[gunsnroses]

My heart bleeds for pakistan, for what state it is in right now. I feel bad bcos it could have been another good nation, but alas hardliners/army/isi have *%&^ed the whole country.
What great artists have come out of this country, Iqbaal must be turning in his grave..

[Sleuth]

The basic point is, especially since it is Pakistan, they will never really figure out "who done it"; they'll just blame whoever is convenient and use that to seize some more power. It won't be about truth and justice, it will be about revenge and power.
Although MS@HK's Professor Plum in the study theory sounds good to me. He does resemble a harmless journalist, so he'd have access. But Miss Scarlet, cross-dresed, might fit in easier than the Professor.

[Boris]

Its appearing on the wires that Qaeda are putting out reports of responsibility.
IF SO - then maybe some of our Pakistan members may be able to say if it will finally turn the country against these guys. After all Bhutto was popular - or being a woman - was she?

[Katanga]

she was NOT as popular as the western media made her out to be. She was being made popular by the west because she had a western education and preached democracy but in her two stints as PM, she fleeced the country. Asif Zirdari (her husband) has openly admitted to being the ultimate beneficairy of a number of trusts held in the IoM which own a number of premier properties in the UK.

Whilst she was for democracy, people need to realise that the PPP was essentially a dictatorship which never had a mechanism for selecting a leader. It was formed by her father and the reins passed onto her. There is no immediate successor because the way the party was run was very undemocratic.

Al Qaeda or not, this is the harsh reality of Pakistan and the complete fiasco the Americans have created. Here is a staggerting statistic: Pakistan has received over USD17bn in US aid whilst it has been a dictatorship but only about USD3.3bn when it has been a democracy.

People need to realise that Pakistan is a compex society where triablism is rife and yes, she was popular but in the Sindh province. There are a whole raft of other people in the country who didn't have think much of her.

It is indeed a sad day for Pakistan but do not confuse this as the killing of THE saviour of the country.

Only the Pakistanis can come to a self realisation that their's is a nation in turmoil and they need to bring in the change from within and only the people can decide for a real democracy Vs dictatorship Vs a feudal society.

The irony is that India and Pakistan both got independence at the same time and yet here we have Pakistan which has moved from one disaterous dictatorship to another with constant turmoil even though it is a Islamic state and yet you have India which has always been a democracy and secular at that.

Sad but time for a change to come from within and it would be best served for the counry and the World as a whole if the yanks stopped interfering in affairs they don't really understand.

[Boris]

Katanga
I loved the thoughtfulness and " quiet but proud " tone of your post.

I only have one serious question to your last paragraph.
I am sure we are well aware of the disastrous foreign policy by the US. However in the case of Pakistan the only real problem appears to be in the tribal areas that nurture the militant extremist elements that feed on the extreme poverty. Everyone can see that contented and employed people have no need for revolution and militancy. All it does is feed the disenfranchised in the cities and not just the country areas.

How and who can , step up and unify to feed the people and make these militant destructive deeds be killed off. Not by bombs and bullets but kindness for the hearts and minds of the people.
It will not take a kind human being to do it but a strong hand with a clean heart. Who is this person?

[Katanga]

Boris

Even more thoughtfulness from yourself sir !

How about you being that person or is your post a diguise to support the US policy in Pakistan and for that matter the rest of the Islamic states it seems to know what to do with ?

On a serious note, no idea who that person is but people are being naive if they think that person was going to be BB.

[Boris]

Now it appears to be more Qaeda related than previous. Not shot but tragically maybe a victim of being in a secure vehicle and deciding it was OK to use the sunroof ( a la pope mobile ).
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/as...day/index.html

The article also firms up on the Qaeda franchise link.

For Katanga
If US policy put bread on the table and gold in the pockets of the western tribes then I would be all for it. Unfortunately that simple remedy. tried and trusted as " hearts and minds " , is too sophisticated for the likes of the present White House. So no, is my answer.

Laterally thinking, if O B L was more of a democrat than a radical I would say he was top dog for the job. For certain and in the worst possible way, he has united as diverse a group as ever Pakistan is now or was before. Forming them into an alliance unbeatable by traditional means. Genkis Khan, Attilla the Hun, Julius Ceasar and their like should be looked at as spiritual models perhaps, whilst ignoring the bloodshed factor in olden times !!

[Katanga]

This reeks of intirgue.......

First they think she is ok, then it is a bullet, then sharpnel and now finally it her supposedly banging her head against the lever of the sun-roof !!!!

Next thing will be she will be sited in the caves of Tora Bora with Mr Bin Laden !

Surely, the doctors could be a bit more precise and if BB's husband Asif Zirdari had any integrity, he would have allowed a post-mortem to have been carried out. Apparenently, he refused !!!!!! This shows that the family is also trying to capitalise from the sad tragedy.

Also, there seems to have been radio silience from Mr Musharaff (or is it "General" these days ?)

[kashieca]

show me a video that she is really dead...
and others insinuate that it is a fake death...
Wow, ok, so what would the purpose be to FAKE her death...when her intentions were to become PM again?
Maybe because she's a woman? They need a male representative to become PM and achieve her goals? I'm not sure how women are treated or viewed in Pakistan.
or...maybe the reasons are
To protect her.
To garner support for her cause.
I hope she is still alive and make an appearance right before elections.