Nicely done, Scott.  Merry Christmas by the way!

It seems like “symbols” mean more to this administration than being effective.  they have been ineffective domestically and disasterous internationally.

Merry Christmas to you and your lovely wife, too, Michael.  And thanks for the kind words.

Not quite. It is very much for the good that Bhutto is gone. Her victory would simply have weakened the Pakistani government and paved the way for a collapse and takeover by the Islamists. In fact, I hope that we did everything we could to facilitate her assassination. Musharraf is the only person at present who can control Pakistan. And, regardless of the public positions he takes with regard to the United States, he is strategically and practically dependent on us. He will ensure that the Pakistani nukes remain secure and that our covert operations within the country are able to continue.

@klw:

“Musharraf is the only person at present who can control Pakistan.”

No one’s disputing that.  But Condi put the U.S. eggs in the Bhutto basket, and the question now is how Musharraf will react.  If he does not crack down immediately, it means that he’s more worried about Muslim radicals than he is about his dependence upon us.

To clarify the point: Musharraf knows that Condi was throwing him to the wolves.  He has good reason to be skeptical when she comes back and tells him that Washington regards him as our only hope.

“In fact, I hope that we did everything we could to facilitate her assassination.”

Nothing like a little blood-lust for Christmas. I’m sure your sentiments will be wrapped with noble rationalizations.

“...but Condi put the U.S. eggs in the Bhutto basket, and the question now is how Musharraf will react.”

Scott, it was a dangerous ploy that sent her to her death, but bringing Bhutto back was the State Department’s attempted hedge against the Musharraf basket-breaking. A prospect which still seems likely with no Plan B in sight.

Let’s also give Bhutto credit for much of the good she did when in power. Not the least of which was her role in helping John Paul II fight back the effort within the UN to have abortion designated as a human right.

Meddling in the elections of a purportedly fragile nation while we cannot seem to muster out a reasonable slate for our own country’s election is something only an amateur would do.  With this government, we’re saddled with paid amateurs who think the manure piling up around their ears is “Freedom Fertilizer”.

It’s swell to see that we’ll be increasing our Special Forces operations and personnel in Pakistan now because this American War Machine....a machine manned by sober professionals but run by lunatic amateurs.....is doing such a fine job of dragging us all cheering to perdition.

A tragedy and an outrage.
The tragedy for Bhutto was her love for power, which caused her to come to the U.S. and make a pact with the U.S. to support its “war on terror”, and she did this in public.
The public support she received from the U.S. politicians and media was the kiss of death.
This is one more sign how the muslim world is seething with rage over what the U.S. has wrought in Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Pakistan ‘s leaders will have to distance themselves from the U.S. or face revolutionary change sooner or later, as happened in Iran against the Shah.

It would be interesting to hear Eric Margolis’ take on this assassination.  I cannot see how it will, as Mr. Richert notes, do anything other than further destabilize Pakistan.  It may now present the Islamist parties as the only alternative to Mussharaf (one such party is boycotting the elections, the other is participating but polling poorly).  This is an ominous development.

@klw:

See?  Al, a devout Muslim who has already hinted, on at least two threads on this site, at his support for violence against non-Muslims, is advising Musharraf to give in to the radicals.  That’s what we need to be concerned about.

Scott I am neither devout nor a practicing muslim. I just happen to be a fair minded and educated American who only echoed what you said above when you mentioned that Musharraf would have to distance himself from the US if he wanted to hang onto power.
I realize that I unmasked your neocon racialism in your thread “It cannot happen here”. I am gled you are further showing your lack of qualification to Blog on this site which supports enlightened conservatives like Pat Buchannan and Ron Paul.

Abandoning Musharraf in favor of Bhutto is just one of many mistakes in the history of the Wilsonian inspired foreign policy of the USofA.

Musharraf was a strong-arm military dictator of Pakistan.  And there’s something WRONG with that?!

It’s not like 99.9998% of the American population will understand the problems of their own country or the world around them...Democracy is a grand way for the communists to come to and maintain power.

America needs a strong-armed military dictator to crush the communists that control this massive empire.

