In Memory of Benazir Bhutto, Cut US Ties to Musharraf
Our hearts and thoughts are with the Pakistani people as they mourn the death of Benazir Bhutto. We extend our deep sorrow to her family and the millions of supporters who for decades have seen the Bhutto family as a source of inspiration. We also extend our condolences to the families of the other Pakistanis who were killed in this heinous crime.
We at CODEPINK were in touch with the former Prime Minister when we were writing our book Stop the Next War Now. In fact, Bhutto graciously contributed an essay that was a plea to counter extremism and “a clash of civilizations that can lead to Armageddon, where there will be no winners on earth.”
Bhutto’s assassination is a blow to people all over Pakistan, and the world, who hold life sacred and believe in the basics precepts of democracy. It is also a blow to women worldwide who took strength from seeing such a courageous, articulate and charismatic woman playing a leadership role in a powerful Muslim country. Inside Pakistan, even her most bitter critics wept at the news of her death, understanding that it is indeed a dark day when assassination becomes a tool for eliminating opposing viewpoints.
There is much speculation about who committed this odious act. It could certainly be religious militants opposed to a leader like Bhutto who repeatedly expressed her determination to combat violent extremists. Bhutto was perceived by many Pakistanis as too “pro-Western,” especially after remarks that if elected Prime Minister, she might allow U.S. military strikes inside Pakistan to eliminate al-Qaeda.
But it is not too far-fetched to think that the assassination could have been orchestrated by Pervez Musharraf or members of the military. Many in Pakistan speculated that the government was responsible for the bomb blasts that killed 140 Pakistanis when Bhutto first returned home on October 18, citing the fact that the street lights were turned off just before the attack and questioning the lack of a serious investigation afterwards. In fact, Musharraf had refused Bhutto’s request that an independent foreign team be brought in to help with the investigation. This time, there must be a serious investigation conducted by a body independent of the government and those responsible must be found and held accountable.
Elections scheduled for January 8 must be postponed. Even before this tragedy, there were no conditions for free and fair elections. The Musharraf regime had fired independent judges, censored the press and stacked the Election Commission. It is absolutely key that an independent judiciary and free press be restored, and that elections then be scheduled under the aegis of an independent electoral commission.
The international community must put pressure on Musharraf not to use this tragedy to impose another round of emergency rule like the one he imposed on November 3, which led to the crackdown on lawyers, students, journalists and other members of Pakistan’s vibrant civil society. Bhutto’s death will be doubly tragic if it becomes an excuse for Musharraf to stifle the very civil society that is the true bulwark against extremism.
If Bhutto’s death proves anything, it is the utter failure of Musharraf’s regime and the utter failure of the Bush administration’s policy of supporting Musharraf. Pakistani civil society has long been calling for Musharraf to resign. Now leaders like former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif have added their voice to that call, publicly holding Musharraf responsible for Bhutto’s death and demanding he step down.
CODEPINK agrees that Musharraf is the biggest obstacle facing a democratic Pakistan today. He is not capable of either fighting extremists or building a society that respects the rule of law. My colleague Tighe Barry and I recently had a taste of his dictatorial ways when we were kidnapped and carjacked at gunpoint and then deported for supporting the pro-democracy movement.
The US government must use this time to radically change its policy in Pakistan. The Bush administration has been a staunch supporter of Musharraf, providing his regime with over $10 billion in financial aid since 2001. In return, Musharraf was supposed to fight religious extremists. But Osama bin Laden has never been caught, and in the last few years al-Qaeda and the Taliban have become stronger in Pakistan. In the meantime, Musharraf’s use of US funds to crack down on the country’s democratic forces has led to growing anti-American sentiments among the nation’s moderate, secular forces. The U.S. government should withhold assistance until Musharraf steps down and a caretaker government restores the independent judiciary, lifts restrictions on the press and sets up the conditions for fair elections.
We should also begin to focus our attention on one of the key underlying causes for the growth of extremism in Pakistan: the extreme poverty that persists, especially in the tribal areas where al-Qaeda is most active.
Benazir Bhutto spoke about this in the essay she wrote for our book. Her words were poignant then, and are even more poignant upon her death:
“The neglect of rising poverty against the background of religious extremism can only complicate an already difficult world situation,” she said. “The war against terrorism is primarily perceived as a war based on the use of force. However, economics has its own force, as does the desperation of families who cannot feed themselves.”
“Militancy and greed cannot become the defining images of a new century that began with much hope. We must refocus our energy on promoting the values of democracy, accountability, broad-based government, and institutions that can respond to people’s very real and very urgent needs.”
We, as global citizens, can pay tribute to Bhutto by rising to her challenge. Whether in Pakistan or in our home countries, we can dedicate ourselves to building a world based on tolerance, cooperation and fulfilling the urgent needs of the human family-which are the pillars of a more peaceful world.
Medea Benjamin (medea@globalexchange.org) is cofounder of CODEPINK: Women for Peace and Global Exchange.
Tariq Ali has the better take on the importance of Bhutto.
Post that link widely.
