I usually do not post or discuss world or national politics unless it involves a chess player such as Kasparov. However, this story caught my attention as it involves a woman in a very dangerous position.
Pakistan’s Bhutto Assassinated at Rally
By SADAQAT JAN and ZARAR KHAN,
AP
Posted: 2007-12-27 11:09:15
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (Dec. 27) — Pakistan opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday in a suicide attack that also killed at least 20 others at a campaign rally, aides said.
Bhutto ‘s supporters erupted in anger and grief after her death, attacking police and burning tires and election campaign posters in several cities. At the hospital where she died, some smashed glass and wailed, chanting slogans against President Pervez Musharraf.
The death of the 54-year-old charismatic former prime minister threw the campaign for the Jan. 8 parliamentary elections into chaos and created fears of mass protests and violence across the nuclear-armed nation, an important U.S. ally in the war on terrorism.
Musharraf convened an emergency meeting with his senior staff where they were expected to discuss whether to postpone the election, an official at the Interior Ministry said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.
The attacker struck just minutes after Bhutto addressed thousands of supporters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, 8 miles south of Islamabad. She was shot in the neck and chest by the attacker, who then blew himself up, said Rehman Malik, Bhutto ‘s security adviser.
Sardar Qamar Hayyat, a leader from Bhutto ‘s party, said he was standing about 10 yard away from Bhutto ‘s vehicle.
Here is the full story.
A sad day….
the killers will be brought to justice sometime. She was friendly to the West and gave hope to many in Pakistan.
She defied the silly Muslim customs that so defile women and make them seem less than human. For this, she is a leader in women’s rights.
I respect her for this…though her terms as PM were tainted with corruption charges, she still is a shining example of what a women can do in nations that do almost anything to keep women subordinate.
She defied this. And, I hope that part of the world will sometime soon realize that women are equal and not “inferior.”
It sickens me to see and read how women are treated in many muslim nations.
Rest assured, someday, somewhere, the murderers will be brought to justice. And the world will be a better place without them and their murdering like-minded friends.
Sad day! Be careful Susan. Goichberg and his people will not think twice about destroying you too. They don’t like strong women in the leadership position.
So tragic it is. AS the anonymous 10:27 stated,
“she defied the silly muslim customs” and ruled the country atleast for 6-7 years between 1988 and 1996.
This may be a conspiracy from the military regime + Taliban in safe heaven, but one day the world will know what exactly happened there.
This is a SAD day, for the whole of women community.
She was the only woman leader of a muslim nation in modern times. That is an amazing fact. I know that during her tenure as PM she was blamed of corruption…true…false….who knows?
Regardless, she did achieve something that no one else has in modern history: A female leader of a predominately Muslim nation.
For this alone, she should always be remembered and praised. In the chess world, people consider Fischer a hero despite his rascist and insulting attitude….event toward women.
Her memory will prove to be more powerful, possibly, than she could have become if this terrible event had not happened.
A martyr is a powerful image that can live in the collective memory of a people for generations.
And this is exactly what happened today. She was not perfect. But, she stood up for the idea of just a free election…and was murdered for it.
It is a disgrace how women are treated in many Muslim countries. They are treated as not even human.
It’s an issue that transcends chess and should be spoken of more.
For her to stand there and give a speech, knowing that there were people wanting to kill her, shows how brave she was.
She is a shining example of what women in oppressive Muslim nations that have a medieval mentality that women are not “equal”, can achieve.
Her memory will live on…and it will prove to be more powerful than the thugs that murdered her can ever dream.
They just created a hero beyond anything they can imagine. The world has witnessed the barbarism of how women are treated in Muslim nations…
No more. Women are EQUAL everywhere! Ms. Bhutto was a brave woman and I respect her for this.
The world is watching and will not forget. The murderers will be brought to justice…and the so-called “president” of Pakistan….
Well, we’ll see what happens.
And to think…is it even possible for a woman to have the opportunity to become a great chess player in a nation that is full of such murdering terrorists that so hate women?????
Sad. Truly sad.
