Your View

"It reeks of nothing but nepotism", says Jay of Hamilton.

You are absolutely correct Jay. Like grandfather, like mother, like son. All "committed to democracy" too, I've heard.

It appears democracy in Pakistan is even simpler than the first-past-the-post anachronism we in North America are saddled with.

Both systems actually accomplish the same thing though, ensuring small elites continue to run the country.

But you have to give the Bhuttos full marks for putting their(?) $billions to good use.

Unlike our political "leaders", the Bhuttos, at least can avoid selling their souls to the corporate interests that, in turn, get to rape, pillage and otherwise exploit our natural resources when their candidates get elected.

It's almost enough to start pining for a friendly dictator. At the very least the dictator has to fight his/her way to the top.

Not that Musharraf is considered "friendly" by many outside the Washington and Taliban crowds he seems to divide he loyalties with.

Actually, I couldn't think of more deserving friends than those two who have helped him so much in maintaining his grasp on Pakistan.

Now, I'd dearly love to wish a very great New Year to all the regulars here, but given the mess we're in on this last day of '07, about the best I have to offer is a congrats for getting through this one.

To Hina:

I do not accept that illiteracy a reason for terrorism. There are plenty of places in the world where people are illiterate and they are not blowing each other to pieces (or burning cars, etc.).

The people who are doing the killing and rioting are not illiterate either. Look at the 9/11 terrorists - all educated Muslims. They are being instigated and lead by their even more "educated" leaders like bin Laden.

Isn't the alleged justification the Koran and its promises to suicide bombers of 70 virgins in paradise?

Maybe that's why there are so few women suicide bombers - women are too smart to fall for that crap!

In any event, you candidly acknowledge that the ayatollahs and mullahs, who are also educated, are not speaking out against this violence. Why is that?

It leads me to think they are supporting it.

Just in case you thought I was unaware of the topic of this thread…

The installation of her son as leader of the party does not strike me as very democratic but I don’t expect other countries to mirror the way things are done here. It is very instructive however about the major differences in history and culture between the west and Islamic countries.

Attempts by some Islamic countries (e.g. Turkey and Pakistan) to separate politics from religion have been difficult, to say the least. Turkey is currently slipping back under the shadow of Islam and I would not be surprised if the same thing happens in Pakistan.

Church and state must be separate. That’s the problem with Islam. It is a complete system that combines spirituality, politics, law, and social order in a very rigid fashion leaving little or no room for freedom of conscience or speech. Islamic countries are the most oppressive, hostile, and dysfunctional on the face of the earth.

Is it really true, her teenage son will be taking over the party? This sounds more like ancient Rome or Egypt to me. Its almost 2008, and this is what counts as democracy?

Can someone please educate me about Bhutto?
Anyone...?
From my understanding her net worth is in the Billions? How did this come about?
Was she lucky in the stock market, or did she own some of that Pakistani oil?
Please help me learn more about this incredibly wealthy woman.

How democratic is putting her son in charge of PPP really?

Haven't we all gone way off on a tangent here?

Getting back to the question at hand - what is the purpose of putting Bhutto's incredibly inexperienced and young son in as leader of the PPP, expect to maintain the family's control over the party through public sympathy and name recognition?

It reeks of nothing but nepotism!

Western history is littered with bloody examples of religious zealotry out of control.

This is why the separation of church and state was evolved.

ALL religions in this country are subject to the rule of law and discussions of who is better or worse are irrelevant.

This acrimonious little debate is a grim reminder of the need to keep religion firmly in its place.

Proponents of religious extremism must be confronted wherever we find them.

Priests who abuse children, Mullahs who foment revolution, and parents who injure or kill their children over faith inspired differences are all prosecuted.

Political correctness should not be a shield for excusing the excesses of religion.

Christianity and Islam come from the same part of the world and at their worst are characterized by brutality, misogyny, homophobia, and intellectual intolerance.

There's a darn good reason why religious freedom is controlled and exists at the pleasure of the state.

Ali Mallah, when all you do is trot out the same old arguments, all you accomplish is the perpetuation of the very problem that has caused the hate in the World for so long.

Of course, what maybe matters to you most is being 'right'.

Do you really think your thoughts are new ones ?

Peace is 'new' and requires dropping all the tired old arguments and looking for the benefits of a massive change in thinking.

That's where peace lies.

I am able to handle the truth that peace will be difficult to achieve, but I also know it will be impossible with your current mindset.

Wow, Nathan, you said exactly what I wanted to say, but yours actually got posted. Islam is in it's infancy, compared to Christanity.

