The Battle for Pakistan

Bhutto is well known to be very pro-Western and very anti-islamist.Mushariif can give up his position of control over the Pakistani military and take a somewhat ceremonial position as president while Bhutto takes over as PM in charge of the military.

She can then send the military to erase Waziristan and cleanse the major cities of radicals while Musharif can give speeches as to why his hands are clean as he has no control over the military anymore. He gets Bhutto to do the dirty work he has avoided and washes his hands publicly while still maintaining his roll as balance keeper.

It is a win-win situation for both Musharif and Bhutto and a lose-lose for the islamists. The Taliban and their supporters must be very dissappointed today. - lgf comment

Blasts an attack on democracy, says Bhutto
By Danny Kemp in Karachi
October 20, 2007 12:28am
Article from: Agence France-Presse

FORMER Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto vowed today to fight militancy after an "attack on democracy" by a suicide bomber during her homecoming parade killed at least 138 people.

Ms Bhutto was unhurt in last night's attack, having climbed into her specially fortified vehicle just moments before two explosions ripped through crowds welcoming her back to Karachi after eight years in exile.

The streets of Pakistan's biggest city, packed with hundreds of thousands of her jubilant supporters, quickly became a scene of bloody carnage. The campaign bus was scorched and dented.

“The attack was not on me, the attack was on what I represent,” Ms Bhutto told a press conference in the port city. “It was an attack on democracy and it was an attack on the very unity and integrity of Pakistan.”

Ms Bhutto pledged to defy “cowards” from al-Qaeda, the Taliban and other militant groups who had vowed to launch suicide attacks against her before she flew home from Dubai.

“If it means sacrificing our lives, then we are prepared to risk our lives, but we are not prepared to surrender our great nation to the militants,” Ms Bhutto, wearing a black armband in memory of the victims, said.

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PM fingers al-Qaeda for Karachi blasts
October 19, 2007 11:07am
Article from: Agence France-Presse

THE bombings in Pakistan that killed up to 126 people were likely to be the work of al-Qaeda, Prime Minister John Howard said today.

Mr Howard, a staunch ally of US President George W. Bush with troops deployed in both Iraq and Afghanistan, said al-Qaeda could have targeted former prime minister Benazir Bhutto because of her support for the US war on terror.

Ms Bhutto narrowly the twin blasts which ripped through the surging crowds for her emotional homecoming parade in Karachi, also injuring hundreds.

"It's too early to be certain but it looks very much like the work of al-Qaeda,'' Mr Howard said on ABC radio.

Mr Howard said al-Qaeda was opposed to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's co-operation with the United States.

"Benazir Bhutto, to her credit, as well as General Musharraf, have both said they will continue to support the Americans in the war on terror,'' he said.

"It is a reminder of the evil of al-Qaeda. It is a reminder of how important it is not to concede a victory to them in Iraq or in Afghanistan.''

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the blasts, the worst suicide attack in Pakistan's history, were horrific.

"There's no doubt that al-Qaeda would be deeply offended at the possibility of a woman taking a leadership role in politics in Pakistan in a Muslim country,'' he said.

"They are profoundly anti-woman. They are profoundly, of course, anti-democratic as well.''

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Qur'an:8:39 "Fight them until all opposition ends and all submit to Allah."