Controversy and drama surround the killing of Benazir Bhutto, and the media, in the Alex Jones method of modern reporting, seem happy to not let facts get in the way of a good story.
Several liberal American politicians blamed Bush for "not doing enough" to protect Bhutto, despite the fact that the CIA was actively providing her security detail with threat information, to the extent it risked exposing intelligence sources on the ground. Joe "the Plagiarist" Biden went so far as to suggest Bush should be investigated for not protecting Bhutto... making him the second Democrat running for President to suggest the US should have troops in Pakistan, despite the fact they are an ally.
Benazir Bhutto was PM of Pakistan before being removed in a coup because of corruption and fled into "self-imposed exile" (ran from the country to escape prosecution) lest she face the same fate as her father, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, a former President and PM of Pakistan who is still to today considered the most corrupt leader of that country, who was executed for his crimes.
Upon returning to Pakistan Benazir Bhutto regained control of the political party established by her late father, the Pakistan People's Party, it is now being headed by Bhutto's husband who hopes that his wife's fanatical cult celebrity and the fact he is a widower allow people to forget he too was deeply involved in corruption.
Before returning Bhutto was warned by US State Dept and intelligence communities and Musharraf that her security is in jeopardy and will be difficult to ensure. During the ride from the airport to her home there were two attempts on her life and she was then placed under house arrest by Musharraf for her own protection. The remnants of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and their sympathizers were doing a good job chipping away at Musharraf's reputation and political clout and they didn't need Bhutto to upset their plans to take over the country.
On Thursday, December 27, Benazir Bhutto opted for another ill-advised public appearance.
The appearance took place in a heavily secured area, entrants had to pass through metal detectors and their were multiple snipers ringing the area. The assassination occurred when her motorcade was leaving the park. Her private security detail has chosen to allow her to open the roof of her car, without the bullet and shrapnel resistant guard fitted for it (a la the Popemobile), and took her through the crowd gathered outside the secured park.
There is a video of a sniper, and a report of an explosion. At first the government reported that she was killed by a VBIED placed near the side of the road, news reports at first said she was shot by a gunman in the crowd, and Bhutto's husband said she was killed by a military sniper on a rooftop... meaning the military. After her cursory examination at the hospital where she was pronounced dead the team of doctors were not able to identify the actual cause of death without an autopsy... and the family did not consent to one, and the government didn't order one... so the actual cause will remain a mystery unless they exhume her remains for an autopsy. But the official cause of death was listed as severe head trauma, military officials say it happened when the explosion took place and she was knocked down striking her head on the handle that controls the retractable roof. After viewing video of the event the government said there was a gunman and a suicide bomber, but Bhutto had not been shot and x-rays demonstrate no debris (read bullet or shrapnel) caused the head wound.
While her death is tragic, it is not the end of democracy in Pakistan. As a matter of fact, had she won the Presidency (an almost certainty) it could have led to some short term stability. But her roots in corruption are so deep, unless she stayed clean and above reproach there remained the probability that hardliners or terrorist sympathizers could gain a foothold over time.
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