Ireland has it's fair share of Christian against Christian terrorism, yet that is convieniently forgotten.

R Not: If you want to get into morals, then you cannot say one religion is more moral than another. By definition, most of the God of Abraham religions (they're all the same basically anyways) cannot be moral.

They are based on a reward/punishment system.

You don't be a good Christian because it's the right thing to do. You do so because you want the reward of heaven.

That is not moral choices. That is reward and punishment.

The bible is the supposed word of God. The Christian faith cannot allow for any interpretation besides the literal one, or it falls apart.

I suggest you reread your bibles (Old and New testaments) before making such claims.

Also, please don't claim that the bible contains any historic fact.

It is true that some events are exaggurated events of what actually happened, but it is by no means fact.

The world is older than 6000 years, for starters.

Also, as I said earlier, Ireland is a perfect example of current day Christian terrorism.

Even the Holocaust is an example of modern Christian violence.

Look into the Pope during that era.

Bhutto's legacy is still alive and will always be, She was the first lady to be President of a Muslin Country Wow. My sincere condolence to the Families and to all PPP members.

Now to you alls.

God didn't create all those religions and God doesn't need our help or protection.

God only give us Ten Commandment thats all.

I have fate in God but not for the order religions who always said in the name of the lord I will do this or that and if you do this or that your will be save.

What a bunch of crap. This planet is going don't the drain and it seem the planet is more preoccupied with religions fight.

You can here comment like, My religions is better than your or your religions is Evil.

My only wish would be that God would open the clouds and say Shup up! and 6 billions of peoples can here him at the same time.

That would be something. but in the mean time, we will continue to see War and religions fighting over God like the thousand years before and thousand years coming.

Be in Peace to you all for 2008.

To Hina Mathani:

Your quote from Chronicles is apposite. There are other references from Dueteronomy which also call for death for the stupidist of reasons.

These are the beliefs of iron age tribes which thought their god lived in the sky above, thought the world was flat and the centre of the universe etc.

Although I am no defender of religion - I think it is a vestige of our unenlightened past - and should stay there - Christianity and Judiasm don't follow these ancient dictates.

A significant number of Muslims, for some reason, still think they are valid.

Muslim leaders need to reject unequivocally these ancient curses - but I don't see it happening.

R Not

...Have you read the old testament lately? Or ever?

The amount of people that are supposed to be killed, according to that book, is sickening. Kill gays. Kill people who work on Sunday. Kill disobediant children.

It promotes slavery. It promotes segregation. It promotes bigotry and racism. It promotes ignorance.

Don't for a second act like Christanity is any better.

More people have died due to Christanity than Islam.

Sure, the crusades are hundreds of years ago.

But, if you want to get into it, Islam is several hundred years newer than Christanity, so the religion could be in the same stage, in which case, any Christian has no right to speak ill of it whatsoever.

You want current day atrocities of the "better" Christanity? Look no further than Africa, where the Catholics don't want birth control in place.

They don't believe in condoms, you know. You don't have to wonder why aids is so widespread there. You can thank the pope...

Chris from Waterloo, and many here, are making the mistake of basing an entire peoples on some bad seeds. That is the very definition of racism and bigotry.

It's funny how whenever there is a news story about a Muslim/Islamic person, everyone jumps right away and says it's a religious zealot, and they're savages.

Grow up Canada.

Some interesting posts here.

Took me a while to read them but I did and this is what I'm thinking.

Regardless of Benazir Bhutto's intentions,whether they were for the good of her country or self serving, she had brought a semblance of hope to her people.

We can comment back and forth about racism, hate and intolerance all we want, the bottom line is the damage has been done {not that there wasn't enough damage done over there} and that part of the world will probably become even more volatile.

Oh yeah,and they have nukes. I'm usually a pretty positive person but I can't see anything positive coming from this.

Mark my words, Pakistan will probably have the most turbulent year in its history.

I will pray for them.

To Hina Mathani:

Hina, I disagree that illiteracy is the root of the violence of the Islamic jihadists. Is Osama Bin laden illiterate? I don't think so.

bin Laden justifies his mass murder on the written words of the Koran.

Islam has to condemn this in the strongest terms but I don't hear a chorus of ayatollahs and mullahs issuing a fatwah against bin Laden.

Islam needs to convince the world it is a religion of peace and tolerance - if in fact it is.

Actions speak louder than words.

The world is watching.

To Hina Mithani

Yours is one of the standard arguments used by Muslims and their apologists; a classic example, unfortunately.

