Do You Support An Independent Investigation Into The Assassination Of Benazir Bhutto?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

[JI7]

1. how is that going to happen ?

i agree with Chris Dodd, the first issue is stability. and i don't think it will help much to bring in outsiders into the country to investigate.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Once The Chaos Subsides...

It's important to find out who was responsible for the assassination; the government or insurgents... If it's the former they have forfeited their right to lead...

[JI7]

4. didn't Mush forfeit his right to lead when he overthrew the elected govt ?

and while the chaos may subside for short periods, getting stability is going to take a very long time.

sadly, much of this was dependent on Bhutto. these were problems that existed before she was killed and now just got worse but with nobody to lead.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. I Don't Like Mush But It's Not Inconceivable Something Worse Could Follow

I don't have the answers...I was in grad school when The Shah was overthrown...The same Iranians who were protesting the Shah were later protesting Khomenei... My good friend, Hamid, who came from a wealthy family, married an American young woman ,and never went back...

That part of the world is difficult to navigate...

[JI7]

12. the thing is that Pakistan has nuclear weapons, and that's why it's different

from the other cases. that's why stability is so important. some time back a poll was done on nations around the world and their opinion of the United States. pakistan had a much lower view than many arab nations where we have done much more harm.

if we had a real President who cared and understood these things then i think they would have been able to pressure Musharaff into doing more to control the extremist elements from early on. but instead we have a dumbass who goes by his disgusting gut rather than read and inform himself on these things.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. Maybe I'm Naive

But he had the opportunity to do the right thing... He could have simultaneously combatted the extremists, led his people to some semblance of democracy, and restored civil institutions... But he didn't... That part of the world is really messed up...Maybe it's wrong to apply western standards in the first place...

[JI7]

20. check out this poll of people in Pakistan

i think it makes it easier to understand why it's not so easy. i think Pakistan needed someone like Bhutto who was willing to risk her life to get the things you mention done.

http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2007/09/new-poll-on-trends-in-pakistan.html

[H2O Man]

39. At this point,

I think it is very likely that something far worse than Musharraf is gaining control in Pakistan.

[Double T]

3. Beginning to look more and more like a government cover up.

[JI7]

5. i think the govt is trying to avoid blame for not providing enough protection

for not doing enough for Bhutto.

but i don't think they (Musharraf) had her killed.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. I Don't Think Mush Is Responsible Either

I think it's the work of insurgents who saw Bhutto as a threat...Order and liberalization is their worst enemy... I think Mush wouldn't mind retirement or exile in London or the States... I think he wants out...

[NorthCarolina]

29. What about the CIA?

you think there is any potential for involvement there?

[Double T]

14. I believe there is a high probability that Musharraf was involved.........

even if it was from a 'distance'.

[JI7]

21. why do you think that ?

[DrDan]

7. I voted no . . . but . . . not that I don't think an investigation is a worthy effort

but it is not our business to call for one . . . they are an independent, sovereign nation and should handle it themselves, without our involvement

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. Then They Shouldn't Take Our Billions In Aid

~

[DrDan]

18. still do not agree that we should be meddling in their country

[Missy M]

9. It's hard to believe some would vote against......

having an independent investigation of her assassination.

[dkf]

17. This is a very sensitive situation

The question is would the investigation show Musharraf was responsible. If so, what would happen to him. Would there be a popular uprising to toss him out? Then who would succeed him in power?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

23. If He Had Bhutto Killed After Inviting Her Back He's Unfit To Lead

That being said I don't think he's responsible and his abolution by an independent body might restore some legitimacy...

[Mass]

33. By whom? The investigators have to be nominated by somebody, which means that the investigation is

NEVER independent, but often useless.

[razorman]

10. The question then would be, "An investigation by whom?"

It is not our business, and the U.N. is incompetent. So, who could be trusted to investigate the matter fairly?

[cali]

19. How about Interpol? n/t

[razorman]

43. That might work. I had forgotten about them.

[Lerkfish]

15. we have no jurisdiction in another sovereign nation

I mean, honestly, what are people thinking with this?
its up to Pakistanis to demand that of their own govt.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. If They Had Fair Elections He Would Be Gone

His only claim to legitimacy rests on the fact that he has the military behind him...It's a junta, plain and simple...

[Lerkfish]

42. but that's irrelevant.... its their country

we have no legitimate right to determine how another sovereign country should govern itself.

not that that has stopped us in the past.

Of course, I realize that the neocon/AIPAC/DLC agenda is "global american leadership", but that doesn't mean its right.