And people wonder why the west frowns upon these woman-hating Muslim laws. They’re stupid.
Women are equal…everywhere on Earth.
how very sad!
Anonymous said:
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the killers will be brought to justice sometime.
Rest assured, someday, somewhere, the murderers will be brought to justice.
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You didn’t read the story very carefully.
“The attacker struck just minutes after Bhutto addressed thousands of supporters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, 8 miles south of Islamabad. She was shot in the neck and chest by the attacker, who then blew himself up, said Rehman Malik, Bhutto ‘s security adviser.”
I just saw it on the news: “Bhutto Assasinated. American Loonies Reminded Of How Much They Hate Bill Goichberg.” It’s the lead story.
>Rest assured, someday, somewhere, >the murderers will be brought to >justice.
You can only hope so. That terrorist was nothing else than just a puppet.
Anyone drawing parallels in terms of chess or the female agenda is sickeningly missing the point.
Benazir Bhutto demonstrated enormous courage in returning to Pakistan to lead her country. Now she’s been assassinated.
Be concerned at every level – the individual, the state of Pakistan, and the international situation.
We can all argue with technicalities…
Just agree, if possible, that it’s a sad day.
The homicide bomber was PROBABLY not acting alone….and if not being directed by a group..then he was directed by a hateful and anti-female ideology.
So, it doesn’t matter if the murdering homicide bomber “acted alone” or with a group.
Bottom Line: The homicide bomber was driven by a hateful ideology that despises women in power.
So, if it wasn’t a “group” it was a mentality…either way, it comes down to the silly, medieval customs of this scourge of the Earth called “Islam.”
The proof is there: Mulims countries constantly degrade women. It’s written into their laws.
And, it doesn’t matter if the idiot that did this heinous act today was “alone” or with a “group”.
Again, the bottom line is that it’s all driven by a hateful anti-femal mentality that should be eliminated from this world.
WOMEN are EQUAL everywhere….period! And, it’s not whether the homicide bomber “acted alone” or with a group…
fundamentally, he alone (or he with a group) adhered to a mentality that is so degrading to women that is is a shame….to all of humanity.
And anyone that can defend the disgusting inequality that women face in Muslim nations are…how shall I put it…have a medieval mentality.
if the homicide bomber did NOT act alone, then his group I hope will be brought to justice. If the homicide bomber DID act alone, the it was based upon a murderous mentality that must be erased from the Earth because it is the most grave threat to civilization since Nazism and Stalinism.
And, I just don’t like the way Muslim countries treat women.
Women are not second-class to anyone. Period. History will prove it…and the hate-filled, anti-woman, muslim terrorists, whether they “act alone” or with a group does not take away or delete the fact that women are often degraded and treated as second-class citizens in muslim nations.
And, that, is just the facts.
And, the world should do something about it.
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And, that, is just the facts.
And, the world should do something about it.
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Actually, it’s not just the facts. You mixed quite a lot of your own opinion and guesswork into the mix.
But what do you think the world should do about it? Invade Pakistan? Send some advisors on a junket to study the problem? Do nothing in particular, but basically feel superior to the Muslim world for being less sexist than them? How about some ideas?
Muslim ideology is pretty anti-woman in general, but if Bhutto won two elections (elections that I’d assume few if any women voted in), then not everyone over there feels the same way.
You know, it’s just possible… maybe not the case, but at least possible, that this was done by someone friendly to the current regime in particular, and anxious to see them stay in power, rather than hostile to women in general. One shouldn’t close ones mind to any possibilities until they’ve been checked out.
Actually, I completely agree with you that this sad event might (I say “might”) have been planned by the current regime in Pakistan.
None of us know all the facts, yet…we must wait and see. However,
it is no mystery or surprise that in Islamic countries (OK…if you want to use another example…pick one: Saudi Arabia, Iran….) treat women as sub-human. It was just a few weeks ago that in Saudi Arabia a woman was to be whipped in public for some silly “crime” and this is considered “civilized?”
Bhutto asise, everyone with a brain knows that in Islamic countries women are, for the most part, treated as second-class citizens with no rights, and you can forget about them, in many of these rotten nations to even be given basic “human rights.”