St John the Apostle and Evangelist, pray for us.

Scott: I demand retraction of your lies that I have in any way hinted at support for any form of violence anywhere. I have repeatedly tried to bring forward ideas and information to propmote tolerance and justice.
Your whole thread “It cannot happen here” eulogising Enoch Powell The David Duke of the UK and advocating prejudice and violence against a small and insecure minority shows who is addicted to advocatibg violence. That would be YOU!
By a copy of this letter I am requesting the moderators of this web site to have you declared a pariah and persona non grata.
I shall pray for the salvation of your evil soul.

As soon as I heard of Benizir’s return to Pakistan I thought it presumptious.  What ever else she may represent, it seems the last thing the Pakistani wanted or needed was a Harvard educated leader.  Anyone with eyes to see could see what that bunch did to Yeltsin’s Russia, and if they looked really close they could see what they are doing to us.  A pox on the planet.

My last post on Mr Richerts’ “it cannot happen here thread was to this:
http://fiqhcouncil.org/FatwaBank/tabid/79/Default.aspx
He calls that “supporting violence”

If this website is to maintain any intellectual integrity it needs to remove Mr. Richerts Bloogging privilages.

This is the world’s largest chessboard and many empires have collapsed or ened there (Alexander the Great - Romans never even made it that far East, The Allmighty British Empire had its back broken there too, we (the US) are close to getting a couple ribs lost (at best). The next one (chessboard) in the order of importance is the Balkans (Bosnia, Kosovo, Serbia, Croatia, Nazis, Austo-Hungarian Empire, Romans, Byzantines, etc. etc.). Such is the order of the things in the world and most of us are given a role of pasive observers as these events have been recycling themselves by their own motion (world’s first bona fide perpetuum mobile).

Here’s Al in that thread where he was so moderate:

“The Holy father is right, you keep up the holocaust in Palestine, and the Barbarism in Iraq you are looking at a dark future.
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND!”

And here’s Al in the comments on Robert Spencer’s “Allah the Unbound”:

“Jack it is a testament to Islam’s love of freedom and humanity that there is one (1) christian allowed to exist in a muslim country today.
After 60 years of genocide in Palestine in which you are all complicit if the muslims were to react like you did to 9/11 there would be a lot of crosses all over the muslim world.
The fact is that christians are allowed to convert, its not a big deal as only one in a billion tends to convert unless there is a huge incentive, like the low cast hindus converted in India.
So you should shiver every night and understand why your Pope is Grovelling today. Had the letter from the muslim authorities been ignored you know what the Quran says about those who refuse to accept your sincere offer to make peace.
So show some humility you ignorant swine eating low life whose brain has been consumed by the chemicals in alcohol.”

Yes, Al, I know what the Koran says about “those who refuse to accept your sincere offer to make peace.” Since you’re claiming that you haven’t hinted at violence, why don’t you tell everyone else what it says, and then explain to us why you repudiate it?

I am urging you Scott to heed the words of the Pope and reminding you” WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND” WHAT PART OF THAT DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?
wILL YOU RETRACT YOUR FALSE ACCUSATION OR SHALL I WRITE FORMALLY TO TAKI TD TO HAVE YOU REMOVED AS A BLOGGER?

@Al:

“I . . .  only echoed what you said above when you mentioned that Musharraf would have to distance himself from the US if he wanted to hang onto power. ”

No.  I said that it was “likely” to happen, and I explained why that would be bad for the United States.  You, on the other hand, said that it “will have to” happen, and you certainly don’t seem concerned about what that might mean for the United States.

@Al:

“SHALL I WRITE FORMALLY TO TAKI TD TO HAVE YOU REMOVED AS A BLOGGER?”

Please do.  Merry Christmas to you, Al.

Scott!

I am stressing that muslims have been far more tolerant and protected their minority rights.
Where am I advocating violence.
&0;% of americans and 90 % of the rest of the world agree with my statements on Iraq and Palestine.
Pls resign your Blog now before you do further damage to this website.

@Al:

“Where am I advocating violence.”