It is an effort to establish a moral equivalence among all major faiths.

The very nature of Islam makes that impossible – it is a socio-political ideology that is rigid and harsh.

The Qur’an plagiarizes Judeo-Christian scripture, adds hostility and intolerance to all others, and sets it all in 7th century concrete.

There is a vast difference between the violent passages in the Bible and the Qur’an.

The Bible was written by a large number of different people, at different times, in different contexts.

This allows for a great deal of interpretative flexibility.

When viewed through the lens of the life of Christ the violent passages in the Bible are impossible to be taken as standing orders to commit such violence.

They are simply references to actual historical events.

Note that Christ is never a proponent of or participant in these acts.

The Qur’an comes from one source, Muhammad.

It is through the life of Muhammad that the Qur’an must be understood, as the Qur’an itself says.

His wars and killings both reflect and inform the meaning of the Qur’an.

The strict literalism of the Qur’an allows no room for interpretation when it comes to its violent injunctions, as it is seen as the immutable word of Allah.

In any case, this weak argument is simply a deflection of the other points I made, including the fact that no one is committing acts of violence in the name of Christianity, Buddhism, or Rastafarianism TODAY.

Muslims however, have been very busy indeed lately, following examples such as: “Sura (8:12) - I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.”

This just couldn’t have anything to do with the regular appearance of headless corpses around the world these days, could it?

Please stop trying to justify current Islamic violence.

Hina Mithani of Mississauga:

Your answer from the Bible responding to criticism of the Koran was well chosen.

Many 21st century Christians forget the river of blood apparently endorsed in Old Testament scriptures.

Throughout most of the world, Christians seem now to have abandoned these Old Testament teachings.

I'm not sure it would be easy to find a Christian leader advocating the stoning of homosexuals.

It would seem that the Christian belief system has become more humane.

Christianity is about 600 years older than Islam.

It's my hope that sometime in the next 600 years Islam will also abandon the mutilation of thieves and the stoning of adulteresses.

Concurrent with that, we'll hopefully see a decrease in suicide bombings that are justified by religious claims.

One could certainly have an interesting debate on what particular circumstances led to the changes in the practice of Judaism and Christianity.

Was it the secularization of society? Was it a more literate people? Was it democracy?

Whatever it was, I personally hope the effect will work its way into other religions where violence is still a very active--and often condoned--practice.

What's up RuMP?
Can't you handle the truth?

As for Rnot, Your reading of history is very interesting.

Have you vere read anything about the Romans and their ventures to liberate Jerusalem?

Or did you read about the Masacres by Christians against Christians in Europe?

As I stated in my first post, Religion in general get nothing to do with inhuman acts and behaviours.

in the presuit of power and greed, Human history tells us about all kind of atrocities.

To IM

Thank you for responding to the post addressed to me. Well answered.

To R NOT

You quoted a verse of the Quran so just playing the way you like it, how about you read this:

2 Chronicles
“Whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.--15:13”

I can quote quite a few verses from the Bible promoting non tolerance but unlike some people I know better than not to take everything that these books say word for word.

To Roger

I never said illiteracy is ONLY what is at the root of the problem.

I honestly think the debate over whether NATO should go into Pakistan to oust al-qaida and the violent Taliban that threaten our troops will be elevated now.

Pakistan is obviously not going to become secure unless all terrorist activity is stopped. What's more is that is the same for Afghanistan.

Until Pakistan is free from the terrorist there, democracy will never run through its course in both countries.

It doesant matter if it's a secular or Muslim type democratic government, there needs to be one especially with the bomb in the balance.

To IM

Your defense of Islamic violence seems to be based on a list of what you call Christian behaviour that is less than admirable. This is absolute nonsense.

The examples you and others cite have no basis in the teachings of Christianity. It is just examples of humans behaving badly. You have provided no connection with the teachings of Christ and any comparable violence.

The past and current horrific violence committed by Muslims however, is done in the name of Islam with the ultimate goal of world domination.

This is based on teachings of the Qur’an and the role model provided by Muhammad.

E.g. Sura 9:5 - "Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free."

I see a lot of Muslims committing atrocities around the world today in the name of Islam and a lot more Muslims doing nothing about it. Not even admitting or recognizing that the source of the violence is Islam itself. That would seem to be an important first step.

Please stop trying to justify current Islamic violence and actually do something about it.

I withdraw all previous comments about B. Bhutto being a champion of democracy etc in Pakistan. Anointing her young son as the "leader" of the PPP makes any claims to democratic process a farce.