What should be done?
My personal opinion: Rid the world of the infestation that is called “Islam” by whatever is the quickest and most desicive means possible.
Like the “Black Death” of the 14th century in Europe that killed perhaps 1/3rd of the population….the woman-hating muslim ideology is no more than the fleas that rode on the backs of rats that infiltrated Europe in the 1300’s and spread both the Bubonic and the Pneumonic Plagues.
Any anti-female ideology is a “disease” to human civilization and if invasion or any other means would be used to get rid of the pestilence that is “Islam” and the woman haters…..then so be it.
Women are 50% of the global population and do not deserve to be degraded as is the case in Muslim ideology.
Yes…Islam is a pestilence to the world today…just as the “Black Plague” was to the 14th century world.
But, today, the EU, the US, the world can stop this pestilence that is the root cause of so much hatred, murder, and anti-female ideology.
Whichever method is the quickest way to rid this planet of the rotten filth that is “Islam”, then the better.
And they dare hate women….
they wouldn’t be here without us giving a painful birth to the thugs that are now homicide bombers.
Say what you will…the world will be a better and very much more peaceful place without this “disease” called “Islam”….
the murder today just proves it even more.
Countries that deny women basic human rights don’t deserve to be considered “nation states.” And, I don’t care who takes them out…the EU, the U.S…
End the hatred…end it now. The line must be drawn in the sand at some point and if anyone….and I mean anyone dare think for a second that the combined might of Europe and the U.S. couldn’t do it…are stupid and delusional.
They just will not.
And who suffers: Women and men…and children…
Rid this planet of the disease of “Islam” and the future will be a better world for us, our children, and our posterity.
Facts….oh, they are the most stubborn things..but the fact is the world is better off without this pestilence called “Islam.”
She gave her life for her people, but she gave them too much.
Your blog is like a Russian blog you report only the things you want to be known, I know because I have been censored many times
Well, if you have such a silly opinion….then just stay at your stupid Russian blogs. This site is a personal blog of GM Polgar. You don’t like it…go elsewhere and whine.
This is her blog and she allows people to post here….you want to whine and cry…then start your own blog…then you can make it as you wish.
Period.
So, shut up, stop whining, and stay with your Russian blogs or start your own.
The Koran’s chapter Surah 9:5 tells Moslems to”stalk and kill Pagans (Christians and Jews)” so there is no such thing as a “peaceful” moslem.This is a sad day for democracy in Pakistan :(.
Some people are afraid of the success of women.
There is so much ignorance on this thread it’s not even funny. Things like “silly Muslim customs” and taking quotes out of context from the Qur’an. There are other distortions in the posts. Many of you are watching too much American propaganda on TV and not enough traveling outside of America.
What about mistreated women in America, Africa, Asia, Latin America, etc., etc. Women’s Rights??? The Muslim world has had at least four women (Bhutto, Zia of Bangladesh and Ciller of Turkey, Sukarnoputri of Indonesia) to lead Muslim countries. What about the U.S.? Europe? How many female leaders? No… Queen of England doesn’t count… Margaret Thatcher does. Who else?
America is a country with perhaps the worst incidences of pedaphilia, rape, domestic abuse, sexual harassment and crimes against women… inequality, etc. Feminism did not start in the Middle East nor in any developing nations. Women couldn’t even vote in America until 1920… almost 150 years after its founding. If we think Hillary Clinton will win the Presidency in the most sexist nation on the planet, then we are in for a shock.
This thread is proof that chess does not equate with intellectualism.
anonymous7
This is not the time to be drawing analogies between geopolitics and chess. It is also not the time for the Washington pundits to be using the occasion of Bhutto’s murder to jump on the Hillary bandwagon. The situation in Pakistan is too complex for the petty minds of Chris Matthews and company.
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The Muslim world has had at least four women (Bhutto, Zia of Bangladesh and Ciller of Turkey, Sukarnoputri of Indonesia) to lead Muslim countries. What about the U.S.?