Explain to everyone reading this “what the Quran says about those who refuse to accept your sincere offer to make peace.” And then tell us that you repudiate the Koran on this point, and tell us why you repudiate it.

Once you’ve done that, I’ll retract what I wrote.

correction 70% of americans

Scott: why were you eulogising the Uk’s David Duke and referring to muslims as “muhammadans” a slur and advovating discrimination against them?

Al, two words: medication adjustment.

<<I am stressing that muslims have been far more tolerant and protected their minority rights.>>

As compared to whom?

@Al:

Explain to everyone reading this “what the Quran says about those who refuse to accept your sincere offer to make peace.” And then tell us that you repudiate the Koran on this point, and tell us why you repudiate it.

(By the way, I’ve never referred to Muslims as “muhammadans” or Mohammedans, or any spelling there of.  Some commenters on the other thread did; I didn’t.  I won’t ask you to retract your statement, though.)

George Jonas’s column in Canada’s National Post is worth reading. Excerpt:

“Bhutto, as it turned out, lived only as long as Musharraf’s emergency measures lasted. When he lifted them under renewed American pressure, she died. Pressuring Pakistan to act out America’s fascination with democracy is minimally naïve. So is forcing Musharraf, who perches precariously at the edge of a precipice, to audition for a speaking part in a psychodrama called “elections” that Western liberals believe is therapeutically efficacious against every conceivable malady in the body politic”.

The complete column is at: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2007/12/27/george-jonas-on-the-assassination-of-benazir-bhutto-democracy-isn-t-the-best-medicine-for-pakistan.aspx

Scott: here is what the Quran says about those who refuse to accept your sincere offers to make peace and seek common ground:

Prophet Muhammad said there is no excuse for committing unjust acts: “Do not be people without minds of your own, saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well, and that if they do wrong you will do wrong to them. Instead, accustom yourselves to do good if people do good and not to do wrong (even) if they do evil.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

God mandates moderation in faith and in all aspects of life when He states in the Qur’an: “We made you to be a community of the middle way, so that (with the example of your lives) you might bear witness to the truth before all mankind.” (Qur’an, 2:143)

In another verse, God explains our duties as human beings when he says: “Let there arise from among you a band of people who invite to righteousness, and enjoin good and forbid evil.” (Qur’an, 3:104)

Islam teaches us to act in a caring manner to all of God’s creation. The Prophet Muhammad, who is described in the Qur’an as “a mercy to the worlds” said: “All creation is the family of God, and the person most beloved by God (is the one) who is kind and caring toward His family.”

In the light of the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah we clearly and strongly state:
All acts of terrorism targeting the civilians are Haram (forbidden) in Islam.
It is Haram for a Muslim to cooperate or associate with any individual or group that is involved in any act of terrorism or violence.
It is the duty of Muslims to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities to protect the lives of all civilians.
We issue this fatwa following the guidance of our scripture the Qur’an and the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad –peace be upon him. We urge all people to resolve all conflicts in just and peaceful manners. We have deep concern for the suffering and pain of millions of Muslims in different parts of the world. We deplore those who cause death and destruction to them. However, we urge Muslims to not lose their moral grounds. God’s help is with those who follow the right path.
Explain to everyone reading this “what the Quran says about those who refuse to accept your sincere offer to make peace.” And then tell us that you repudiate the Koran on this point, and tell us why you repudiate it

We pray for the defeat of extremism, terrorism and injustice. We pray for the safety and security of our country United States and its people. We pray for the safety and security of all inhabitants of this globe. We pray that interfaith harmony and cooperation prevail both in United States and every where in the world.
This was my reference to which you refer and say I advocate violence against non muslims.
Scott do you have any intellectual integrity?

@Al:

Explain to everyone reading this “what the Quran says about those who refuse to accept your sincere offer to make peace.” And then tell us that you repudiate the Koran on this point, and tell us why you repudiate it.

None of the quotations from the Koran that you just quoted are the one to which you were referring, and you and I both know that.

