani and other conservative fanatics in the United States, but against the Bush administration policies which have led the world into a firestorm of increasing extremism and terrorism. Don’t expect the truth to come out in the next few days or weeks. Just watch as the political whores and their partisan pundits try to spin this to elevate their preferred candidates for president.
1 — It is a fact that Pervez Musharraf has been criticized by Bhutto for failing to provide her with adequate security, despite two previous attempts to assassinate her. Musharraf did not want Bhutto to return and challenge his dictatorship and it is not beyond belief that Musharraf either was directly involved in Bhutto’s murder or that he was an accomplice protecting and facilitating the killers through improper protection. Let’s be honest, there were three forces in Pakistan and the war on Terrorism: Bhutto and those who sought true democracy; Musharraf who is a Bush dictator who seeks to destroy al-Qaeda while preserving his own brand of terrorism; and al-Qaeda which is firmly grounded in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
2 — The murder of Bhutto can also be blamed on President George W. Bush. Bush has pursued a personal agenda in Iraq, using the genuine threat of al-Qaeda terrorism as an excuse to destroy his father’s nemesis Saddam Hussein. But in the process of extracting vengeance against Saddam Hussein, Bush turned Iraq from a secular dictatorship into a killing field and training ground for al-Qaeda terrorism.
3 — Instead of wasting our efforts in Iraq, even today, we should be redirecting our soldiers to fight in Pakistan. And the first step should be the overthrow of Musharraf, the real evil dictator in this equation. Bush supports Musharraf not because Musharraf is a custodian of Democracy but because Bush can rely on Musharraf to support his failed policies, allowing the US to cover up the failed Bush policies in Iraq and gambling that a dictator who supports him (Bush) is better than a secular leader who advocates true Democracy and a realigned course of fighting against al-Qaeda, not in Iraq but in Pakistan.
4 — Does anyone not believe that Musharraf’s security forces are secretly supporting al-Qaeda in Pakistan? Does anyone not believe that Musharraf wanted Bhutto dead, and saw her as a threat to his own dictatorship? Does anyone not believe that Bush policies in Pakistan have strengthened Musharraf’s dictatorship intentionally and that the real goal is Pakistan is not Democracy but to preserve anyone who supports the Bush terrorism around the world including in Iraq?
Bhutto was not a fan of Musharraf. Her advisers openly criticized Musharraf and complained that the Musharraf government was making it easy for terrorists to murder her. But now watch President Bush as he denounces the Bhutto murders (which play right into his hands) and while he uses this convenient murder to shore up the dictatorship of Pervez Musharraf.
What you are watching unfold in Pakistan is a crime of enormous magnitude that only serves to undermine what should be the real war on terrorism, to fight al-Qaeda where it is based in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Bhutto’s murder allows Bush to argue that we Americans must continue fighting in Iraq — he’ll argue that the war in Iraq is where the emphasis should be and that we should allow our dictator pal Musharraf to continue to manage the balancing act where the real terrorism resides.
This fighting in Iraq versus the failed war in Afghanistan and Pakistan — we should have our main armies there rather than in Iraq — demonstrates that the priority has always been about oil and money (in Iraq) rather than about freedom and Democracy where it is needed (in Pakistan and Afghanistan).
The next president should give Musharraf an ultimatum: either resign and appoint a true Democratic leader, or be arrested. The longer we permit Musharraf’s dictatorship to manipulate the events in Pakistan and to protect al-Qaeda by half-assed policies, the worse the al-Qaeda terrorist threat will be against all of us.
The real terrorist threat is not in Iraq. It is in Pakistan.
Ray Hanania
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You mean dictatorship in the name of democracy. Kind of like how she did it before, you know… the reason Musharaf came to power.
Yaa… good luck with that… mushroom cloud over New York or Chicago sounds like a fun thing.
It was actually Bhutto who funded and trained the Taliban and possibly al-Qaida. Get your bloody story right.
You misspelled United States as Pakistan, correct it.
Ohhh ya forgot… I am happy for the Pakistanis now. A tyrant as equally corrupt as Bush is dead. It is a day to celebrate if you are an ordinary Pakistani.
Hopefully her families tyrany ends with her.
Ray Hanania is naive about politics in Pakistan. benazir Bhutto’s assassination is tragic and great loss for Pakistan. Pakistan’s electorate is divided into many political ideologies. The liberal electorate in Pakistan is small and can never form a majority government without the support of Islamic and nationalist parties. Benazir Bhutto was Prime Minister of Pakistan two times and her rule was far from perfect. Pakistan has it’s own political destiny and we do not need “ultimatum” from anybody. This kind of talk will only result in Pakistanis rallying around President Musharraf.
