Martyr?
By Thomas JeffreyArticle Posted: Tuesday January 1, 2008
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Banazir Bhutto was assassinated last week after leaving a political rally while riding in her motorcade. According to reports, the assassin fired two shots then detonated a large amount of explosives that were attached to his body, killing Ms. Bhutto and some 20 other bystanders. The death of the charismatic former prime minister has created yet another crisis for Pakistan, one that even another round of marital law imposed by President Pervez Musharraf may not be able to quell.
Interestingly it is the questions surrounding the circumstances of Ms. Bhutto’s death that are now captivating the world stage. Three different reports as to what killed the former prime minister emerged in the days following her assassination. One report stated that she died from a gun shot to the neck. Another stated that she perished by hitting her head on the SUVs sunroof. And yet another blamed the shock wave of the explosion for Ms. Bhutto’s demise. Compounding the controversy are now new reports that police in the province where the former prime minister was killed would not allow doctors to perform an autopsy after being pronounced dead at a local hospital.
All this comes on the heels of a foreboding letter Ms. Bhutto wrote that was only to be opened in the event of her death. In the letter, Ms. Bhutto blames the unwillingness of President Musharraf to provide for her a proper security detail as the primary cause for what she believed to be her inevitable death. Even the US State Department has been dragged into the blame game, with officials having to explain their unwillingness to press the Pakistani government for tighter security for Ms. Bhutto given the attempt that was made on her life just a few months ago.
Another wrinkle revealed just today was the revelation that the former prime minister was set to visit with a pair of US Senators whom she trusted to turn over evidence that purportedly would show that President Musharraf planned to rig the upcoming elections in his favor. A aide close to Ms. Bhutto stated that she did not trust sharing the evidence directly with the Bush Administration due to their strong support of Mr. Musharraf.
Just days after her death, Ms. Bhutto’s son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was named to succeed her as leader of the Pakistani People’s Party, immediately leading to concerns for his safety. Even Ms. Bhutto’s political rival, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is lying low, perhaps mindful that another assassin’s bullet my have his name on it. But with political leaders now in such short supply in Pakistan, Mr. Sharif is quickly becoming a popular commodity within the country, whether he likes it or not.
Now, with the Pakistani elections most likely to be postponed until mid-February, the real question is how will the death of Ms. Bhutto affect the political fortunes of President Musharraf, who is quickly amassing a reputation as a Teflon Don for his amazing ability to survive challenges by several would-be political rivals.
As for now, this Leftwing Nutjob wonders just how many more lives Mr. Musharraf has left before he himself succumbs to feudal nature of Pakistani politics. And with some many variables in play with regards to the balance of power within that country, the nation that the Smirking POTUS named as the most important partner in his War on Terrorism might just become more of a hindrance then a help.
Oxford security concerns for Bhutto’s son — The Age
Pakistan election now likely next month — The Age
State Department denies it ignored danger to Bhutto — CNN.com
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif positioned as standard bearer of Pakistan’s opposition — International Herald Tribune
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Podcast #117
By Thomas JeffreyArticle Posted: Tuesday April 15, 2008
Leftwing Nutjob Podcast, Episode 117, for Sunday, April 13, 2008
Penn hits the bricks, Iran in the spotlight again, the Obama money machine, al Qaeda’s rising star and more!