The regime of George Wanker Bush and the Republican party as a whole must be secretly high-fiving each other over the assassination of Bhutto. The world just became a lot more dangerous and so yet another opportunity to crank up the engine of fear-mongering has presented itself to the morons and incompetents running this nation. “Listen, America, the traitors and yellow-bellies of the Democrat party don’t have the moxie to fight Bhutto’s assassins. Only we, the Mission Accomplished, flight suit wearing Knights of the Bloody Cross can destroy the cancer infecting the Greater Islamic Shithole. Rally to us! Give us your support! Only we can and will protect your family!” It may yet work again.
in memory of benazir bhutto……..charge bush with hiding osama binladen’s murder,by sheik omar,from the american people……..
Cut ties to a military dictator? How can that happen after all those mis-spent billions perlioned from poor taxpayers by the Bush/Cheney cabal?
Yeah she was a real democrat, must have learned her democracy in the USA, I imagine the loss of such a big shot stooge will have set the oiligarch’s plans back somewhat.
“Benazir Bhutto was indeed a very popular woman politician of her country, but she was by no means a democrat. During her tenure as twice Prime Minister of her country, she stifled the growth of democracy and undermined the democratic institutions. She not only concentrated in herself the absolute power of the country, but also assumed the title of chairperson for life of her political party — Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Her husband Asif Ali Zardari is generally seen as the villain who tarnished Benazir’s image through corruption and violence. Zardari, a jagirdar or landlord used his traditional violent methods to subdue his opponents and used the government power of his wife to extract benefits through his various corrupt, and often violent deals. He was alleged to be involved in the killing of Murtaza Bhutto, Benazir’s brother. Asif Zardari had even maintained private jails where he tortured his opponents. This all happened while Benazir Bhutto’s “democratically elected’ government was in power.”
-MURTAZA SHIBLI
The murder of Bhutto certainly seems to have crossed a divide in Pakistan. Whatever one may say about her role or who was responsible for her death, it has triggered a great upwelling of grief and rage, and it is not at all clear that this time this can be contained.
I have read dozens of articles and hundreds of posts from alternative and mainstream news sources on the crisis in Pakistan, and as always there is something eerie about what is not being reported. Usually I let it go by, but in this case it could be really important and needs to be pointed out.
When I shop for shirts and sheets, many of them were made in Pakistan. Who are the people who make these things? Do they have a different viewpoint? Leaders? Organizations? And what about the peasants on the great landed estates I see mentioned, like the ones Bhutto’s family owns? Are they organizing? Do they have their own leaders? What are their struggles? Also we hear about the state of the officer corps, under strain but with all key posts under Musharraf’s control. What is the state of the rank-and-file soldiers?
No amount of reading between the lines seems to be sufficient to dig this out; these issues are not even hinted at in what is being printed now.
We are looking at a country that is possibly approaching a meltdown. The political system is completely discredited, the Dictator widely hated, the army has been suffering humiliating defeats on the frontier, people are deeply disaffected and rioting in the streets. The US, which has its hand in everything, is deeply discredited. Nothing apparently is holding the country together but the army, and that ultimately depends on the willingness of the enlisted soldiers to fire on the people, which may be faltering.
If Pakistan’s institutions implode, then the common people, ready or not, may be thrust onto the stage of history. This could be very crazy, unleashing the kinds of emotions in which people (especially the terrified ruling classes) wouldn’t hesitate to use nuclear weapons. It would be the first classic revolution since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Without the Soviet Union, there would be no expectation of outside help, no one to turn to for support. I see no sign of an international workers movement capable of mobilizing working people around the world to defend it, no reason to expect anything like the Seattle Dockers Strike that stopped US shipments of arms for the intervention in Russia. It is forseeable that the US Government, with broad bipartisan support, would move quickly to strangle this revolution and drown it in blood.
I don’t know that this is going to happen, but it could. Are we going to be blindsided by it if it does, or will we get ourselves informed and make connections and be ready to defend the Pakistani people in the event that they should find themselves with their government in their own hands?
Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.
BB was no princess and her husband was no prince. That said, no question, political murder. Whoever did the deed, Musharraf, Pashtun, Islamist (from wherever), they probably got to her through her bodyguards.
http://www.counterpunch.org/subhani12272007.html
Here’s the concept: America has been swimming in the main sewer line of Oppression around the globe for 60 years. Our monsters make deals with other monsters to rape their people, our people, any people anywhere for the global community of richfilth animals.
When you see the connections between GWB & our Richfilth to Musharraf/Bhuto and their Richfilth to child labor, slave labor, and sweatshop labor to the product shelves of Wal-Mart, K-Mart, et al - you begin to see how this monster works. Torture is how the monsters running Nation/States spread the disease of Terror and maintain the transfer of wealth from us to the richfilth. THERE IS NO ROOM FOR MIDDLE CLASS ACTIVE CITIZENS IN THIS 3000 YO FEUDALISTIC MODEL OF LIFE.
If you have a mortgage, if you still cling to the remnants of middle class life, know this: There is a target on your back. When the monsters are finished there will be nothing left but the squeal. Here’s the punchline:
While your world burns to the ground, the Dems, the NGOs, and Air America will fiddle. Cause they are all players. They will all make money from our crucifixion, and tsk tsk tsk, all the way to the bank. Just like they have for the last 35 years.
Happy New Year. Anybody taking bets on having elections next November? How about total economic collapse by oh, say October 29th 2008?
Peeces of 8.
The assassination has all the earmarks of false-flag terrorism. Hmmm, who would benefit by further unrest in the region?