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None. But at least they haven’t had any candidates assasinated for being women, murdered by their families for being raped, or any of the other things that are fairly common there. The US, flawed though it is, still beats out the Muslim world on this count. The fact thaat Pakistan twice elected Bhutto and then immediately ran her out of office on dubious charges doesn’t really change that.
If Hillary doesn’t get elected, it will be because she’s a pandering flip-flopper who simply can’t maintain a consistent position on anything. Your implication that she should be elected because of her gender, is as sexist as anything we’ve heard here, so you really have no cause for complaint.
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This thread is proof that chess does not equate with intellectualism.
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What, just because somebody said that the Muslim world mistreated women? That doesn’t make any sense. You didn’t even disagree with the statement, merely employed the tu quoque fallacy to deflect it.
But I guess you did inadvertently prove your point. Chess sure doesn’t equate with intellectualism, does it?
I agree, saying “Muslims mistreat women” is very inappropriate. I am not saying they treat women fantastically but calling this assasination a womans issue is missing the point.
I beleive there are more serious terrorism and/or democracy related reaons behind this killing.
Since we have dwelved into politics, maybe a more serious and relevant topic of discussions, who amongst the Prededential candidates has the best understanding and attitude towards the situation in Pakistan.
My personal vote is on Obama (who recommends a more judicious financing of U.S aid to Pakistan).
Rgds cube.
I think it quite flawed to draw any parallel between yesterdays murder o Bhuto to female politicians in the U.S. or Mrs. Clinton. If, and it’s a big if, she wins next November it will be be because of her gender. But, candidates in the U.S., regardless of their gender, or how silly their ideas might be, are not in as much physical danger as Bhutto was.
And, as much as the Rep’s dislike the Dems and vice versa…neither would resort to such tactics. The U.S. does not behead women in public nor have public whippings. We don’t have it written into our laws that a woman can be stoned to death for adultery…Many muslim nations do and this can’t be denied. And this mentality towared women has no place in the world.
But, it’s hard to destroy an idea. But, you can destroy those that want to use Islam to murder. We see it everyday. This is not propoganda. When a homicide bomber blows himself up at some cafe in Israel or Baghdad, killing innocents, it’s their belief in Islam that is the driving force.
This is a fact and it’s not propoganda.
It’s a more dangerous world now than during the Cold War. Radical Islam is akin to a pandemic disease that infiltrates the mind and should be dealt with decisively by the civilized world: Europe, America, Nato…whomever.
America isn’t perfect. There is a lot of domestic violence here. Yet, there are also tons of funds being poured into methods to help these women get out of such situations: shelters…programs to assist them financially if they have children,etc. At least, in the U.S. they can get help.
And the person who brought up pedophilia in the U.S….it exists everywhere. Just go to Asia where their is a sex trade in children. It’s disgusting. My point: it happens everywhere.
The U.S. isn’t perfect, Europe isn’t either: But the west does not have mistreatment of women written into its laws.
Once again, the world will be much better without this disease called “Islam.” For the sake of the unborn millions that are our future, the civilized world should stop this murdering ideology in the most decisive method possible.
And somewhere, deep down in a lot of people’s hearts…they know this to be true.
“The U.S. does not behead women…”
Once again missing the point by a mile. Even the Pakistanis/Muslims do not do such thing. Benazir Bhutto has been a popular leader amongst them for a long time.
This killing has nothing to do with womens issues.
Mr. Anon,
I don’t know what planet you’re from but you really need to study contemporary affairs. perhaps a local community college offers a course in this that you can take.
Yes. It is about the rights of women, combined with politics and many other factors.
It was just the other day that some woman was to be publicly whipped in public for a silly “crime.” Oh, she was “pardoned” by Saudi Arabia’s King….oh please!!!
If you’re so blind to the clearly anti-female strain that lies within Islamic theology/philosophy, then you are ignorant….ingorance is not “stupid”. I’m not saying you’re “stupid” but simply ignorant of the facts.
The issue of womens’ rights in Muslim nations is a very important issue. It transcends PM Bhutto and is important for future generations of women born in those medieval like situations.
