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"Peace is impossible under Musharraf," says Nawaz Sharif.
"Assassination Poses Dilemma for US," by Matthew Lee for AP:
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration scrambled Thursday with the implications of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination after investing significant diplomatic capital in promoting reconciliation between her and President Pervez Musharraf.President Bush, speaking briefly to reporters at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, demanded that those responsible for the killing be brought to justice and the White House said there needs to be a thorough investigation.
``The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy,'' said Bush, who looked tense and took no questions. He expressed his deepest condolences to Bhutto's family and to the families of others slain in the attack and to all the people of Pakistan.
His appearance came as U.S. officials here struggled to cope with the immense policy implications of the assassination on relations with a nuclear-armed country that has received billions of dollars in American financial assistance and is an ally in the war on terrorism. White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said Bush planned to speak with Musharraf as soon as it could be arranged Thursday.
[...]
White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said it was too soon to say who was responsible.
``I'm aware that al-Qaida may have claimed responsibility,'' Stanzel said. ``I'm aware of news reports of that. But I don't have any specifics for you on that.'' He did say, ``Whoever perpetrated this attack is an enemy of democracy and has used a tactic that al-Qaida is very familiar with, and that is suicide bombing and the taking of innocent life to try to disrupt the democratic process.''
[...]
In his comments in Crawford, Bush said, ``Mrs. Bhutto served her nation twice as prime minister and she knew that her return to Pakistan earlier this year put her life at risk, yet she refused to allow assassins to dictate the course of her country.''
``We stand with the people of Pakistan in their struggle against the forces of terror and extremism. We urge them to honor Benazir Bhutto's memory by continuing with the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life,'' he said....
That democratic process is on the ropes: "Pakistan's Sharif Says His Party Will Boycott Ballot," by Khalid Qayum for Bloomberg:
Dec. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Pakistan's former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said his party will boycott national elections next month after Benazir Bhutto was killed today, and he called on President Pervez Musharraf to quit as the nation's leader.``We have decided to boycott elections in honor of Ms. Bhutto,'' Sharif told reporters in Islamabad this evening. ``Under the present circumstances and under Musharraf, neither is campaigning possible nor is a free election.''
[...]
Sharif called for a nationwide strike tomorrow to protest against Bhutto's killing.
``Peace is impossible under Musharraf,'' he said. ``Pakistan's unity is impossible under Musharraf. He is the root cause of all problems.''
Posted by Robert at December 27, 2007 1:51 PM
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No, Mushie isn't the root of Pak's problems, Islam is. Just compare and contrast with India.
Bush et al. better think twice about having the Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade escort him anywhere when he visits Israel, or he could join Benazir.
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at December 27, 2007 2:07 PM
Give it up already Bush. Just quit it with the whole Islamic Democracy bit. The whole routine is beyond stupid now. Ever play chess Bush? When your offensive plan fails turn it into a feint and and form a new plan. Even smart people make bad strategy, only stupid people fail to adjust and react.
Posted by: ethoman at December 27, 2007 2:10 PM
``The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy,'' said Bush
cowardly act: yes
murderous: true enough
extremists: not really, just muslims
undermine Pakistan's democracy: That's just delusional
at December 27, 2007 2:11 PM
``The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy,'' said Bush
cowardly act: yes
murderous: true enough
extremists: not really, just muslims
undermine Pakistan's democracy: That's just delusional
at December 27, 2007 2:14 PM
From the Daily Mail:
Aides said the government had refused to give her security equipment and protection officers.Musharraf has to take his share of the blame for this absolutely diabolical assassination.
Benazir Bhutto was a great woman, who wanted to reform Pakistan. Obviously she had opposition from the government, who were supposed to work together with her and support her. They did neither, but the US has given Pakistan's Musharraf government the funds which helped empower Mrs. Bhutto's killers.
It's a sad day for democracy, and indeed, the world.
May this great lady rest in everlasting peace.
Posted by: Jerusalem Posts at December 27, 2007 2:15 PM
News flash for Bushie. Islamic Democracy = Sharia. Stop being so dumb all the time Bush it isn't cute anymore.
Posted by: ethoman at December 27, 2007 2:16 PM
``The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy,'' said Bush
cowardly act: yes
murderous: true enough
extremists: not really, just muslims
undermine Pakistan's democracy: That's just delusional
at December 27, 2007 2:17 PM
Awful news. But I'm not surprised.
Posted by: seville844 at December 27, 2007 2:18 PM
She was walking among huge crowds of islam's zombies. What took so long?
/sorry if that sounds heartless, but you know it's the truth.
at December 27, 2007 2:27 PM
Her death was caused by a "zionist conspiracy"
I am surprised we haven't heard that one yet...
Posted by: Sir Oinks Alot at December 27, 2007 2:28 PM
I'm baffled by Sharif's response. Musharaf obviously didn't sanction this (even though Moslems in his own security service may have done it.)