It seems the most important thing is to call out Musharraf, and Medea is right on that. Bhutto — whose family’s tragic history has been missing from US media heretofore — was not allowed even tinted windows, and no private security. By whose order? Well, she left the answer in her final message: Musharraf.
Tariq Ali does agree that elections should be postponed, while Juan Cole argues they should go ahead, provided the PPP is given a fair chance to regroup and put up a replacement candidate. It seems the latter could work, as long as the pro-democracy advocates are bolstered, and Musharef is brought to account in some way.
All that said: what the hell are these so-called Imperial Wizards like Rice, Baker and Wolfy doing? They are one-trick ponies: a military solution no matter what the outcome.
This article is naive at best. Both Musharraf and Bhutto are suported by the fascist regime in the US. The question here, as mentioned by a previous comment, is who benefits in this assassination. Blaming AQ and Taliban is just too bloody convenient in this case.
dear horrified,you can find the answer you seek,in a link to youtube,provided by poster,brianct………….it is a very recent interview with david frost,where she unwittingly spills the beans.and it sure looks as if, fearless leader geo.bush,is knowingly hunting for a dead bogeyman,on behalf of the american people.
Former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto had warned that Pervez Musharraf should be held ‘responsible’, if she were killed, a new report says.
Two month before her assassination, Bhutto had warned her US spokesman, and longtime friend, Mark Siegel, that the current Pakistani President should bear the blame, CNN reported Thursday.
So who did it?
The U.S. government should also stop attempting to manipulate the domestic political situation in Pakistan with the National Endowment for Democracy [NED] grants that it gives to various Pakistani NGOs (in the same way NED funds have been given to the anti-Chavez NGOs in Venezuela in recent years). (See following link http://www.ned.org/grants/06programs/grants-asia06.html#pakistan for more information).
The corruption of Benazir Bhutto is discussed here:
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/blog/2007/12/pakistan_the_ot.html#
horrified–”Both Musharraf and Bhutto are suported by the fascist regime in the US. ”
While it is true that Bhutto was no saint (well behaved women never make headlines !!), it is also true that in the current context, a woman diving head first into Pakistani politics is like jumping into the fire after soaking yourself with gasoline.
The jihadists (Al Qaeda, Taliban, Lashkar, Hizbul, and a host of other asswipes) wanted her dead as she was waaay to modernist for them. She was outspoken in her contempt for the extremists. Yes, she did play politics and helped create the Taliban when they were a ragtag bunch of religious students but she also came out strongly against them repeatedly as they unfolded their vision for Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Its her love for her country that prompted her to consider this suicidal proposal to begin with. You cannot convince me she did it for even more money or more power. Everyone loved her including the Indians (who are currently holding candlelight vigils for her).
Yes she would have been involved with the U.S. and Musharraf but ANY politician in Pakistan needs the Pakistani military and the U.S. The only way to get rid of this dependence is pure unfettered democracy and she was able to recognize this and was determined to bring this about even if she had to sleep with Mush and the friggin Americans.
Yeah she was corrupt. Corruption in South Asian politics is the direct equivalent of Campaign Finance in the U.S. We legitimized it and gave it a nice ring to the name. Campaign Finance is Baksheesh !! When you dont even have a democracy to begin with how do you regulate campaign finance or corruption in government.
The problem with Pakistan has always been military dictatorships supported by the Americans. For 60 years this same format has played itself out and the Army and their cohorts and the sliver of elite in Pakistan have been making out like bandits. The military dictators have all along supported and created these extremists to further their strategic objectives in Afghanistan and India (Kashmir).
We (the U.S.) have never really supported true democracy in Pakistan as we know democracies (like in India) are a pain to deal with and have a mind of their own.
gyptian, NOBODY needs the United States. Some may think they need to do X, Y, or Z with US “aid”, but most of those pursuits are unnecessary and often highly destructive. Any pursuit that is actually POSITIVE may be accomplished without the “aid” of the US. The US is an unwanted, unnecessary, undesirable force on this planet.
mdswatch:
Thanks for pointing out the NED connection to US interference in Pakistani affairs. It’s instructive to note that the largest NED grant for 2006 went to ACILS, the international arm of the AFL-CIO. It should also be noted that the purpose of the grant is to promote “democratic” trade unionism and “cooperation between business, labor and government. Internationally at least, the AFL-CO continues to be nothing more than an arm of the US government in its corporatist/imperialist adventures. Such an organization cannot be trusted to act in the interests of workers in the US.
“American Center for International Labor Solidarity
$380,000
To strengthen the democratic trade union movement in Pakistan, and to improve dialogue between labor and business on issues of economic reform and policy. ACILS will provide institutional and technical support to three Pakistani trade unions and sponsor a series of meetings that will bring together stakeholders representing labor, management, government, and others to discuss issues facing Pakistani industry and workers.”
http://www.ned.org/grants/06programs/grants-asia06.html#pakistan
Unfortunately, the late Ms. Bhutto — a woman of profound courage and intellect tied herself to these same imperialist forces in her final days. That too was a great and profound tragedy for the Pakistani people and the movement for democracy around the world.
Is it not an interesting coincidence that yet again, just before the primaries are starting, we have another terrorist event? It is remarkable that just when the right wing warmongers need another card, it is dealt to them. This goes to show, it pays to be a born again Christian.