By the way, speaking of integrity, why did you just present several paragraphs of a fatwa from the Fiqh Council of North America inline, as if those were your own words?  That’s called plagiarism, Al.

Al is the typical Protestant, whether he be a Mohammedan or not.

Sir, no one repudiates the Koran, as there is nothing to repudiate.

The Koran is an inanimate object, it just sits there.  It takes no action
for one to repudiate.

Only in the Protestant mind do words on pages bound into a book mean
something without an outside authority to interpret it.

Mohammedan terrorists are condemned for their actions, the books destroyed
for their heresies, but not their actions.  Books don’t act, people do.

Andrew: as the 700 year history of Spain bears witness to the elightened and extremely toreant nature of Islam towards Christians and Jews. This happened in Muslim societies because the quran sees Jesus and Moses as Gods messegers, and enjoins upon muslims there duty to respect people of these faiths.
The Inquistion, and the events in Bosnia, Palestine and iraq bear witness to the tolerance shown to muslims in christian societies.
Scott Eulogizes Enoch Powell, a brownshirted fascist UK politician and advocates discrimination against muslims. He has disqualified himself from Blogging on this site and is bringing this site into disrepute. He talks and argues like a Neocon (Daniel Pipes).

Scott:
are you a follower of David Duke or are you a follower of Daniel Pipes?

Please confirm which one do you owe your loyalty to?

How long have you been undercover for them?

Al, might I remind you that being a Mohammedan is a CHOICE, and, in the mind of [Traditional] Catholics, the WRONG choice.  Thus, you do not have the “right” to be a Mohammedan.  You have the “right” to convert to the One True Faith, and the “right” to the Sacraments of the Holy Catholic Church.

Whereas others that comment here may say that “race matters”, I do not, nor is that the point of Mr Richert’s so-called “discrimination” against Mohammedans.  Mohammedans are discriminated against because they are of the WRONG faith, and have proven themselves rather violent, REGARDLESS of race.  I doubt VERY SERIOUSLY that Mr Richert would have the same negative comments concerning, say, the Maronites.

You asked for what the Quran says:
I presented the fatwa of the Fiqh council of north america.
I did not claim it was a quote from me.

Pls keep taking the pills the doctor ordered.

@Al:

I am a follower of Our Lord and King, Jesus Christ, Who “humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names: That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.”

alot of the paleos are obsessed with europe so they are latching on to european style muslim bashing, which is little more than the same american/ israeli neoconservatism they also bash. 

why would any american care if pakistan had a radical islamic state with a nuke?  do you think they are goin to bomb the US?  whatever shall be shall be

This thread is full of as much silliness as the one on the ABC news blog re this killing, despite the fact that the people here have mucho more college degrees.

The simple fact is that it is a miracle of the extent to which Pakistan IS and HAS BECOME relatively civilized that this particular political figure survived this long.  It has nothing to do with whether she was saint or sinner, who is president of either our country or Pakistan, “policy decisions” etc.  She was a Western educated “reform” candidate, female, and darling of modern Western media.  All that equals TARGET to any number of people in her country.  Only comfortable armchair thinking infected by utopianism can begin to think otherwise.  What do people really believe exists outside (1) the USA, (2) the West-- even in best circumstances?  Sorry folks, not even our worst leaders are 1/2% “responsible.” The thought for the day is INEVITABLE.  And you don’t get sent to anybody’s concept of eternal damnation for being a realist.  Go run for office in Pakistan and see what happens to you, now or in 10 years when its present leader is gone.  Wear a Bhutto pin or an anti-Bhutto pin, see what difference it makes.

God forgive them they know not what they do.
I hope both of you get well someday!

Muslims would dare not try to convert you, you don’t have a soul to convert.

@Al:

“You asked for what the Quran says:
I presented the fatwa of the Fiqh council of north america.
I did not claim it was a quote from me.”

Nor did you put it in quotation marks or identify it.  I recognized it only because I had read it before.

Since you refuse to identity the Koranic verses that you were referring to when you wrote “you know what the Quran says about those who refuse to accept your sincere offer to make peace,” I’ll identify them for our fellow readers.

