Two congressmen who were in Pakistan to meet Ms Bhutto and the President (PA Senator Arlen Specter)

[Catherine Vincent]

THREAT OF TERROR SWAYS US CAMPAIGN

David Nason, New York correspondent

December 29, 2007
As US presidential candidates yesterday scrambled to reposition their strategies in the wake of Benazir Bhutto's assassination, George W.Bush pledged support to Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf in the struggle against Islamic extremism.

The killing underlined the violent unpredictability of world events, reverberating through tight races for the US presidential nomination in both parties and potentially giving an edge to candidates boasting of experience over those promising change.

(cut)

Pakistan had been under an unpopular military rule for eight years but US pressure convinced Mr Musharraf to give up his role as military chief, agree to elections and accept a power-sharing arrangement with Ms Bhutto.

Two congressmen who were in Pakistan to meet Ms Bhutto and the President -- Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter and Rhode Island Democrat Patrick Fitzgerald -- were advised by the State Department to leave the country immediately.

...more
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22982423-2703,00.html

[graywarrior]

1. I'd want them to leave, too.

[Gormy Cuss]

2. Democrat Patrick Fitzgerald?

Is that right, or should it read Patrick Kennedy?

[Catherine Vincent]

3. It's probably correct.

But it's not THE Patrick Fitzgerald of Illinois. :)

[Gormy Cuss]

5. But there is no MOC from RI with that name.

Senators are Reed and Whitehouse, Congressman are Patrick J. Kennedy (Ted's son) and Langevin, unless something's changed recently. Either the RI designation is wrong or the name is.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

4. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I

:thumbsup:

He called in to Wolfie on CNN yesterday. They should have left by now, if they've kept to the original schedule. (they were 'urged' to leave 'immediately' but I got the impression that they weren't in that much of a hurry).

[Catherine Vincent]

7. Thanks!

[Tellurian]

8. Yes, it's my Congressman Patrick Kennedy..

He did a live tele interview with our local news station soon after the report came back Mrs. Bhutto had passed. Cong Kennedy said, he and Arlen Spector had just left their hotel rooms and were heading down to a dinner engagement with Mrs Bhutto when the news broke of her assassination. He also said, they had been advised to leave the country asap due to the insurgence of violence sure to erupt after such an event.

I imagine, both of them have returned to the US by now.

[dflprincess]

6. Specter?

Does this mean he'll soon be cooking up another magic bullet.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

9. This may actually shake him up a little bit..

He was on his way to dinner with Musharraf and Bhutto (and others) when they got the word of the assassination...

[Tellurian]

10. The only one Kennedy mentioned was Mrs Bhutto..

I don't think Mushareff would have been one of the guests at Bhutto's table.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

11. ahhh, I have done a little digging...

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said in a telephone interview from his Islamabad hotel room that he and Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., were to dine with Musharraf and meet later in the night with Bhutto.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g9PUc_AoTAgHFlSGgE2f3jMdUGXAD8TQFRG80

That explains it.

[Tellurian]

12. Good..

The Kennedy telephone interview was about 15 sec. short. He probably cut to the chase just to get the word out he didn't make it to see Bhutto and was preparing to leave the country.

Thanks for the link though...