[ClarkUSA]

16. No, I don't support what amounts to pointless political grandstanding on my taxpayer dime

This is another inside-the-beltway brain fart by the politics as usual gang.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

25. Did You Oppose The Independent Investigation Into The Assassination Of Rafik Hariri?

~

[ClarkUSA]

34. Are you talking about the U.N. probe into Hariri's assassination?

:shrug:

[Red Zelda]

22. I don't care who killed her

There's enough trouble right here in Dumbfuckistan to worry about.

[babylonsister]

26. For what reason? Will it be as 'productive' as the 9/11 investigation?

And why should we get more deeply involved in this, inspiring more hate in the world? Because there would be some on both sides who wouldn't believe whatever results an investigation would come up with. I think the Pakistanis need to want one, and to do their own investigating.

[BeyondGeography]

27. Meddlesome and paternalistic

Mussaharaf should be given a chance to produce a credible investigation before we wade in there. We can support his efforts behind the scenes without playing Big Brother, a role that would only further inflame opposition to us on the ground. If he proves uninterested and/or incapable of results, then we can take it to the next level.

This is Obama's position and it is much closer to what the world needs to see in the post GWB era than what your girl is advocating.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

28. That's John Kasich's , Cliff Mays' And George Bush*'s Position Too

Congratulations....

[BeyondGeography]

30. And Biden's...who is far more credible on this issue than ex-FLOTUS

== I urge Pakistan’s leaders to open a fully accountable and transparent investigation. We must find out who was behind this and bring those responsible to justice. And the United States should offer any assistance necessary, including investigative teams, to get to the bottom of this horror.==

http://www.joebiden.com/newscenter/pressreleases?id=0264

[DemocratSinceBirth]

32. Benazhir Bhutto Wrote In A Letter To Only Be Revealed After Her Death

That if she was killed Musharraf was responsible... Maybe she was being paranoid but given the suspicious circumstances that surrounded her death I don't think it's prudent to let the man she claimed was responsible for her death to conduct the investigation...

If you think Musharraf and the institutions he controls are the proper authorities to conduct the investigation there is nothing I can do to disabuse you of that notion...

[BeyondGeography]

35. Not what I said

He gets first chance; he fails then we organize an alternative with the international community.

Hilly is jumping the gun here. Must be those second-rate FP advisers of hers again.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

38. He Had Disbanded The Independent Judiciary

He just recently lifted martial law...If you have faith that (ex) General Musharraf and his minions are capable of rendering impartial justice there is nothing I can do to disabuse you of that notion...

It's propping up dictators that has got us into this mess...If you think continuing to prop them up will get us out there is nothing I can do (reprise) to disabuse you of that notion...

[Mass]

36. Because the US government is?

This is a tragedy, but we do not need to add to that something that would be nothing more than our country becoming the policeman of the world.

In addition, while I respect Benazir Bhutto, she was far from being the saint that the media and the US pols want her to be, and this largely because she was educated in the West and that they could recognize themselves in her. Pakistan is in a difficult situation, and the last times we meddled in situations like that, it gave us a few tragedies (Chile, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Iran, ...) just because we refuse to recognize that some factions that do not look like us are not legitimate partners. May be it is time to learn how to wait and see.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

40. We Propped Up Dictators In Chile, Nicaragua, And Iran

Pinochet, Somoza, and Reza Pahlavi were our "guys"...

We started the fire...

[Mass]

41. Because we did not like who was there and we made the things worse.

No need to do that again, so the issue is: who will lead this independent inquiry?

In addition, Bhutto was not the saint we want her to have been. She did not deserve her death because nobody does, but we should avoid to see her as the new Ghandi. She was not. The only reason the US like her so much is because she was educated in England and they understand her.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

44. The US Should Not Conduct The Investigation

It should be conducted by the U N ...

No...Benazir Bhutto wasn't a saint but she displayed uncommon courage by going back to a situation where her life was endangered and for her uncommon courage she is now a martyr...

I don't thik Mushurraf is responsible for her death , ironically...He worked too hard with Bush* to bring her back... The only thing that can save him, imho, is proof that he wasn't involved...

He can no more govern with this over his head than Marcos could govern when he was suspected of assassinating Benigno Aquino and the situation in The Phillipines was nowhere near as tenuous...

[Mass]

31. By the US government? By the Pakistani government? Please.

We all know that it will end with what the powers in place want to hear, that Al Quaeda is guilty, whether it is or not. The situation is more complex than that, given that the Musharaff govt is probably deeply infiltrated by them.

So, we can play policemen of the world, or we can try to talk with people. This election may be about that.

[1corona4u]

37. Yes, but it needs to be conducted

by the International community. The point of course, is to find out if Musharraf had anything to do with it. It can not be done inside Pakistan, and it can not be done by the US.