We can not cut ties to Musharraf right now. Pakistan is going to go through a lot of turmoil in the next few days/weeks/months. Until a new government can be elected and placed in office, Pakistan is going to need a functioning government. Cut ties now will give the radicals an even bigger opening to cause mass kaos. The current leader is no angel, but he will need all the support that he can get to keep things under control until elections brings in new leadership. Free & fair elections should be the first goal, then offering whatever support is needed to the new leadership should be the next goal. The world can not afford to have Pakistan fall into the radicals hands.
What follows is a comment by a Pakistani acivist posted on Juan Cole’s blog:
Make no mistake; Pakistan faces a grave threat from the creeping chaos, a by-product of the most shameful demonstration of power politics. There are many threats confronting our society. The threat of extremism is just one which is essentially a consequence of policies that serve foreign interests at the cost of the fundamental rights of our citizens. On 9/11, yes, we should have stood with the US when it was attacked by terrorists. But our cooperation should have been within the ambit of our constitution and law. No civilized society will ever allow its own army, raised and armed at a great cost to society, to be used so mercilessly against its own citizens and expect business as usual. In a society where the majority is without fundamental rights, without education, without economic opportunities, without healthcare, the use of sheer force will only expand the extremist fringe and contract the majority moderate.Our military rulers are incapable of understanding that the real owners of the country are its people who must have the right as, political sovereigns, to decide without fear and coercion who should rule them. In India the only qualification for Lalo Prasad or his domestic housewife Rabri Devi to rule Bihar was the mandate of the people. Can we imagine our ruling elite ever accepting a similar peoples verdict. This fundamental question of ‘Who Owns Pakistan’ must be decided once and for all.
In the absence of democracy and rule of law, extremism and religious fundamentalism will continue to grow at a frightening pace. The more the present regime bows to Washington’s desire to “do more” and the more innocent Pakistani blood is shed under the garb of fighting the war on terror or curbing extremism, the more Pakistan moves towards becoming a “failed state”, and the more people would resort to picking up arms against the security forces.
Have we ever thought why for almost 30 years out of 60 years of our existence, we have been a ‘frontline state’? Was it to protect our interests or to serve foreign policy interests of a super power in return for support to military regimes that otherwise lacked any moral or legal authority rule.
To save the country from impending disaster the first and the most crucial step has to be a government that is established through free and fair elections…a government that is brought to power through the vote of the people of Pakistan and which is perceived to be politically sovereign. The moment a leader is perceived to be an American stooge, he or she will be like a red rag to a raging bull - and the situation would be further exacerbated. Such a government will be suspected of pushing an anti-Islamic U.S. agenda. All its actions (like reform of Madrassas that are badly needed as indeed of our entire unjust educational system) right or wrong will be viewed with great suspicion.
Free and fair elections under General Musharraf wielding unlimited powers under the PCO are impossible. So the first step has to be a political consensus on forcing General Musharraf to resign followed by lifting of Martial Law albeit under the garb of emergency, reinstatement of the judiciary prior to November 3, 2007, removing all restriction on the media, and holding of an empowered APC to decide on the federal and provincial caretaker setups and an independent election commission.
A government that is formed through free and fair elections will not only be politically sovereign but it will also have the credibility to initiate national reconciliation which demands a comprehensive review of policies since 9/11 and building of national consensus on policies that can save Pakistan and not on building unholy alliances between individuals for sharing of power. The U.S. should stay away from a free electoral process as any US interference or backing of any political party will be the kiss of death as far as its effectiveness in dealing with terrorism. So the US can help itself and Pakistan by keeping out of our electoral process. To bring peace in the tribal areas we need to learn from the British experience who developed a highly effective system of negotiations through Jirgas while rewarding the tribes through subsidies to keep peace. Since Quaid-i-Azam signed a treaty in 1948 with the people of the tribal areas and withdrew Pakistani troops, they have remained the most peaceful and trouble free part of Pakistan.
Even a cursory knowledge of Pushtun history shows that for reasons of religious, cultural, and social affinity, the Pushtuns on both sides of the Durand line cannot remain indifferent to the suffering of their brethren on either side. For them, the Durand line is imaginary and for all practical purposes does not exist. The Pushtuns have a history they take pride in of resisting every invader from Alexander downwards, the Persians, Moguls, British and the Russians (all super powers of their times) who were all bogged down in the Pushtun quagmire. So, no government, Pakistani or foreign will ever be able to stop Pushtuns crossing over the fifteen hundred kilometer border to support their brethren in distress on either side even it means fighting the modern day super power in Afghanistan.
A sovereign Pakistani government will need to impress upon the U.S. administration that there is not going to be a military solution in Afghanistan. The more Aerial bombings kill innocent Pushtuns, the more recruits for Taliban and even Al-Qaeda - revenge being an integral part of the Pushtun character. Most crucially the Americans need to understand that in order to capture or kill two or three thousand Al-Qaeda, they are in danger of turning the entire one million male Pushtuns, armed and natural guerilla fighters, in the tribal areas of Pakistan against them.
So like in Iraq the US should give a time table for withdrawal from Afghanistan and replace NATO forces with OIC troops during the interim period. The Pushtuns then should be involved in a dialogue where they should be given a stake in peace. The crucial lesson the US needs to learn is that you can only win against terrorists if the people from within whom the terrorists are operating from also consider them terrorists. Once they become freedom fighters and heroes amongst their people then history tells us that the battle is lost.
