Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination was her own fault, the country’s president, Pervez Musharraf, said in an interview that aired Sunday on U.S. television.
Bhutto sits on stage at a campaign rally minutes before her assassination.
“For standing up outside the car, I think it was she to blame alone — nobody else. Responsibility is hers,” the former general told CBS’ “60 Minutes.”
Bhutto was killed December 27 in Rawalpindi, south of the Pakistani capital Islamabad, while she was standing in an armored moving car after rallying supporters for now-postponed parliamentary elections. Her head was above the roof and unprotected at the time of the attack.
The cause of her death is not clear: a bomber blew himself up near Bhutto’s limousine and videotape showed a gunman present, though no autopsy has been carried out.
Asked if Bhutto could have been shot, Musharraf said, “Yes, absolutely, yes. Possibility.” He has said he welcomes an international investigation.
In other news, I hear that Saudi rape victims get 200 lashes and six months in jail.
It’s victims like this who cause all the crime in the world.
In fairness, he seemed to be responding to this:
“Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, rejected criticism that his government did not do enough to provide security to Bhutto, who was seeking to regain the post of prime minister. He noted that she had already survived one assassination attempt and “was given more security than any other person.”
In which case I think it would be safe to say she bore at least as much responsibility as he did, as far as we know. Although saying it was her responsibility alone is wrong, I also don’t envy him his job right now.
I am amazed that Musharraf has lasted so long. I’ve have thought he’d passed his “Sell By” date a long time ago. Probably the only thing keeping him in power is the merchant class, which has done rather well under him. But what the hell do I know. He may have struck a deal with the Devil, or have his own Portrait of Dorian Gray.
I think Bhutto got a lot of encouragement from our Department of State, and that Musharraf got leaned on by State, as well as the President. So, heaping helpings of blame to Foggy Bottom for this one.
I find it interesting that after Zinna hacked off his bit of the Indian subcontinent, we’ve seen India go from strength to strength, while Pakistan has been on a slow, but increasingly speedy, descent into hell. At this point, our best outcome might be to sabotage their nukes, leave them to stew for a bit, and then start quietly bombing the hell out of Waziristan.
Mushy is right. Given the threats and the repeated attempts on he life, Bhutto was idiotic to put herself in such a position. That’s not to excuse the killers’ but come on! Dumb, dumb, dumb.
Mushie shoulda given her a pope-mobile.
At this point, our best outcome might be to sabotage their nukes, leave them to stew for a bit, and then start quietly bombing the hell out of Waziristan.
In that deal Mushie struck with the tribal leaders in Waziristan, he agreed keep the military out of the toughest areas, in essence ceding national sovereignity over that region. So, that makes it no man’s land, SFAIC. Bombs away!
I’m inclined to blame the guy who shot her. Maybe I’m just crazy.
I believe the “Asking For It” title is supposed to be ironic.
It’s that feminism thing and equality. She wound up being treated like a guy, none of that you can’t shoot girls stuff.
It’s becoming increasingly clear to me that this turd-burgular is not our friend. The sabotage-nukes, slam-Waziristan option seems like the only thing we’ve got going for us. Unfortunately, we’re pretty well screwed on the former job.
And the governments of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are considered to be our BEST friends in the Muslim world?
If 200 lashes is the penalty for getting gang-raped, can you imagine what Mohammed has in store for Bhutto getting her silly self killed? [shudder]
Musharraf has had-what?- 9 assassination attempts against him. You wouldn’t see him stick his head out of a limo in a crowd.
I don’t understand why she did that, and yes, I think she bears some of the responsibility.
Well she’s dead now and I’m pretty much over it. This was mostly a media thing I think cause dead Pakistani politicians are really very common. I googled it. This would be one more by my calculations. Does that sound unfeeling? If so then I am writing with unambiguous clarity.
I don’t doubt at all that Musharraf figures it was her own blame fault.
On the other hand, in context of a conversation that was accusing him of no protecting her adequately it makes perfect sense to point out that she took risks and chose to do so. She stuck her head out of the car.
Maybe the 60 mintutes show put it in perspective but media is so apt to distort things for the sound bite that a person expects it.
I guess whoever the next Pak president is, they won’t be walking to their inauguration, a la Jimmy Carter.
I guess whoever the next Pak president is, they won’t be walking to their inauguration, a la Jimmy Carter.
And maybe the press won’t chuckle approvingly when the next US president has oranges and eggs chucked at his limo during his/her inauguration.
Hmm. How about this for an autopsy result: “She died mysteriously of a headache after being blown up by a .38 caliber explosive vest”?
Covers all the angles. And no-one did anything actually wrong.