Al means Koran 9:1-5.  Those who are interested can find one version of the text here: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/k/koran/koran-idx?type=DIV0&byte=282392

So, when Al says, “you know what the Quran says about those who refuse to accept your sincere offer to make peace,” he means: Give them four months to take you up on that offer, “then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”

@Al:

“Muslims would dare not try to convert you, you don’t have a soul to convert.”

But you, Al, do, and that is why, as I mentioned before, I keep you in mind in a special way when I pray for the conversion of all Muslims.

Mr Richert, “Al” has stated he is not a Mohammedan.  I suspect he’s a “good old fashioned” Protestant that has applied “sola scriptura” to the Koran and likes what he got out of it.

@Andrew Capp:

“Mr Richert, ‘Al’ has stated he is not a Mohammedan.  I suspect he’s a ‘good old fashioned’ Protestant that has applied ‘sola scriptura’ to the Koran and likes what he got out of it.”

On the comment thread on “It Can’t Happen Here,” Al wrote:

“I duispute any of you is christian just as the zionists are not jews.  So thank you we muslims won’t be converted to your heresies. God forgive them they know not what they do!”

Scott:

If you said you were a neo fascist that would be consistent with your views, if you said you were a neocon that too would be consistent with your views.
you could even convince me you are a pink jellyfish bobbing up and down on the ocean, but you are no christian, if your words are any guide to your faith.

@Al:

Reduced at ad hominem, I see.  Now that we’ve identified the verses you were referring to (9:1-5), why don’t you tell that you repudiate them, and why.

I was going off what he said earlier on this topic…

<<Scott I am neither devout nor a practicing muslim. I just happen to be a fair minded and educated American...>>

Hmm.  And why don’t I edit myself before posting.  Let’s try that again:

Reduced to ad hominem, I see.  Now that we’ve identified the verses you were referring to (9:1-5), why don’t you tell us that you repudiate them, and why.

@Andrew Capp:

I think that both statements could be correct.  Al is a Muslim, just not a practicing one, or a devout one.  So, since he wishes me to retract what I’ve written, I’ll offer this retraction: I was in error when I stated that Al is a “devout Muslim.” He’s simply a political one, like so many others in the West who advocate violence.

So Scott:

Are you a neo fascist like David Duke or are you a neocon like Daniel Pipes?

How long have you been undercover for them?

Thanks, Al.  If there was anyone reading this thread who still had doubts about whether I had accurately characterized your comments, your repeated refusal to answer the direct question about your view of verses 9:1-5 of the Koran has probably been more convincing than anything I could write.

Scott like all your lies and deceits your quote from the Quran is deceitful, it refers to a one time specific war with “pagans”, and not to christians or Jews and has no precedent for subsequent events. There are thousands of references to christians and jews prhibiting war and forced conversion. Your deceit confirms you are a neocon of the daniel pipes variety, and no (9-1-5) was not the verse I was referring to. Ihave wasted enough time on you, you have my abiding contempt.

@Al:

Actually, the word is mushrikin--"idol worshiper,” a word often used by Muslims to refer to Christians.

If 9:1-5 were not the verses you were referring to, then why did it take you so long to say so?  And, pray tell, what were the verses?  Don’t lie and say that they were the ones you quoted earlier, which have nothing to do with “those who refuse to accept your sincere offer to make peace.”

These were the verses, and, while Salafis make the argument you’ve just made (that they refer to a one-time historical event), many, many Muslims argue that it is indeed a “precedent for subsequent events"--just as you did, when you warned commenters on the other thread “you know what the Quran says about those who refuse to accept your sincere offer to make peace.”

@Al:

“Ihave wasted enough time on you, you have my abiding contempt.”

And you have my prayers.

Bhutto would be alive today if she hadn’t been a willing pawn to Condi Rice’s plan to please the democracy freaks. Whatever this Administration touches, it wrecks.

Well, I think everybody with a brain in their head saw this coming a mile away - which means everybody did, except the Bush Administration.