The other form of militancy that is growing in Swat and Dir has stemmed from an issue of governance. Dr. Tirmizi has done excellent research on Dir once it became a part of Pakistan in 1974. Before ‘74 both Swat and Dir according to him had complete rule of law and democracy. The village Jury (Jirga) system gave everyone total access to justice as well as a say in the running of their affairs. Commenting on the success of the tribal system Olaf Caroe, the British governor of NWFP in 30’s, stated that there was more crime in a week in Peshawar then in a year of whole of the tribal areas. After Dir and Swat became part of Pakistan both democracy and justice disappeared under Pakistan’s corrupt governance system. The more the governance system crumbled in Pakistan, the more the nostalgia grew for the old system based on Shariat. Hence when the movement for Shariat started, it was quickly adopted by the poorer section of the population. A new democratic government would need to constitute an empowered ‘Grand Jirga’ comprising all stakeholders to develop consensus on measures to bring peace and forge reconciliation in the tribal areas and Swat. A similar process would be required in Balochistan commencing with the release of all the political prisoners.
Another form of militancy is also potentially extremely dangerous for Pakistan. This is the growing fundamentalism out of fear of their culture and religion being threatened by Musharraf’s “enlightened moderation”. Tehran’s westernized elite under the Shah in the 70’s imposed similar pseudo westernization. The Iranian masses especially the Tehran Bazaris reacted to the perceived threat to their cultural and religious values violently. Like the fundamentalists of the Lal Masjid, the Iranian masses’ anger was focused on what they perceived to be western vulgarity. So strong was the reaction to vulgarity that eventually Iran forced their women into veils - and that in a society that was considered the most sophisticated in the Muslim world.
To deal with this type of fundamentalism, a genuine democratic government will have to be sensitive to the cultural and religious norms of the masses. After the uprising of 1857 the British realized that one of the main causes of the rebellion against them was due to their insensitivity to the religious and cultural sentiments of both Hindus and Muslims.
But before we achieve our goal of building a free democratic society, the first and foremost challenge is to force general Musharraf to resign. General Musharraf recent statements are proof that he is in a denial mode. The time is ripe for change, for a fresh beginning. The present regime is under siege and we must never allow this opportunity to fritter away. I appeal to all Pakistanis particularly the students, workers, civil society members, and political workers to join the peaceful protest led by the lawyers for the restoration of democracy.
The treatment meted out to me at the Punjab University campus by the agents of agencies is no different to what has been meted out to other democracy activists. My loyalties are with the people of Pakistan and I am determined to continue the fight for Pakistan being waged today in the streets and bazaars of my country.
The writer is Chairman Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf
What is to be made of the first 7 minutes of this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIO8B6fpFSQ
The assassin — Omar Sheik, who is mentioned in the video — was known to work for the British MI6 (their intelligence agency) and has taken responsibility for the execution of Daniel Pearl — the Wall Street Journalist who was beheaded by him.
NOW, why haven’t we been told by ANY of the MSM about the fate of Osama Bin Laden? I have my theories … what are yours?
http://www.counterpunch.org/shibli12272007.html
” Benazir Bhutto was indeed a very popular woman politician of her country, but she was by no means a democrat. During her tenure as twice Prime Minister of her country, she stifled the growth of democracy and undermined the democratic institutions. She not only concentrated in herself the absolute power of the country, but also assumed the title of chairperson for life of her political party — Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Her husband Asif Ali Zardari is generally seen as the villain who tarnished Benazir’s image through corruption and violence. Zardari, a jagirdar or landlord used his traditional violent methods to subdue his opponents and used the government power of his wife to extract benefits through his various corrupt, and often violent deals. He was alleged to be involved in the killing of Murtaza Bhutto, Benazir’s brother. Asif Zardari had even maintained private jails where he tortured his opponents. This all happened while Benazir Bhutto’s “democratically elected’ government was in power.
Benazir’s record for corruption surpassed all the pervious governments as she amassed huge assets mostly in Dubai, the UK and other Western capitals plundering the assets of her country. Her government was involved in the massive human rights violations particularly in Karachi where the MQM militants had virtually brought the financial capital of Pakistan to a grinding halt. The reaction of the Benazir government was ruthless operations that killed thousands of innocent and unarmed civilians.
Although Benazir was portrayed as the “modern and moderate’ face of Pakistan who could help fighting Jihadists, this fact is conveniently buried that it was her government that helped formation of Taliban whose legacy continues to ruin Pakistan, Afghanistan and beyond.
After her return from self-exile, Benazir went beyond all decency and decorum to appease the US and other Western powers. Her assertions that she was not opposed to the American operations in the Pakistan’s tribal areas to fight “terrorism’ and would allow disgraced scientist AQ Khan to be interrogated by the US showed her desperation for power. Power was all that mattered and she showed no regard to the public feelings or her country’s integrity. She even talked tough about Jihadis and was willing to follow the course of General Musharraf’s military response to the crisis rather than any political negotiation to rid the country of growing extremism.”
“It is absolutely key that an independent judiciary and free press be restored, and that elections then be scheduled under the aegis of an independent electoral commission.”
Reading this sentence by Medea, I thought for a moment she was talking about the United States. Indeed, in 2004, independent international election monitors were denied access in Ohio and other states. Wonder why?