I understand they regard Musharaf as an enemy of democracy, but I'm astonished they are blaming him for it -- not merely because he's not guilty, but because the alternative to Musharaf is not a Walter-Mondale-style liberal democracy, it is a maniacal Moslem dictatorship.
Does Sharif think that chaos in a country that is mostly a primitive Moslem tribal society is likely to result in Jeffersonian democracy?
He certainly can't be that stupid -- so what is his game?
Posted by: Charles Martel at December 27, 2007 2:40 PM
President Bush, wake up, smell the coffee and grow a spine for a change. The whole root of the violence is to be found in I-S-L-A-M. What we have seen is the murderous insane face of a violent cult that wears the robes of religion.
Posted by: bigcatgirl13106 at December 27, 2007 3:07 PM
President Bush is selling a heavily madeup pig. He's been pitching it for seven years. The problem is that those of us without an ivy-league education know it's still just a pig with lipstick.
When does this President retire to his Crawford weedpatch?
Posted by: Havoc at December 27, 2007 3:08 PM
What Bushes speech should have been
Bush:
"Fellow countrymen I must say now that I have been misleading you. Islam is not a peacefull faith. It is a faith designed around Arabic imperialism, and the subjugation of all non-Muslims. Yes this includes you and I. From now on all American foreign policy towards Islamic nations will be backed by knowledge of Hadith, Sura, and Quranic texts. We understand now that we are Dar 'Al Harb, which translates to the land of war. At best non-Islamic states can only live in a fragile coexistance on the same planet with Islam. Today I am asking the Supreme Court to reclassify Islam as a cult, which is bent on overthrowing our government. The scope of this conflict has been clouded by words like al Queda, moderate Islam, radical Islam, War on Terror ... The world has been at war since Islam became a political force, and will continue to be at war. From now on all U.S. foriegn policy will be based upon these facts. There will be dark days ahead of us now that I have spoken to you in plain English about this threat, but this is the first step in defeating the spread of this cancer, which threatens our very existance. Thankyou very much for your time ... you may direct your questions to my new Secratary of State Robert Spencer.
Posted by: ethoman at December 27, 2007 3:12 PM
To paraphrase Bush of the Past:
"We will make no distinction between the enemy and those who harbor the enemy."
Pakistan has been harboring "the enemy" and manufacturing warehouses full of of Fascist Islamist ideology. If Bush had any guts he would have done what he said he was going to do long ago i.e. go after the Taliban rats and the vermin like Bin Ladin in the Pakistan hills. Keep the fire burning until the rats surrender or their or are burnt to death along with all the Islamist tribes that harbor them. Musharraf had plenty of time but he was to preoccupied with placating the rats in order to secure his throne.
Posted by: Briars at December 27, 2007 3:51 PM
Democracy? Half are already with bin Ladin. If he is democratically elected, will George go along with it? There is no Democracy in Islam.
Posted by: Briars at December 27, 2007 3:53 PM
The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy,'' said Bush, who looked tense and took no questions.
Well he got that right didn't he. Most of us have known that who know a little bit about the land of the Pure for several years now. Not that by any stretch of the imagination could Pakistan be called a democracy, that bit you got wrong Mr. Bush. The question I want to know is what the hell you are going to do to stop these murderous extremists from taking over? The other question I want to know is what you are going to do to stop them getting control of the bombs if they do take over?
Posted by: Holger Dansker at December 27, 2007 4:20 PM
"The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy," said Bush
Bah-hah-hah-hah-hah!!
Oh, please.
Posted by: Foehammer at December 27, 2007 5:52 PM
'cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy'said Bush.
Excuse me! Since when has Pakistan ever been a Democracy? 'Murderous extremists'-hell that's just
your average Muslim ,George-haven't you learnt
ANYTHING from Afghanistan & Iraq? NO, I thought not...It was just one of the longer words you can
remember. Go back to sleep. Your head honcho Cheyney will have thought up a cunning plan-bribe
Osama with billions of dollars if he'll promise
to practise DEMOCRACY, he can have Musharraf's old
job & Sharia Law as long he poses with Bush in
a Photo Shoot at the White House.
at December 27, 2007 6:54 PM
Briars, Foehammer, Morgane, inter alios,
Yeah, this putrid talk of "Pakistani Democracy" disgusts me, too. 47% of the Pakistani populace approve of Bin Ladin? Sounds like a commanding plurality to me. Let them descend into Paleolithic politics, for all I care--U.S. foreign policy should be conducted for the benefit of U.S. taxpayers like most of you above, not extra-national interests.
Posted by: John C at December 27, 2007 9:15 PM
(I like your revised speech, Ethoman!)
Bush: "Bring them to justice..." Un-be-lieveable.
I wish W would take an evening stroll through the San Francisco Zoo.
at December 28, 2007 6:25 AM
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