"This is both a horrific and heartbreaking tragedy, and a lightning bolt wakeup call for anyone who had taken their eye off of the turmoil in Pakistan. Teresa and I send our deepest condolences to Ms. Bhutto's family. Benazir Bhutto returned home after years in exile knowing fully that she was taking a great personal risk to fight for change and democracy. When I met with her this fall just days before her return to Pakistan, she raised the issue of her own personal security. Subsequent to the bombing and assassination attempt that greeted her return home, I spoke to Secretary Rice about ways the United States might work with President Musharraf to ensure her safety.“Her loss underscores the fragility of the situation in Pakistan and the perils of a volatile mix of unrest, tension, radicalism, and nuclear weapons. Her killing embodies everyone’s worst possible fears and reinforces how tenuous the circumstances in Pakistan really are. The loss of Ms. Bhutto demands of the United States and our allies an urgent focus on developing a Pakistan strategy that will crush extremists and provide freedom, peace, and security for the country that mourns her loss today."
Sen. Kerry's statement about the murder of Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto speaks not only of the political consequences of her death, but of the tragic loss of a brave and committed leader. Controversial to some, yet beloved by many, Mrs. Bhutto was willing to risk her life to bring democracy to her country, and that kind of bravery isn't something you see every day.
As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East and South and Central Asian Affairs, which includes Pakistan, Sen. Kerry has spoken often of the need to focus on the volatile country, and introduced a Sense of the Senate Resolution expressing concern for Ms.Bhutto’s safety just last month, in which he specifically called for her protection.
... to call upon the Government of Pakistan to conduct a full investigation into the attempted assassination of former Prime Minister Bhutto and provide her and other political leaders with all necessary security to ensure their personal safety.
Video Credit: AlJazeeraEnglish
Senator Kerry is one person in Washington who has never taken his eye off the turmoil in Pakistan, and has worked tirelessly to bring attention to the 'powderkeg'. We've posted about it here on several occasions, but little has been said in the mainstream media until now. Sad that it's taken her murder to get people to notice.
It remains to be seen what will happen as a result of Bhutto's assassination. First, there's the question of who has her blood on his hands. Was it al-Qaeda, who quickly claimed responsibility? Or was it Pervez Musharraf's failure to protect her, as Bhutto claimed in an email to CNN prior to her death? Bush was quick to point to "murderous extremists" in his predictably banal response, delivered from down on the ranch, and is still propping up Pakistan's current leader, as he did when Musahrraf pardoned A. Q. Kahn.
We shall see. Maybe. In either case, yesterday's developments do not bode well for Pakistan or for us. Pakistan is a country in turmoil. A country we've supported with billions of taxpayer dollars. A country with nukes, run by a 'president' who is either unable to protect political leaders in his country ... or worse.