MRFOAD, you’re living in a dream world if you think anyone other than Musharraf is going to win the next round of elections in Pakistan; he’s another Stalin, and the votes will be counted in his favor every time. As long as he has military support, he doesn’t much care about what the people think, he can just use the army to crack down on his opponents. Next we’ll be reading of roving death squads murdering in the dead of night, and military tribunals secretly sentencing Pakistanis to long prison terms without public knowledge — they’ll just be disappeared. Perhaps Pervez ihas been taking notes from his friend Junior.
I heard that Bush gave Pakistan 4 BILLION dollars to fight terrorism…. has it worked?
seems they feed the terrorists to keep them active.
Anyone who thinks the US was behind the assassination of Mrs Bhutto is seriously ill-informed. And those who would elevate her to the status of a martyr for democracy don’t get it either. She was the US patsy, not Musharaf. She had done a deal with the US by which if they installed her back in power she would allow US troops in Pakistan and move the country away from China. Musharaf is not a compliant US puppet as people on this forum are depicting him. While he has no choice but to comply with the US on many things he won’t allow US troops to flow into Pakiostan from Afghanistan and, as leverage against the bullies in Washington, he has been cuddling up to China far more than the US would like. China is the hidden player in Pakistan politics. The US is not happy with Musharaf. People on this forum carry on as if Musharaf is a US installed puppet dictator in the Cold War mode. Wrong. He is playing a double game - taking Washington’s money, cooperating with the US but also snuggling up to China so that Washington doesn’t have him by the balls. Thus the US was engineering the return to Mrs Bhutto. If she had moved into power she would have sold out Pakistan to Anglo-American interests in no time. That’s why she was the darling of the Western media. Never mind that she was as corrupt as sin. People on this forum should look beyond the media hype about Bhutto and the demonization of Musharaf. He is no good guy, but to portray him as Washington’s lap dog is simplistic. Bhutto was Washington’s lap dog, but now the US plans have gone haywire. The US certainly had nothing to do with her killing. (But China might have….?) And people on this forum are wrong to suppose the US doesn’t want “democracy” in Pakistan. Of course they do - because in a “democracy” you can buy and sell governments using economic levers. People are very naive about the nature of “liberal democracy”. Read your Chomsky!
WhiteRose and luckylefty are on target, and if you really want to get down to cases, what about the $100,000 check that the former head of Pakistan’s ISI (their intelligence agency) sent to Mohammed Atta to support that alleged crew that “flew” the airliners on that fateful day of 9/11/01? And what about the families of the nearly 3,000 who died that day, or the suffering that continues among the rescuers and clean-up crew from what was officially described as non-toxic dust from the debris? Perhaps if we had leaders who were more interested in promoting peace and not so bent on becoming filthy rich we could avoid some problems like these have become - - and all with the tacit (if not overt) approval of govermental bigwigs - - often blue as well as red.
been following the posts here on bhutto…heard on news tonight.leslie stahl reporting that bhutto had requeted blackwater and then didnt get them.i was wondering if it had anything to do with her interview where she outed sheik omar and binladen and vicariously bushie ??
All I see on Google - U.S. is Bush and Musharraf blaming al-Qa’ida but on Google - Canada I see:
Robert Fisk: They don’t blame al-Qa’ida. They blame Musharraf (Independent)
Has the Ministry of Truth put the squeeze on Google? First do no evil…
An Indian intellectual who is a Muslim reacted that of course somebody had to kill her because she is the strongest Muslim female around.
Although she may have been corrupt during past regimes, she genuinely wanted improvement over the poverty groups of Pakistan.
10 Billion dollars and NO improvement in proverty of the population.
It is a serious loss that this woman has died. This leader cannot be replaced. So why was Bush and Negroponte and others egging her on to return to Pakistan in a matter of months?
She was going to her death. After Mucharev refused to protect her- she was asking for Blackwater to do it and she was turned down.
I think it is another impeachment issue for Bush- abusing all reasonable assessments of the CIA and egging a person into a position to be definitely killed- an irreplacable leader against terrorism.
What is the matter with Bush!!! Is he really nuts! He also lured that Sheik to his death who was supporting the Awakening in Anbar. Photo-op with Bush spread on all newspapers was the kiss of death for that man.
Does Bush not listen to his CIA or do they not know that they are bumping off difficult to replace leaders?
It is again incompetence and a rare woman leader pays the price.
Only in Pakistan could Bhutto be considered some force for democracy. Only in America will the press canonize her.
Medea Benjamin would make a great President or Secretary of State.
“seraphicmom December 28th, 2007 12:37 pm
in memory of benazir bhutto……..charge bush with hiding osama binladen’s murder,by sheik omar,from the american people……”
Seraphic, i’m glad some has come out again with osama bin laden’s death by shiek omar. when i viewed bhutto’s interview with david frost (taped nov 2nd 2007 - pakistan website [english version] and youtube.com) i couldn’t believe my ears and wonder why this wasn’t brought out but, of course, washington dc would want to hesitate or block any news of his murder since he was the basic reason for the war on terror according to bush…without him in the picture, that specific reason for war would be (in his eyes) diminished. has the american gov’t ever supressed information? duh!
george ,change of plans.looks like i wont be meeting up with you in hell,after all.i just got a better offer. the temperature here is always perfect and the scenery,divine.i wont see you,again,but hope you enjoy your eternity in hades. sincerely,benazir
’she might allow U.S. military strikes inside Pakistan to eliminate al-Qaeda.’
now thats one stupid idea…When will these ‘leaders’ get it into their heads, that no country should allow foreign troops on their soil!