Just a note, there are riots taking place in the twin cities (Islamabad and Rawalpindi).
Maybe this might lead to toppling of Musharraf.
What’s with the current trend of supporting tyrants and corrupt politicians from liberals these days? I never understood the liberal obsession with Benazir Bhutto.
Jina, not easy to topple a military backed president. If people in the Middle East had this sense of integrity, no riot was needed, the governments or the authorities of the countries wouldn’t feel safe and stable when an integrated nation doesn’t approve of them. We do not stick together, not inside our countries, not across the countries in the region. We consist of many many little little Islands close to one another, no bridges in between.
The killing of a politician is a funny thing. Many people joke that it would be a great idea, cynically; some think it would be a relief to problems and issues associated with that person. Whatever the character of the person assasinated, in a democratic race it is a brutal tragedy. It is the clear choice of chaos and savagery over civilized, peaceful behaviour. Is this the only solution to dictatorship and corruption? Are people condemned to murder each other in the streets? Has our ability to peacefully arrive at a consensus for government eroded to this degree? My best wishes in the New Year to the people of Pakistan. They deserve better than their leaders, and the dark ambitions of those greedy for power in their midst.
In a way, Pervez Musharraf is just another Saddam Hussein; a dictator who is America’s friend until he does something America doesn’t like. Musharraf is the dictator and it is becoming clearer that those who support him oppose 1) women in politics and freedom for women, 2) secular government, 3) the war on real terrorism.
It just might be that Mrs. Bhutto’s murder may spell the end of the Musharraf regime. That would be great news. Then, Bush will not be able to keep our soldiers in Iraq where they are protecting Halliburton’s and Dick Cheney’s investments, and will instead have to fight the war on the real battlefield with al-Qaeda …
But. one can only hope
Ray Hanania
Ray, comparing Musharraf and Saddam is a HUGE stretch.
Sorry, apples to oranges. If there’s a military government you want to pick a bone with, try the Myanmar junta.
Ray, I just read an article on Debbie Schlussel’s blog about the Bhuttos, who she describes as crooks on a par with Yassar Arrafat. They were convicted in a Swiss court for bribes, kickbacks and money laundering. Mr. Bhutto got a jail sentence and they had to pay back Pakistan $12 million, and return an $188,000 necklace. I’m sure you know who Debbie is Ray….you know, that nasty yahudi lady from Dearbornistan, Michigan? That’s much more “Democracy in action” than Yassar ever demonstrated. His family still has the money he stole! Or are they still “keeping it safe for the Palestinian people”?
Wow, R E, I guess Hell has frozen over, since I agree with Debbie on this hahaha
Sorry i say this. But Pakistan is always engaged with tribal violance and need a dictatorship government over it.
It will lead to more violance in Pakistan and more people will be killed. Pakistan have never had a healthy political atmosphere. It can also lead to divide pakistan into pieces. Very dangerous situation.
I guess the attack was planed by US, bcs they want to remove Musharaf, for he is useless for them now.
An attack to fulfill Greater Middle East map..
Pakistan needs another Ayub Khan to instill some pride and growth in that country.
I do not understand how Ray can say Bush is responsible for radical Islam. Didn’t that happen when the grandfather of radical Islam Ayatollah Khomeini in power (thanks Jimmy Carter)?
Plus, now is not the time to start whipping up conspiracy theories. Bhutto was an enemy of the Taliban. Isn’t it more likely that they assassinated her rather than some shadow Gov’t lead by Halliburton?
One more thing, everyone is saying she was the champion of moderate Islam but really she was an American educated Western secularist, with a socialist vision, not an Islamic one by any stretch of the imagination. She did not, in other words, offer an alternative vision of Islam itself, short of its draconian and supremacist elements. She didn’t offer or stand for an alternative understanding of the Qur’an and Sunnah that taught that Muslims should not wage war for Islam, subjugate unbelievers, or institute stoning and amputation and the rest. Rather, she essentially advocated that in some areas Islamic law should be set aside. That, along with her gender, is what aroused the ire of the Islamic leaders in Pakistan against her, as it has against Musharraf.
Don’t blame Republicans for radical Islam. Instead read your history books and learn that most of the radicalism is a reaction to more totalitarian forms of gov’t.
Are you kidding me? She was the one who funded and trained them… stop listening to CNN.
