I hate to say this, but I saw this comming, Pakistan had a small chance of Democracy when Benazir Bhutto caback from exile, and these cowardly terrorists took that small chance away! I personally think this is Important news what can this mean to us, is this potentially another round in the fight on terror, will we send troops to Pakistan, will India get involved? this is serious! Raw Video: Benazir Bhutto dies in suicide blast Pakistan's Bhutto killed in attack By SADAQAT JAN and ZARAR KHAN, Associated Press Writers 15 minutes ago RAWALPINDI, Pakistan - Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday in a suicide attack at a campaign rally that also killed at least 20 others, aides said. Bhutto's supporters erupted in anger and grief after her death, attacking police and burning tires and election campaign posters in several cities. At the hospital where she died, some smashed glass and wailed, chanting slogans against President Pervez Musharraf. The death of the charismatic 54-year-old former prime minister threw the campaign for the Jan. 8 parliamentary elections into chaos and created fears of mass protests and violence across the nuclear-armed nation, an important U.S. ally in the war on terrorism. Musharraf blamed terrorists for Bhutto's death and said he would redouble his efforts to fight them. "I want to express my resolve and seek the cooperation from the entire nation and we will not rest until we eliminate these terrorists and root them out," he said in a nationally televised speech. He announced three days of mourning for her across the country. Musharraf also 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. The attacker struck just minutes after Bhutto addressed thousands of supporters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, 8 miles south of Islamabad. 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 he was standing about 10 yard away from Benazir Bhutto's vehicle at the time of the attack. "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. Bhutto was rushed to the hospital and taken into emergency surgery. She died about an hour after the attack. "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 ... but they paid no heed to our requests," Malik said. As news of her death spread, angry supporters took to the streets in the northwestern city of Peshawar as well other areas, chanting slogans against Musharraf. In Rawalpindi, Bhutto's supporters burned election posters from the ruling party and attacked police, who fled the scene. In Karachi, shop owners quickly closed their businesses as supporters from Bhutto's party burned tires on the roads. Nawaz Sharif, another former premier and opposition leader, arrived at the hospital and sat silently next to Bhutto's body. "Benazir Bhutto was also my sister, and I will be with you to take the revenge for her death," he said. "Don't feel alone. I am with you. We will take the revenge on the rulers." Speaking to the BBC, Sharif also questioned whether to hold the elections. "I think perhaps none of us is inclined to think of the elections," he said. "We would have to sit down and take a very serious look at the current situation together with the People's Party and see what we have to do in the coming days." Hours earlier, four people were killed at a rally for Sharif when his supporters clashed with backers of Musharraf near Rawalpindi. Bhutto's death will leave a void at the top of her party, the largest political group in the country, as it heads into the elections. It also fueled fears that the crucial vote could descend into violence. Pakistan is considered a vital U.S. ally in the fight against al-Qaida and other Islamic extremists including the Taliban. Osama bin Laden and his inner circle are believed to be hiding in lawless northwest Pakistan along the border with Afghanistan. In Washington, the State Department condemned the attack. "It demonstrates that there are still those in Pakistan who want to subvert reconciliation and efforts to advance democracy," deputy spokesman Tom Casey said. The United States has for months been encouraging Musharraf to reach an accommodation with the opposition, particularly Bhutto, who was seen as having a wide base of support in Pakistan. Her party had been widely expected to do well in next month's elections. Pakistan was just emerging from another crisis after Musharraf declared a state of emergency on Nov. 3, and used sweeping powers to round up thousands of his opponents and fire Supreme Court justices. He ended emergency rule Dec. 15 and subsequently relinquished his role as army chief, a key opposition demand. Bhutto had been an outspoken critic of Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule. Educated at Harvard and Oxford universities, Bhutto served twice as Pakistan's prime minister between 1988 and 1996. Her father, who also served as prime minister, was executed in 1979 two years after his ouster in a military coup. Bhutto had returned to Pakistan from an eight-year exile on Oct. 18. On the same day, she narrowly escaped injury when her homecoming parade in Karachi was targeted in a suicide attack that killed more than 140 people. Islamic militants linked to al-Qaida and the Taliban hated Bhutto for her close ties to the Americans and support for the war on terrorism. A local Taliban leader reportedly threatened to greet Bhutto's return to the country with suicide bombings. At the scene of Thursday's bombing, an Associated Press reporter saw body parts and flesh scattered at the back gate of the Liaqat Bagh park, where Bhutto had spoken. He counted about 20 bodies, including police, and could see many other wounded people. Police cordoned off the street with white and red tape, and rescuers rushed to put victims in ambulances as people wailed nearby. The clothing of some victims was shredded and people put party flags over their bodies. Police caps and shoes littered the asphalt. Hundreds of riot police had manned security checkpoints around the venue. It was Bhutto's first public meeting in Rawalpindi since she came back to the country. In November, Bhutto had also planned a rally in the city, but Musharraf forced her to cancel it, citing security fears. In recent weeks, suicide bombers have repeatedly targeted security forces in Rawalpindi, where Musharraf stays and the Pakistan army has its headquarters.
man i tell you what, i had a dream last night that terrorists were trying to bomb us and depending on the outcome of the next presidential election, that may very well happen! we cant soften up like some left wingers want us to do because next thing you know this will happen to us AGAIN
BINGO!!!!!!!! By the way, It has already happened to us TWICE!!!! On American Soil. Let us not forget how many times our Embassy's have been attacked...
sorry, i meant to say again. theres a list somewhere of all the times terrorists (muslim type) attacked US soil; embassies or otherwise and you'd be surprised at how many there are and how little we've reacted.
Right, But we need to research our selves and spread the truth because our free press is not being free with the truth, just like politicians they've found that spreading their own agenda and policies is more benificial to themselves. God help us if we soften up our stance and let these woosies attack us like they did on 9 11 again!
indeed sir. unfortunately we will probably never know the full truth behind anything that goes on with our country until we meet our maker. whats also unfortunate is that our wonderful press only tell us what they want us to hear, this is true for both right and left sides, no middle ground aka the TRUTH. sad shame it really is. just like you said, if you want the truth you have to do your own research and gather reason from what you find but you also have to chose carefully what you chose to believe.
Amen Brother! and what ever wisdom we gather we need to share, unfortunately most folks will just watch a little news or read a news paper and take it as gospel,
Crap....you know, Pakistan has a huge population but one thing I clearly remember seeing on the news is a POLL (however scientific THAT was lol) stated that 80% of men supported the efforts of Al Quaida and Osama Bin Laden. I don't believe these are accurate figures but I do believe that Bin Laden is somewhere in Pakistan. This is BAD BAD blood being brewed as we converse..AND, nuclear weapon capability makes it that much worse especially with India right there beside em.
Could be the Al Qaedas are trying to get control of that country, for the Nukes but India is getting pretty nervous you can bet! I don't think they'll hesitate to go when they want to.:blowup::blowup::blowup::blowup::blowup::blowup:
Speak the truth brother! As a captain in the fire service, and active in counter terrorism, I am scared to death of where we will be after the election. I am also praying that the problems in Pakastan are controlled quickly. We do not want India involved! Any of you dooms day scenerioists can draw your own conclusion. Whoever you are, where ever you are, stay vigilant.
Spin doctors are everywhere, now she didn't die from the bullets or bomb shrapnel, but a blow to her head from the sun roof, so now everythings peachy keen! If the guy hadn't shot or blown himself up, she wouldn't have cracked her skull! Politicians have to complicate everything so friggin much!
