Do you think the Bush administration wanted Benazir Bhutto killed?

[derby378]

I'm hearing a lot of different stories one day after her assassination, what with Condi Rice playing a large part in Bhutto's return to Pakistan and all that, but I thought I'd better ask you guys. Do you believe the White House wanted Bhutto "dealt with?"

[bryant69]

1. It's hard to see what we would get out of it

Although given the nature of DU I suspect we will shortly hear that Bhuttos was planning on turning away from the United States.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[warrior1]

2. I doubt he

spends much time thinking about anything but toast.

[Seabiscuit]

8. ... or what kind of potato chips to put in his baloney sandwiches.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

3. I think the U.S. backing her return was an overt attempt to influence their election

Which it certainly has. MKJ

[Didereaux]

4. cover for Mussaraf during our mini-invasion, subsequent strengthening ...

of Musharrafs position as dictator. Also the cynical side-effect at home of yet another 'outside' threat which puts the sheeple back into the Repugnant corrals.

[havocmom]

6. Was wondering if there might be a message for candidates here

about towing the line v what happens if they don't.

[tularetom]

5. Not the "administration": per se

but it wouldn't surprise me that a faction within the office of the dick wanted it to happen just to undermine condomsleezy rice. I'd guess that there is a lot of internal politics going on within the WH as there always is in an organization with such weak leadership. And I don't think it's any secret that the dick is pissed at rice for helping to pull the rug out from under his excellent Iran adventure if only temporarily.

[hlthe2b]

16. yup

my thoughts exactly...

[brazos121200]

7. I think they are going to find that elements of musharraf's own

security forces were responsible for killing Bhutto. Musharraf doesn't want to share power with anyone, expecially an immensely popular figure such as Bhutto, and this element knew it. No "order" was given by Musharraf to do anything, it was a tacit understanding. Musharraf gets rid of Bhutto and the extremists get to delay or stop the election. Yes, Bushco wanted Bhutto to return and "share" power with Musharraf, but a dictator does not share power, he takes it. This episonde is just another foreign policy disaster by the inept Bush administration. Chalk another one up for stupidity.

[burythehatchet]

9. I agree with your basic premise but I am perhaps more cynical

I believe that it is the objective of the Cheney cabal to create as much anarchy in the world as they can get away with. They have no interest in stability because stability has a very slim profit margin for Cheney's assets.

[brazos121200]

11. Well, loose nukes in the hands of the "terrorists" WOULD certainly

cause more fear and insecurity among the voters in this country and that could only benefit the repubs, and Mr 911 in particular, so you might just be right. But I just hope the games these idiots are playing won't come back to bite us with a nuclear cloud over some US city someday.

[burythehatchet]

12. A nuclear cloud over a US city would be Cheney's wet dream.

and we will see it in our lifetime.

[RDANGELO]

10. There are reports that she wasn't getting the enough security.

It's a good bet that our intelligence people knew about this. If thats so, did they do anything about it? Did they try? Why not? This is something congress should look into.

[dailykoff]

13. Yes, though their motives are not always immediately obvious.

I've also heard that the US was backing her, but who knows what she might have said or demanded that made us change our mind. The CIA routinely assassinates popular leaders and props up dictators and that seems to be what happened yesterday.

[Marrah_G]

14. No- there was nothing for us to gain

[Akoto]

15. Why would they want her killed?

There would be no advantage in the US having Bhutto killed. She was pro-corporation, pro-West and was not an aggressive element. Pakistan is not a major producer of oil, so allegations that * is trying to destabilize the region in order to "intervene" don't make much sense. If anything, we'd probably have wanted Bhutto over anyone else, as she doesn't seem a likely sort to fire off those nukes.

[willy spaten]

17. It is Probable

Its not unfounded to think that Bush and friends would prefer Bhutto killed. Heres why:

Bush has dictatorial sympathies. If you study his policies, his actions, his presidential directives-- its all about power and control. Bush policies talk democracy, but they act dictatorship. Period. Therefore, wherever there is truth, light, democracy, transparency, openness, you will not find George W. Bush, and you will not find Bush's sympathies either. Bhutto represented truth, light, transparency, and democracy-- all the very things Bush is seeking to dismantle here at home... what makes *anyone* think that Bush is upset by Bhutto's death. Musharraf is "our guy" according to Bush's own words. What makes anyone think that Bhutto's chance at winning Pakistan wouldn't be seen as a threat to Bush. Its pretty simple logic, not political hype. Bhutto represented everything that Bush is against, whereas the dictator Musharraf represents everything Bush is about. Musharraf is a better bedfellow for Bush than Bhutto would ever be. Bhutto also spoke out about the US "war on terror" and saying it is dishonest... check the BBC for the news story.

Don't believe for one second that Bush is upset about her murder. Bush is also the consummate liar, and would be glad to tell the world how upset he is about the assassination. I say he and Dick Cheney are having a smirk over it behind the scenes, because "our guy" in Pakistan is still in power.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

22. Welcome to DU, willy spaten!

:hi:

I agree. Musharraf was Bush's guy!!!

[havocmom]

21. If she really had info that Bin Laden had been killed...

she could have blown the whistle on the Boogy Man Method of controlling the masses & getting billions of bucks outta Congress.

[NNN0LHI]

18. Lets put it this way. They made no effort to keep her alive

No Blackwater mercs or nothing for her.

Don

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

19. Mushareff is their dictator, of choice. Bhutto threatened his power/control.

How she disappeared isn't really any of the neocons' concern.

[Zynx]

20. Bush has become frustrated with Musharraf and Bhutto was pledging to

really take it to the fundies in Pakistan. She did when she was prime minister previously too. It makes no sense to kill her. Also, after seeing the Pakistani government due a bad job covering up her cause of death, they look increasingly likely, not Bush.