Reflections On The Assassination

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto (54) was killed near a Rawalpindi park on Thursday evening, shot in the head and neck following a speech at an election rally. The photo below was taken seconds before the assassination. Though she rode in a bulletproof vehicle, she stuck her head and torso up through the sunroof to wave at people. Taking advantage, seconds later, shots occurred. Following the shots, the killer activated explosives which blew himself up adjacent her car, and this event killed another 20 people and injured many more.

All of Pakistan is now in chaos. It's al Qaeda 1, Western Nations 0 today.

Over 5 people have died in riots from Islamabad to Lahore and many other cities. Once her death was announced, people began rioting at the hospital to which she had been taken. Rioters turned their anger on police.

This -- in a nation that has a declared 90 nuclear warheads in possession. Perhaps more, undeclared. Some Pakistani scientists had been kicked out of their nuclear program due to Islamist leanings. Some consolation.

Bhutto was the target of a prior assassination attempt this past October, where 140+ people were killed during her "homecoming" parade.

There are, as one might guess, fingers pointing everywhere. The politics and possibilities are, unfortunately, almost endless. And, as you can see from the map, this entire territory is under heavy pressure from every direction.

And at the center is Militant Islam and al Qaeda.

From the CIA World Factbook and The Economist's 2008 Pocket World In Figures:

Pakistan is the 35th largest country in the world, median age 20.3 years, population, 164 million people, religion consists of: Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3%.

It is estimated that of the population, 5% is completely aligned with Islamist leanings -- radical Islam. That is a very conservative figure. The bulk of the country is anti-American. Publicly.

Musharraf has been playing both ends against the middle for too long. He likes the American aid. He holds Western nations and America at arms length publicly because he doesn't want to appear too "in bed" with the West, and Islamists at arms length publicly because he recognizes their innate insanity but knows they are poised and waiting. Fundamentalist Taliban types are just waiting for Musharraf to go down. And Musharraf knows that every level of his government, from the police, the military to his intelligence venues are rife and infiltrated with Taliban. Pervez Musharraf himself has survived 9 assassination attempts since 1999.

Politically, in the U.S., the downside for the Demorats: their mantras ranging from "the war doesn't matter" to "there is no war" has now taken a second seat to reality. Obama said he'd invade Pakistan; Huckabee said he'd invade Pakistan. Both are completely out of touch on this issue. And it is entirely possible that some candidates on the Demorat side won't even mention Pakistan and foreign affairs because, quite truly, their advocates and sycophants are actually that ignorant. They simply don't care. Penguins, polar bears, trees and sodomist's "rights" trump all.

Pakistan was created to be nothing more than the "anti-India," plain and simple. Ruled by Islam. And the Clinton Administration essentially gave Pakistan the nuclear bomb. I already wrote about Pakistan here. And, of course, about the threat that Islam poses to Western Civilization.

And with this move today, we have a de facto kicked-up relationship with India. Period. Whether we like it or not.

Clue to U.S. politicians: this is a clarion call for the ramping up of our U.S. missile defense. We once had a 500 ship blue water navy. We now have a 280 ship navy. Will our potential Presidential candidates spend that needed 4% of our budget to try to re-capitalize our military? China, North Korea, Iran and many other nations are purchasing the most silent of diesel-electric submarines -- quieter than nuke subs. The geopolitical situation can not only change by the day, but by the minute. We've already been surprised by Chinese subs.

Make no mistake: Bhutto was no Mother Teresa; she sacked her country's coffers and then sacked them again. But at this point that's almost immaterial. Bhutto was a representation: in the eyes of Islamists, she was a woman. How horrible. Who wasn't wrapped up in a full beekeepers cocoon. Who wore makeup. Who carried Gucci handbags. Who took second place to no man. Who had opinions and seemed to embrace democratic ideals. In power, she was subservient to no men.

BZ Predicts:
1. Musharraf has about two days to, at most, a week to embrace Democracy and the West. Or even NATO. Absent that, his chances of staying in power are two-fold: slim and none.

2. al Qaeda wants nothing but chaos; they thrive amidst chaos;

3. To achieve that end, expect assassination attempts on not only Musharraf again, but on Nawaz Sharif, Bhutto's political rival (and much more sympathetic to al Qaeda and the Taliban), as well.

Trust me on this, people: Iran is not the central issue right now.

BZ