My point is simple, and I make it very clear: Islam is a scourge, a disease that is as dangerous to humanity as the Black Death was in the 1300’s. It is anti-female…just look at the laws in many many muslim nations!
My point is simple: Women are equal everywhere…and this poison of the mind that is “Islam” needs and should be eradicated from the Earth.
The Muslim mentality is a poison that is full of hatred, murder, and everything uncivilized…
Say what you will…Islam is clearly anti-female. In Saudi Arabia there are Muslim “guidelines” on how to “properly” beat your wife!!! And this is “civilized?
It should be destroyed. Now…so the future doesn’t have to deal with this pestilence which is Islam.
The WORLD WILL BE A BETTER PLACE WITHOUT ISLAM!
Murdering savages…woman hating bigots.
The world should do something, anything, to rid this planet of the rotten scourge of “Islam”.
I like hummus on whole wheat.
I like a sunny day on freshly conquered land.
I like world domination.
What am I?
The enemy of peace and understanding is extremism, regardless of the religion it purports to attach itself too.
Extreme Muslims represent a danger, as do extreme Christians, extreme Jews and extreme Hindus.
Bigotry and intolerance simply creates more of the same, the poster above, with his painfully ignorant diatribe is more a part of the problem than a solution.
I lived in Saudi Arabia for a year, and got a small insight into how a Muslim society works at it’s most extreme. I did not meet one dangerous Muslim in the whole time I was there, and almost without exception, I was treated with far more respect than I ever got in NYC.
The way to work on a more peaceful world is to attempt to understand, not to vilify. Rants like the one above do nothing but alienate more moderate Muslims, and drive them towards extremism.
“extreme Christians, extreme Jews and extreme Hindus….”
None of the aforementioned groups have hijacked airliners and destroyed the world trade center. You can pull the “crusades” example from the history of Christianity….fine.
However, on this day, December 29, 2007….there is not a graver threat to the civilized world, a more deluded group of murderers, more woman-hating thugs, than those that adhere to “Islam”…or the radical fringe, thereof.
If I recall…there haven’t been any Christans, Jews, or Hindus become homicide bombers by killing innoncents. Nor, have any from these other religions been going around funding world wide terrorism and murdering people daily on a mass scale…..and I’m speaking of the homicide bombers.
Words don’t make people murderers . It takes a thorough brain-washing beginning at an early age which is exactly what happens with youths in Islamic countries. They are taught to hate women, they are taught how to “beat their wives,” and…
it’s sickening.
And the whole of Islam is a pestilence….and you can say it’s a “diatribe” but I haven’t heard of any female being threatened with a public whipping on the streets of Europe or America….hmmmmm, ever.
So, you can remain with your rotten , murderous ideas and if there is such a creature as a “moderate” muslim, it’s the same as being a “moderate murderer.”
The sooner the world can rid itself of, once again…the infectious disease which is Islam and the woman haters….
the world will be a better place in the 22nd century.
And, eventually, the civilized world will win.
You cannot negotiate with murderers or a murdering ideology. It doesn’t matter what is said here….
the West will win. And the world will be more peaceful when “Islam” is eradicated….maybe women who are born in those countries could actually have a normal life.
One day….
Pull all of the radicals and “moderate” soon-to-be radicals out of their holes….and all combined will never bring down the U.S. flag nor the flag of any European nation.
We (the U.S. and Europe) have faced threats together before…Nazis, Stalinism…we are doing it again and will win.
Freedom will win…and along with it the human rights of all the women that are unfortunate enought to be born in a Muslim “country.”
What was NORAID?
It was a Catholic American organisation that raised money to pay for IRA activities. These activities included bombing city centers in England and Northern Ireland, killing many innocent civilians.
I thought NORAID was an anti-roach spray sloagan. My cat told this to me in a dream.
9-11 was a conspiracy to start a race war and a religious war. The sheeple ate up the news and now follow the gospel according to Bush. Truly intelligent people have been put to death over investigating the ruth behind 9-11.
Its about money and oil, not terror. We have found the enemy and he is US.
Ron Paul for President.