Bhuttos return to Pakistan was weird in the first place given her families history, unless she had a suicide wish. Continuing to stay after the first “bungled” assassination attempt and then Mush’s martial law and sacking of the Supreme Court judges also seemed a bit strange. I mean, what’s the point of being Prime Minister when the Democracy is a sham, and you are likely going to be killed if you expose it since the intelligence agencies and military are able to take out anyone they want. As a mother with 3 children, this makes no sense.
Then we come to the assassination. There is a video showing Bhutto in the car standing up through the sunroof, then the video swings to the man with a gun behind the car, with shots being fired and the video cut immediately, presumably due to the bomb going off. The video quality is remarkably 60’s like in it’s poor quality, and black and white no less. It would seem whomever was making the film, would have been filming Bhutto, so what prompted them to leave Bhutto and shoot the people behind the car at exactly the same instant she was about to be shot, and so miss showing Bhutto getting shot (if she was shot). They captured the gun on film which was then used as proof she was shot, even if she was not shot. That would mean they might have known in advance a man would have a gun or it was simply a “coincidence”.
Then it is interesting that despite the bomb going off, the car was able to speed off to a hospital not being seriously damaged, unfortunately the video has already been cut (nice timing) even though the cameraman seemed to be at some distance. No resumption of filming the aftermath of the bombing. Perhaps , another “coincidence”, the camerman ran out of batteries or film, maybe both.
No images available of her being brought into the hospital. No images of her in the hospital. No images of her after being shot at or dead. Only a closed casket as she was removed from the hospital. No images of the cars interior showing blood stains, or even the car itself showing shrapnel marks. No interviews with the passengers in the car with Bhutto (at least I have not seen any).
Then the conflicting reports of her death. First by bullets. One doctor was quoted as saying, anonymously, that there were 2 bullets that hit, one going into her neck and then exiting her head, another into her back near the shoulder and exiting through the chest. He said they gave open heart massage. Then AFTER she left the mortuary it was shrapnel from a bomb that killed her. Then AFTER she was buried, it was neither, she fractured her skull falling into the car after being shot at. Maybe the story was changed because they realized there was no blood in the car or her clothes, oops.
So what happened? Beats me.
Did Bhutto agree to be a stooge under duress, perhaps threats to harm her or her family (remember, these are the days of rendition, anyone, anywhere can be disappeared). Did she agree to pretend to be “assassinated” as a plot to bring the War on Terror to Pakistan and essentially end Democracy so as to provide security to their critters?. If she was assassinated, why not do it right and just blow her to smithereens and get it on tape so there is no doubt.
The coverage on CNN Int’l seems over the top relative to Bhuttos importance outside of Pakistan, so I suspect it is an important event our controllers want to play up and revive the gasping GWOT in the US and elsewhere.
Anyways, things may actually be as they are being portrayed , but in these days of Truth=Lie, Good= Evil, War=Peace, Enemy-Friend, you have to wonder.
What nonsense. The Bhuttos were a bunch of utterly corrupt landlords who ruthlessly exploited the working agricultural class. To try and beatify this dreadful woman is beyond belief.
Golddogs, Bush, Cheney, their campaign contributors, the GOP and Musharraf have all thrived off of the so-called ‘War on Terror’ — why would they ever want it to stop?
Hermes7, you present some interesting points but, overall, Musharraf has done Washington’s bidding, while playing footsie with China. (Let’s not forget that China is currently financing Bush’s war machine with $2 billion a day in loans and that their products fill our store shelves.) Whatever the MSM may say, BushCo is very comfortable with a tyrant like Pervez as president in Pakistan. Don’t kid yourself otherwise. Bhutto, while she would undoubtedly have been an ally of the US, was one of those ’socialist democrats’ who would have shared the nation’s wealth with the poor and would have been harder to ‘negotiate’ with, by Bush’s lights. Bhutto may have had a little dirt under her fingernails, as does any politician, but she was not the corrupt monster Musharraf is.
RSJ
It is estimated that Ms. Bhutto stole over TWO BILLION dollars in her two terms as the prime minister of Pakistan. This is the kind of human slime you want in office? “Who would have shared the nation’s wealth with the poor”, my ass. I suppose you think that Dick Cheney is a philanthropist as well.
“Anyone who thinks the US was behind the assassination of Mrs Bhutto is seriously ill-informed.”
Absolutely, but to clarify ‘anyone who sits as observer-only on this speeding-train and thinks they ‘know’ “who did it” is seriously self-deluded’, period.
Russki-intel (and I, for that-matter) are looking at MI-6, the CIA&other American-intel suspect either ‘terrorists’ (meaning, ‘anyone/anywhere so-harmed by wealthy-Interests/ideology that they’ve taken a stand’) OR ‘one of many black-Ops/Entities here-at-home or cooperating with some in/around the ISI’, the Mossad wonders about China/Iran, MI-5 wonders about the Mossad or the Taliban (or MI-6), and the ISI is really-’confused’, in-contrast to others of-their-ilk and Musharref.
Such is the ‘tangled web’ we’ve ALL woven…trust-me, no one here ‘knows’ squat-yet, including whether-or-not she just bumped-head when ducking during her own-stunt…(nor does Kennedy/Specter, who she was to shortly meet-with about ’something’).