Still, her death is a great loss, if not for the cause of democracy, certainly for the cause of women in the Middle East.

Women in fundamentalist theocracies are the most oppressed, enslaved human beings in the history of the modern world.

Having just finished watching CNN's "Lifting the Veil" about the lives women in Afghanistan continue to suffer, I sometimes wonder what we are "fighting" for there. Most of the countries of the world treat dogs better than most women are treated by men in Afghanistan.

I'm stunned by the hate disguised as debate that is passing for intellectual discussion in this blog.

And ALI from Ontario is just plain scary. You need to move to another country where you would feel more at home with your hate.

Thoughts like yours don't belong in a peaceloving, free and democratic Canada. All you need is love !

Can we please declare a moritorium on words ending in "phobic?"

Whenever I read a post (or listen to a person) who defaults to expressions like "homophobic," "islamophobic," etc I shut down.

These name-calling bits of rhetoric are the last resort of people who don't have a clear point of view to express. Just because someone's point of view differs from yours doesn't make him "phobic" or "racist."

While we're at it, maybe we should oust "fundalmentalist" and "radical" while we're at it. These words used to mean something (maybe), but now they're just catch-alls used to dismiss others. i.e. "He's an Evangelical fundamentalist." (I'm an evangelical, and I don't even know what an "evangelical fundamentalist" is...so how could a non-religious person use such terminology with intelligence?)

Likewise, "The attack was carried out by Islamic radicals." From what I've been reading in this forum, the idea of what's "radical" in Islam is up for grabs.

Happy New Year, everyone, and thanks for the opportunity to share ideas.

Chris;

"Muslims have a lot of work to do to show the entire world that Islam is a peaceful religion because actions speak louder than words; we have seen the evidence and we are not going to accept Islam as a peaceful religion simply because you say so; put your money where your mouth is and prove it."

I would ask you to do the same when it comes to Christianity. I hear often on this board that Christianity is the only true religion.. of course that's coming from Christians. Sure there's violence in Islam.. but what Christians have never shed any blood?

Look to my previous posts. The KKK considers itself Christian; Hitler was Catholic, So was Stalin and Pol Pot as well I believe; priests molesting little boys etc.

It was on Christian principles that the Harper government stood in unison against same sex marriage.. remember Leviticus also says eating lobster and shellfish is an abomination.

Tell me Chris do you eat lobster? Cause if you do you can't on the same hand be against same sex marriage.

The problem with religion is people. People like to take what they want and leave the rest. This is the problem with Islam and the problem with Christianity.

My condolences to the family of Mrs. Bhutto; maybe she did hold the light of peace I guess we will never know.

Wow, people really are in the left wing bubble lol.

IM, sir, the Middle East has had violence in it long before the USA was even formed as a country, so you have no point.

PPP is a party where internal elections have never taken place and the same goes for PML.

The VADERAS [feudal lords] think they have the divine right to rule over us, mere lowly mortals, the people of Pakistan.

The election of Bilawal (a 19 year old boy) to become PPP's head should be an eye opener for the world where many people believe that she was a champion for democracy.

There were at least three other serious candidates for the post of PPP's chair person. The prominent lawyer, Aithizas Ahsan, the deposed chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhary, and PPP's vice chairman, Amin Faheem.

R NOT;

Your an interesting fellow. On the post you posted before you addressed me you said " To say that “Islam or the Muslim culture does not sanction violence and bloodshed” is just not accurate.

The origin, history, and current activities of the adherents of Islam all indicate otherwise."

I would have to say the same about your Christian religion. Let's see 1960's deep south in the states. Christian preachers holding rallies in white hoods setting crosses alight and hanging non whites from trees.

Gee that sounds peaceful. I guess that's the form of Christian love and respect eh?

I think R NOT you should do some reading on the issues of the Middle East. Western foreign diplomacy of forty years ago has led us to where we are now.

And we still are trying to play the same games.

Want some examples: read up on El Salvador, Chile, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Panama, Columbia and Venezuela should be a good start.

All of these places at one time had peaceful regimes but thanks to foreign intervention and the role of puppeteers they are all currently run by dictators that are either controlled by the west or as in the case of El Salvador are countries that are just simply owned by us.

That must be another mandate of Christian policy since our government is a reflection of ourselves; and so many posters here say that the west is the holder of Christian principles.

You either do what we say or we will run you into the ground. Sounds very Charlemagne to me. So to say Christianity is all lovey dovey and peaceful is simply just not accurate. Religion is a virus.