Well, Benazir Bhutto, RIP. As for George Bush and Condi Rice, they are as responsible for her death as if they’d shot her in the back of the head themselves. I’d actually be pretty impressed if I thought Bush and Rice had sent her back to Pakistan as a sacrificial pawn to distract the Islamists while they did something bold - like how de Gaulle sacrificed the “barbouzes” in Algiers in 1961, using them to keep the OAS distracted while he hammered out the Evian accords. But Bush and Rice are neither that smart nor that ruthless. These “true believers” sincerely, honestly sent her into Pakistan, 2007, to set up a pro-western, feminist-friendly democracy. And I’m sure they’re sincerely, honestly surprised that she’s dead.

This was what the mafia used to call a “message job”. The message to all the other potential Bhuttos out there is clear - America can’t protect you. I’m sure the message is understood loud and clear by everyone - except in Washington, by the Bush Administration, of course.

I hope everyone has remembered to say a prayer for the repose of the soul of Benazir Bhutto and the others who died in the attack, including the assassin.  I hop everyone also recalls that the 9/11 attacks were foreshadowed two days earlier by the assassination of Ahmed Shah Massoud at the hands of Al-Qaeda.  Made God grant that there not be another shoe to drop on this one.

Maybe this blog should enable comment moderation?

Tomorrow is Holy Innocents.

Things haven’t changed much, have they?

2,000 years ago King (sic) Herod the Great (sic) ordered the mass murder of infants in order to protect himself from the REAL King.  Thirty three years later the moral descendants of King (sic) Herod used the ignorant Roman justice (sic) system to protect themselves from this same King.  In their apparent success they were defeated.

Was Bhutto an Holy Innocent in the mold of the mass murdered infants, or in the mold of the True King?

Meanwhile, GW Bush & Co play the part of the ignorant Roman Empire, thrashing about and destroying everything in it’s path all while destroying itself.  America’s Holy Innocents are the millions of victims of abortion and the cultural destruction of it’s very own heresy of “Americanism”.

Fight the Revolution.

Andrew, well said! Scott, thank you for your virtue and insight. God speed.

Bhutto couldn’t control the army and intelligence agencies when she was in power so how could she possible control it now. Is the National Endowment for Democracy operating in Pakistan? Mabye they should get there agent Kasparov to run in Pakistan elections as he is popular as dung in Russia.

@ Nergol

“Well, Benazir Bhutto, RIP. As for George Bush and Condi Rice, they are as responsible for her death as if they’d shot her in the back of the head themselves.”

The Morons that run this Govt. Sociopathic Neocons all, and their sociopathic media sycophants caused this to happen.
The public support Benazir got from the U.S. governmant sealed her fate.
The message is: The U.S cannot save you!

The USofA can not save you, indeed.

You see, this is the deadly belief of the Enlightenment, the Freemasons, the Revolution: Government can save.

No, it can not.  Government can conserve, it can destroy, but it can not save.

Bhutto was the leading edge of the Revolution and was destroyed by a system trying to conserve itself.  The murderers may be “conservative”, but they also make the mistake of believing their murder of the Revolutionary is salvation.

There is no Salvation outside of the Church.

If anyone is interested in background on Bhutto and her family, this is probably as good as it gets:
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v29/n24/ali_01_.html
Another kleptocrat gone.

If this website is to maintain any intellectual integrity it needs to remove Mr. Richerts Bloogging privilages.

Al. Report us to CAIR, the terrorist organisation.

As for you picking a fight with Mr. Reichert. Bad idea. He knows more about Islam than you ever will.

The more folks like yourself spread “information” about Islam and the more it is responded to by literate and brave men like Mr. Richert,the greater will be the
awareness of the real danger of Muslim extremism.

IOW, you are doing damage to Islam. Keep it up.

A realist position requires that Musharraf be quietly disposed of.  He is an incompetent.  In the range of 70% of Pakistanis want him to resign--http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/world/asia/13pakistan.html.

He has the makings of another Shah.  The problem, as noted above, is that the late Ms. Bhutto was as much a Western Liberal as the other “democrats” the US has sponsored throughout the world.  She was “chairman for life” of her party and during her time as PM held an authoritarian/crony/patronage approach to governance.  The only thing “Western” about her was her rhetoric.