Take your own advice and you go do some reading about this corrupt thieving tyrant…
There are Jihadists everywhere, mainly those who hate the fact that a Woman rose to such prominence and fought so hard for democracy. Simply dominating a dicussion does not make anyone right on this list …
The facts speak for themselves. Musharraf is being blamed for intentionally denying Bhutto, a true martyr and champion of free speech and civil rights, the protection she needs. Everyone demanded that Musharraf give Bhutto the protection she needed, but Musharref, whose own security forces are working with the old Taliban and probably Bin Laden, too, is as much to blame as the al-Qaeda terrorists who seek to destroy democracy in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Misharraf is EXACTLY like Saddam Hussein, a dictator who took control by military force and imposes a phony “democracy” in which challengers are murdered, and opposition leaders jailed, and elections blocked through national security crackdowns.
Fortunately, he will get his due. And Bhutto will be remembered for the hero and role model that she was, a champion of justice who stood up to the Taliban and tried to turn poor little Pakistan from the extremist enclave that it is into a real center of freedom, which it may never become.
You have Bhutto’s dates of prime minister wrong, too. 1988-90, 1993 to 1996. But keep spinning your misinformation. It’s comical.
Bhutto symbolizes the freedom that every woman in the Islamic World strives to achieve, a freedom from male dominated Talibanistic tyrants like Musharraf who is trying to play both sides of the fence to preseve his own dictatorship.
Ray Hanania
PS … Debbie Schlussel is a defamer who has slandered many good Arab Americans and Muslims in the United States. Call the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and ask them about this columnist hater. I hate to even waste my time writing her name. (puke!)
Ray Hanania
That’s what your Bhutto did also, but she did it in the name of democracy.
Musharaf did exactly what Arafat did, didn’t you say this is what being a liberal is all about?
So according to you, Musharaf = Saddam, Musharaf = Taliban therefore Saddam = Taliban. Have you been watching FOX again? Have you gone mental?
Jina habibi
The way you put it only prophets and saints can be eligible to the serve as a PM or a president. Can you show me a couple of those sinless saints ? At least bring one who sees the light around his head, the one that angels make him/her strong. ( I only know one who is capable of all what i said but i won’t tell you who the person might be).
Yo Ray, Debbie Schlussel has sure foiled lots of attempts by Hamas and Hezbulla representatives to rip off the goodhearted arab-americans who came here to escape the crap o/s. She’s also exposed several hate mongers that were screaming hate and distruction in the Mosques. I thought those were HOLY places for people to adore GOD.
And thank you Daniel. A little positive feedback is good for me.
she is one of those cases in which public’s first impression is of her being assassinated so she gets a get ouut jail free card..
GOD I wish tht could happen.. unfortunately in Pakistan… there has to be Political leader who has to do it.. Not like the Phillipines’s REAL People’s Party where people can actually make a difference sometimes
In a way, there is atleast some part of the Country tht is supportive of him… Saddam was a tyrant who only listened to Good news, which got him killed
What did u want Musharraf to give to her? the PRESIDENTIAL protection which he enjoys but STILL had attempts on his life… this is P-A-K-I-S-T-A-N not Iraq where she could’ve ‘hired’ Sec. Co. like BlackWater or RavenWood
She knew it was coming ever since she stepped into their strong support area of Rawalpindi..
nice post
Technically Taliban existed from the 1970′s they were just a bunch of Extremist Mujahadeen Groups spread ALL over, but when they got organized the collective mess made them Taliban… n if Pakistan HAD NOT supported the Mujahadeen grps in the 80′s, Pakistan could’ve been an easier target to occupy next.. not like the rough terrained Afghanistan!
Incorrect, the Taliban did not exist until 1994. They were a byproduct of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
That’s like saying Ahmed Shah Masoud was a Taliban fighter since he fought against the Soviets bravely.
No problem.
Now I want to make it clear that I despise Debbie Schlussel with a passion, but she is correct about Bhutto 100%. Ray should acquaint himself with some reports about Pakistan from Amnesty International before he goes off on his rather absurd comparison between Saddam and Musharraf lol
It’s like comparing the junta of Myanmar/Burma to the military government of Pakistan. Sorry, no comparison there.
Taliban WAS indeed a byproduct of the Soviets.. but after they left Mujahaddeen were just a bunch of fighter’s whose Objective was achieved.. so they grped up n made the Taliban. They enforced their extreme ideologies on the ppl they had freed and thought they ‘owed’ them. The extremists were more in these Men and the moderate voices got silenced
Those ppl who had been in Afg. just to defend it left to live their own lives
benazir is one of the greatest women in the political history of south asia.Now pakistan has no spokesmen today.this is all done by the Zia ragim in pakistan.May pakistan and pakistani never get rid of this ragim for long.
Benazair Butto is a great women No Doubt . . . . but i think Zia not only Assassinate Motharma But unfortunaltly he tries to destroyed the Ideology and thought of SOCIALISM in Pakistan