Ali Mallah,

The Bhutto assassination is indeed the topic, but the underlying issue is violence within the Islamic religion.

I will concede not all Muslims are violent, but I have NEVER seen condemnation whenever innocent people are murdered in the name of Allah or Jihad.

Muslims have a lot of work to do to show the entire world that Islam is a peaceful religion because actions speak louder than words; we have seen the evidence and we are not going to accept Islam as a peaceful religion simply because you say so; put your money where your mouth is and prove it.

Again, violence within Islam existed long before the USA, Western Countries, or Colonialism touched the MiddleEast, so again, your point is moot.

Trying to hide from the truth will get you nowhere fast and that is why I would expose your arguments for the weak rhetoric they are in front of a national audience.

As for you Allan from Kamloops, you were directly one of those I referred to in my last comments.

Here you are spewing rhetoric that disproved none of my comments, you criticize the feelings of the majority, yet here you are, in Canada, so what is your position exactly?

Your words say one thing, but your actions say another. Go to Pakistan or Saudi Arabia and see how well your liberal values are accepted over there. Any other rebuttals to refute?

As of today Benazir Bhutto's son Biliwal, (who is an Oxford student), and husband Asif Ali Zardari, have taken over her party with Biliwal taking the chair.

Asif Ali will take the real power as co-chair as he is an experienced politician. He was environment minister when Bhutto was in power. He is also now asking the rioters to have restrain.

The other opposition party are siding with PPP to force the present military government to keep the 8 January election day.

I fully agree with this since delaying the election could mean the present government has more time for publicizing propaganda.

Let it be known that you cannot fight ideologies with weapons. If you could, your own ideology may have been taken care of by those who oppose you.

Benazir was ahead of her times.

RE: appointing of Bhutto's son as party leader

I cannot fathom why they would elect a 19 year old, first year oxford student to lead the ppp?... Is this party or a monarchy? Or is he the only one willing to die for the political group his family created? Certainly there must be someone in the party more experienced/wise than this boy. No wonder things are messed up over there..

The latest news from Pakistan is that Bhutto's son and husband are to be co-leaders of party for the coming election.

This is the party that is supposed to bring democracy?

Sounds like a pseudo-monarchy to me.

This could be an interesting precedent for a democracy.

So if in Canada something incapacitated Stephen Harper then Laureen, Ben and Rachel Harper would form a triumvirate leadership of the federal Conservatives.

That is something to seriously ponder.

Chris of Waterloo, I doubt very much that you would make Ali Mallah "look like a fool" in a public debate on this same issue.

To begin with, your views on this thread are hopelessly Islamophobic and your outright refusal to entertain any suggestion Christianity might be imperfect in comparison is (to be generous), uneducated.

But then history has shown those conditions have never been a reason enough not to get into a fight, so why not dream big, eh?

Well perhaps because if your pipe dream somehow did occur and CBC allowed you to make a fool of anyone in public, what would the CBC or we, the audience, gain?

The thought of two fools ranting back and forth at prime time just doesn't cut it Chris.

Chris in Waterloo,

The purpose of this discussion was to talk about Ms. Bhutto and the Future of Pakistan, However unfortunately, due to you it became an open forum against Muslims and Islam in general.

To the credits of many other open-minded participants, Thankfully, they brought some civility back to this debate and expose the hate mongers...etc.

You ask if I consider "Islamic extremists to be bigoted, hateful, and christianphobic"?

Short answer: I always have. You have no idea how much we "muslims" suffer and continue to suffer from this so called " Islamic extremists" and the damage they inflicted on us.

But we know that for a long period of time many of these groups were and some them still the beneficiaries of western imperialists including the U.S.'s drive to power and domination.

They were the pawns of the U.S. and the West to confront the " Unbelievers- Communists".

You stated "blaming the U.S., Western countries, or colonialism is getting old; especially considering violence in Islamic nations (namely the Middle East) has been going on for centuries upon centuries ...".

Are you referring to the Crusades and Crusaders? or the Inquisition in Spain?

Chris, I respectfully (not smugly) tell you what you already know: you can't have it both ways, make your cake and eat it!.

To the CBC, all on this list and people out there, Eid Mubarak, Happy Hannukah, joyful Kwanza, Merry Christmas and peace new year.

Don't worry, the Western World will find someone else to replace her.

Dear CBC,

If you are going to entertain Ali Mallah's request, I'm a willing participant. I will make him look like the fool he is on national TV and smile afterwards :) Thank you.