Sharif had a similarly dismal experience as PM.  His party is apparently a traditionally upper class, landholding conservative party.

The Islamic parties similarly failed to distinguish themselves during their time in office in the west of Pakistan.  They were polling low.

At this point, it seems that the only way to get stability is to restore the Supreme Court, get a successor for the PPP, hold elections and have Musharraf declare that he will not serve another term.  That won’t be a panacea, but it may at least stabilize matters to permit a transition from Musharraf to a successor.

What was Bhutto smoking when she believed the US State Dept that it was a good idea to return to Pakistan? Did she never read the true story of the “BAY OF PIGS INVASION”?

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20071228_In_divided_Pakistan__not_all_are_mourning_Bhutto.html

This link is to a story that no one in the Western press seems to be reporting about the Bhutto matter.  Ever heard of Sindhi and the Mohajirs?  Martin van Creveld got it right at the Mises Institute: These people in the Near East aren’t religious or secular, nationalist or cosmopolitian, pro-Western or anti-Western; they are tribal.

Warm thanks to Mike Tuggle for providing this link. His blog at the League of the South is essential.

The Harvard educated Benazir Bhutto was a threat to Pakistan and her fellow alumni to this day evolve dark plans to take over the planet?  No, it is the scaly Yalies and Skull and Boners like dubbya on whom we must pin the blame.

A moment of refection.

Benazir is survived by 3 children, as she joins her 2 brothers and father, all assasinated, or murdered.

She knew the odds and chose to do what she had to do.

Whatever her weaknesses and her failings and her family history, in the end she was as brave as they come. She accepted she may not live but that was not going to change her course. In that personal courage she was like Martin Luther King. In this there is a lesson for all of us.

<<she was like Martin Luther King>>

If by that you mean a “communist Revolutionary”, then I agree.

Great article Mr. Richert--you are correct when you state that Bhutto’s assassination will do absolutely nothing to bring about peace and/or stability in Pakistan. And wonderful responses to “Al"--I think I’ll pray for him, too.

Merry Fifth Day of Christmas to you and your family. God Bless.

Having sent Benazir to her grave, it was ironic to see Condi Rice turn up at the Pak embassy to cotribute her thought in the condolences book.

I guess she could not stay away from the scene of the crime.

I wonder if she wrote “MISION ACCOMPLISHED” in the condolences book.

Whether Bhutto’s assassination was indeed ordered by Musharraf or not (see the news link below), let us hope that the ensuing events will bring down this U.S. puppet and drastically curtail the U.S. influence in this entire region.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3DFBFF6A-8916-4F25-8EC3-B3D695365371.htm

By the Prophet’s sword! A real live muslim having at her on Chronicles! And of course, all he wants is to shut his opponent down while he himself enjoys full liberty to cant. Now what could be more “practicingly muslim” than that?

“In fact, I hope that we did everything we could to facilitate her assassination.”

No civilized human being would make such an asinine and evil statement.  Please exclude me from whatever group of heathens you’re invoking with your reference to “we”.

There are suitable sites, such as FR, for such hateful, trashy comments as yours.  Please frequent them and spare civilized people your insufferable presence in the future.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JA03Df02.html

Bhutto’s death a blow to ‘war on terror’

Even before Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization had been planning for severe disruption of its supply lines from Pakistan into Afghanistan. The situation is now even more critical, and with Pakistan’s political map no longer anything like the one dreamed up in Washington, US special forces are highly unlikely to be given Islamabad’s permission to operate inside Pakistan to beef up the border. -

by M K Bhadrakumar (Jan 2, ‘08)

The Holy Kur’an repudiates itself all by itself. It overtly calls for killing of any NON-MUSLIMS short of an immediate and “sincere” conversion. How sincere can a conversion be if it is coerced? Probably the only world’s book that denies its own validity by itself. That much I will grant to Al in defense of the Kur’an and the Muhamedans (are they not followers of Muhammad in much the same way the Christians are followers of Christ?)