Assassination attempt on Benazir Bhutto

[stannis]

Bad news from Pakistan.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/wo...kistan.html?hp

Luckily she survived but according to the BBC about 80 people were killed. Can she help her country overcome this extremist terrorism?

[Catalpa]

Bad news from Pakistan.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/wo...kistan.html?hp

Luckily she survived but according to the BBC about 80 people were killed. Can she help her country overcome this extremist terrorism?

I had a Horrible feeling something like this was going to happen...

Just begining to relax when this broke.

But what else could she do - to back down in the face of threats like this only makes things worse again.

[stannis]

I agree. She's an inspiring woman (despite the allegations of corruption that cloud her) and I can imagine why many Pakistanis are happy about her return.

[toxic avenger]

Is it right to prop up a military dictatorship against possible takeover by Islamist extremists? Is it right to enforce a perceived lesser evil to prevent a perceived greater one? Bhutto was accused by Imran Khan on Newsnight of doing a deal with the devil, is this fair? If democracy were to lead directly to oppressive theocracy should democracy be subverted to prevent that? I sincerely don't know the answer, what does anyone think?

[DaveM]

Is it right to prop up a military dictatorship against possible takeover by Islamist extremists? Is it right to enforce a perceived lesser evil to prevent a perceived greater one? Bhutto was accused by Imran Khan on Newsnight of doing a deal with the devil, is this fair? If democracy were to lead directly to oppressive theocracy should democracy be subverted to prevent that? I sincerely don't know the answer, what does anyone think?

You've summed the dilemna up very well in your question and the question itself shows why the black and white portrayal put out by the extreme sides of the debate of many international conflicts are never right. This is a grey area and the answer is there isn't a simple answer. On the specific question posed I would lean towards intervention to prevent an oppresive theocracy gaining power but then again, how can one be sure that the motives of the intervening power are well intentioned? The misguided crusade that is Iraq War has meant that there will always deep cynicism as to the motives for any outside intervention in the internal workings of another state.

[seabhcan]

The fact that Pakistan has nuclear weapons pushes me towards answering yes.

But the threat is exaggerated, I feel. Neither the ISI or the military would allow a theorcracy. They would go the Algeria route to prevent it.

[Destiny's Soldier]

How typical a suicide bomber would show up with enough high grade explosive to kill over 100.

Take it that this is factually incorrect and has been carried out by the intelligence arm of a Government. Pakistani ISI would be the first suspects.

As of the reports of Al CIA -da or Al Quida being responsible, when you hear that, you know it's like a preacher speaking of the existence of the Devil coming to steal your soul.

Al Quida is not an omnipresent organisation in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, or any other country. Robin Cook told us the truth of "The Database" a few days before he unexpectedly died of a heart attack.

Al Quida (the database) is a contrived entity by US intelligence to present muslims as being evil fools who don't even value their own lives.

[youngdan]

Would this be the same ISI who wired the 100 grand to Atta by any chance.

[Guinnesslad]

It's incredible how much the death toll has shot up in the past hour or so.
First bulletins said 30, now they're soaring past 100.
So sad.

[Thac0man]

I know 20,000 security personel had been deployed to deal with her return, but i did not see this coming.

I had wondered if Bhutto was going to persue a strategy of negotiation with the extremist Islamic factions, but that is surely out of the question now. From this tragedy may stem a broader political will to insure Islam is subervient to needs of Pakistani nationalism, rather than the other way around, a situtaion which may have created the imbalance Pakistan is suffering now.