Al Kaida said they were not involved in the killing of Bhutto. I would believe them, as they are usually really keen on taking responsibility for terror acts. This will not stop Bush from repeating his mantra (one of the few his IQ allows him to remember - which university did he graduate from?).
The murder of Benazir Bhutto is a terrible deed: it is, of course, morally wrong and criminal.
Bhutto had to exile herself for corrupt behavior in the management of the affairs of the State. That is also true and must not be lost sight of.
Also true is that she did state that, if elected, she would invite the U.S. military to conduct operations inside Pakistan. Anyone who knows the history of the U.S. military over the last sixty years and of its practice of establishing bases wherever it sets foot, knows that if the U.S. military forces had been invited to conduct operations in Pakistan, such would have resulted in the establishment of permanent garrisons on Pakistan’s soil. It is clear that by stating such intent, Benazir Bhutto made many enemies: one does not have to be a member of Al Qaeda to believe that the empire of U.S. military bases that is strangling the planet is inimical to the health, peace, and survival of life on Earth.
Medea Benjamin, by giving her support to Bhutto as unconditionally as she does in the above article, is by implication giving her support to that intention of Bhutto’s. Odd, to say the least.
Although Musharraf is without doubt a tyrant, and his regime one that I would not wish on any nation, it is also true that Medea Benjamin is no less meddling in the affairs of another country by the various calls contained in her article, than the Bush administration. This, to me, is plainly unacceptable.
Basically, a very mixed bag, this article.
Tariq Ali has the better take on Buttos(s)
Read here
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v29/n24/ali_01_.html
In memory of one U.S. whore pawn
Let us cut off aid to another U.S. whore pawn
and we’ll cut 2 pawns, and they’ll cut 2 pawns….and so on and so on and so on
Only their hairdresser knows for sure
Thank you hermes, for points I haven’t seen made yet.
I thought that Musharaf was a US puppet, but you’re right, he only kisses feet, he doesn’t actually lick boots.
Thank you citizen1 for the reference to the Tariq Ali article on Benazir Bhutto!
CommonDreamers should definitely read it.
Benazir Bhutto, “the fugitive politician facing corruption charges in several countries,” was even more corrupt and supportive of, if not incestuously wed to, the worst U.S. interests (she countenanced the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq) than I knew when I wrote my post yesterday in this thread.
How does Medea Benjamin reconcile her above celebration of Benazir Bhutto and her struggle against Bush’s imperialist wars?
There is a terrific list of links here (below) embracing a swathe of analysis and views. There are so many scenarios and it would be easy to make a cogent argument for each in this murder.
However the US has being saying for months covertly and weeks overtly that they would not stand by and see a nuclear powered Pakistan destabilised (read ‘we’ll get in there next door to Afghanistan and I-ran any way we can’.) Well it is sure destabilised now and they have never been squeamish in sacrificing their friends for their ends.
Only the night before Bhutto’s killing it was brazenly announced that more US special forces were being sent in That said, she was so joined at the hip with the US and UK there are huge factions to whom she would have been totally unacceptable. And many more complexities. I too am amazed at Ms Benjamin interfering in the politics of other nations. And being so naiive about the Bhuttos. Fair play to the Pakistan government - however imperfect - that they let her and her colleague in to demonstrate. Imagine if a bunch of Pakistanis, Iraqis, Afghans, Syrians, Lebanese, I-ranians, etc tried to get in to the US to demonstrate against the ruling party in solidarity with another one. Phew - never see the light of day again.
See: http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=4216&blz=1
Hermes — ” If she had moved into power she would have sold out Pakistan to Anglo-American interests in no time”
What a laugh. This statement assumes that Pakistan has not already been sold to American interests. Where have you been these last 60 years !!
Doesn’t it strike anyone else as a little strange, that all of the leaders and top candidates for office of the modern day middle east countries are western educated and speak very fluent english, as did Bhutto. This really does make it a lot easier for the corporate MSM to control the message. After all, the average American viewer won’t watch a translated interview.
What’s with this ridiculously fawning admiration of that “Hermes scarfed Kleptocrat”? The Bhuttos do not represent Democracy. For a supposed progressive to buy into the thievery of the Bhuttos makes every other cause you espouse suspect. Now here for some words from people much closer to the situation:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/10/21/do2102.xml
A few more words from her niece:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-bhutto14nov14,0,2482408.story?coll=la-opinion-center
Excellent point, jassim:
Suppose that vocal Pakistanis, Iraqis, Afghans, Syrians, Lebanese, Iranians came over to the States to demonstrate against the Republicans, as Medea Benjamin did when she went to Pakistan to protest Musharraf and Co.
Even if we assume that they’d be let into country in the first place — a huge assumption to make! — they’d all be arrested and taken to the Guantanamo concentration camp as soon as they’d demonstrate in public.
“For a supposed progressive to buy into the thievery of the Bhuttos makes every other cause you espouse suspect”
For a supposed progressive to suggest to all Pakistanis that somehow we progressives in the West know whats best for you is whats commonly known as ‘elitist/academic hubris’. For true democracy to exist people need to choose whoever they wish. If Lebanese choose Nasrallah so be it. If people in Gaza choose Hamas so be it. If Pakistanis choose Bhutto or Osama so be it. Ofcourse I would love to see U.S. reaction if Osama wins the popular vote !!!