How should the US respond to the murder of Benazir Bhutto?

Question

President Musharraf's goverment was repeatedly asked for assistance with security and protection but none was given.

Answer 1

Within every tragedy, there is hidden opportunity. I do not believe Musharrif had anything to do with this, but the governments of the world can use this as an opportunity to pressure him into better political behavior, maybe even the promised free elections. Pakistani people, as a whole, are smart and educated. They know from Bhutto’s last terms in office the promise of government by the people. It’s true, Bhutto wasn’t a friend to the US and we support Musharrif (the enemy of my enemy is my friend) but we would have stood by the election process and reached out to Ms. Bhutto were she to have come to power.

When a people want to control their own destiny, as in Pakistan, there is so much to learn, so much to do, so much to know. Here in the US, we automatically place Secret Service personnel with anyone that is running for President. They decide the right amount of protection for the candidate they are tasked to protect. It’s interesting that a Republican Administration would do this for a Democratic adversary without even giving it a second thought, and visa-versa. Musharrif is so incredibly far from understanding the importance of protecting opposition leaders like Ms. Bhutto. He will never win the hearts and minds of the people of Pakistan until he understands that Pakistan wants to rule itself!

I have a problem with those of the “Redbull” ilk. While I don’t think the US or the other nations of the world should interfere in the internal politics of sovereign nations, occasionally it becomes necessary. It is a well documented fact that some humans, when they reach a position of complete and total power, wield it with cold and heartless brutality. Millions can be murdered for no more reason than the color of their skin or their religious persuasion. So Redbull, are you suggesting we only stay out of Pakistan, or should we stand by and watch attrocities around the world because it’s “none of our business?”

While we’re on the subject Redbull, I suppose that the civilized world should just sit back and watch while unstable and/or hostile governments busy themselves making nuclear weapons and delivery systems to send them? I’m not suggesting that Pakistan is hostile, just that the people of the world ARE minding their own business when they address unsettling issues coming from a country with 300 nukes that is being run by a military dictator, and that dictator’s only real opposition has just been murdered.

Speaking of murder, who stood to gain from the assassination of Ms. Bhutto? It’s not surprising that speculation would arise as to who was responsible. I doubt the US or any other civilized nation would gain by an unstable Pakistan. I don’t even see it as the work of Musharraf. It’s not been his style.

What organization in the world profits from government instability, enjoys causing opposing factions to kill each other, and uses suicide bombers as their primary tactic? Did you say al Qaeda? What a coincidence, they’re already in Pakistan, and yes, bin Laden is that smart.

Answer 2

Opposing the current regime openly by organizing public rallies and speaking out like she did got her assassinated. This is one example of countries where freedom of speech and human rights are severely repressed.

The entire world should respond to this killing. (countries as well as private people) should protest to the UN. We all know that Musharraf (current president) is corrupted and a murderer and yet the Bush Administration has befriend this rotten president-murderer in an effort to find bin Ladden and Al Qaida. This is what Bush made us believed. As results of kissing Pakistan's president butt, bin Ladden has never been caught and he is still alive and well, living an open life in the hills of Pakistan and protected by Musharraf. We should ask Bush and Cheney personally what they will do about the assassination of Benazir Buttho. Like her father, Benazir was speaking on behalf of a repressed population and was trying to restore the lost democracy she implemented while she was President of Pakistan. Musharraf brought her to her knees by accusing her of being a corrupted President. She lived in exile for several years. Upon her return in Pakistan, she didn't stop speaking for democracy.

There will be an election in January and Benazir was the most serious contentant to the Presidency.

Musharraf had everything to lose with Benazir back in the picture. She was gaining a lot of momentum and support. The only way of suppressing all opposition was to stop her before the election day. Musharraf has no opposition now!!

I believe the current Bush Administration has a lot to do with this assassination.

Answer 3

The U.S. must most certainly be involved, diplomatically, one-to-one as well as with other countries through the U.N.
If the current Pakistani government survives, the U.S. will have to support it. I think that country is now on a path of civil war and the current leader, Nawaz Sharif doesn't appear to be strong enough to stop it. Many Pakistani's believe Sharif was involved. The killing has already begun.

Answer 4

Perhaps we should reconsider the 300 million per year that we send to them. There is already controversy about the 5 billion we sent to help with their military.

Americans should be outraged that we send aid at all. You can't buy democracy in the middle east or bully them into it with a war. A people that wants democracy must rise up and fight for it themselves.

Our dollar is in trouble. Our economy is teetering on recession. We're all losing value on our homes. We can't seem to find a solution to immigration, health care or our declining education system.

We should let the middle east work it's own problems out.

Wake up America.

Answer 5

Pakistan has nuclear weapons so it is very important to us that it has a stable government. It is our business, we inhabit the same planet! Wasn't Mushariff on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart a year ago, having tea? He had a new book out at the time. Was he making an appeal for help? I will have to get a copy of Mushariff's book. This is so chilling.

Answer 6

Why are they blaming the US for this? It's their country, why don't they root out all of their own freakin' religious and sexists bias stupidity. Another bunch of morons using religion as an excuse to murder someone.

Stop expecting others to clean up your own mess for you.

Answer 7

We should condemn this awful murder in public, and continue to apply pressure behind the scenes. Nothing else is necessary or feasible.

Answer 8

Its nothing to do with the US - or any other country. Its an internal Pakistani matter. Pakistanis will have to crawl out of the stone age eventually and become adult and civilised as a Nation State

Answer 9

the united states would say nothing because Bush ordered the murder

Answer 10

Probably by invading North Korea.