Ali Mallah from Toronto,

You indicated that I should educate myself on the issues, yet you provide no evidence of how I am 'uneducated'.

I stand by my comments and to brandish me as a bigot, hateful, or Islamaphobe because you disagree with my assessment is what I would call uneducated.

Speaking on that issue, I would like to ask..."Would you consider Islamic extermists to be bigoted, hateful, and christianphobic"? See how equality is a two-way street here?

Additionally, the blaming of the USA, Western countries, or colonialism is getting old; especially considering violence in Islamic nations (namely the MiddleEast) has been going on for centuries upon centuries long before Westernized nations had any influence in the region whatsoever, so your point is moot.

On that note, I've read all these comments from people who can't take the truth and spew rhetoric filled diatribes in a retaliatory manner, but yet, here you all are, in Canada, enjoying the freedoms that were built upon Christian principles.

So I would smugly suggest that if you are true to your beliefs, you leave Canada, and move to these peaceful Islamic nations and see how well your political correctness goes over there.

It's an absolute joke that some of you cannot put together a rebuttal to my statements.

I stand by each and every comment of mine.

On that note, I wish Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!!!

"Illiteracy is what is at the root of the problem"

Please.

I don't know, but I don't see too many illiterate Canadians blowing themselves up at bus stops in the name of anything.

I am wondering about democracy today.

The Toronto Sun's Sunday edition's headlines scream"Year of the Assassin"but it's not talking about Pakistan but Toronto.At least a dozen people were targeted killings.

The Toronto Star's is about the chaos reigning in Pakistan. The lootings, killings and destruction of property.

It begs the question,are people ready for democracy?

A tragic death brings chaos and madness to the people?

A mob mentality where no one seems to know the difference between right and wrong?

Another interesting article in The Toronto Star by David Oliver is called"From Hyperpower to New World Disorder."

It talks of the world chaos and its new emerging super players.

Here in Canada,I noticed little news space was given to Ipperwash and Dudley George, the Native protester who was murdered by the police.

Dudley will go down in history for doing what he felt was right and Natives are celebrating right now but it is also going to be right back in the spot light when people also remember it is a hollow victory because in the end,what did he die for?

In the end, they were given the land that he died for by the government. Was his death in vain? It was needless to say the least.

A few of the things we should be thinking about in our own democratic country when we are so quick to condemn other countries.

In response to "J Sherwood

After reading the history of Ms. Bhutto, I have to wonder about one thing.

If she was such an incredible leader and person, why was she removed from office twice on corruption charges?

Lobbyist -fund or Donation to a party or charity fund is not a legal Tax deductible expenditure.

On that criteria of Pakistan, both liberals or conservative political parties are corrupt, as party funding is illegal.

ABout CNN's report about covering Pakistan and Benazir's death today.

I think CNN is contradicting in their news about whether she was complaining about the security and then she wanted to touch and be there with people and put herself in danger voluntarily.. then she or any leader in her position shouldn't compromise their security.

Benazir was provided with BULLET PROOF CAR, Jammers, her own security, and an unprecedented security from the government...every time she needed.

So please stop fabricating in this matter as CNN and western media always does.

West can never see any Muslim state rising in front of them. Now, Muslims know what negative moves the western media is going to play and portray to the world to fulfill their monstrous agendas.

I also know that this email is not going to be posted on the TV to the world.

Mark Siegel should apologize also for his inconsiderate comments and not realizing that there were other 22 people who died with her.

Many around the world also understand that she came back to Pakistan to fulfill the western agendas.

Basically, it is all the matter of power.

CNN is the propaganda machine of the west and Israel.

Enjoy the power till it lasts, everything comes to an end.

We all will die.

Nathan from Alberta,

Have you ever watch John Hage and other Evangelical speakers on TV? Can't you see that they speak the same language of Al Qaeda but with different styles and attires?

In more than many occasions, sometimes in front of Thousands of people, I publicly spoke out aginst Taliban, Al Qaeda and their supporters from USA, western goverments to the Saudis, many in my community did the same.

Thank You, we know how brought this disease on us!

Why do you feel that you have to state: I am fully in favour of immigration, and I enjoy the culture that other peoples...etc

Here we are again, I like their Cultural events, Dance and their food.

Just stop this nonsense and read between your own words!

Have you forget that Only First nations people are the pure Canadians and that every on else in this country is an immigrant or descendent of immigrant parents, grand and great grand parents?

You dislike sugar coating, welcome to the club. But be aware of the fact that you can't hide behind your finger, as it will not cover you in the first place.

You want to talk about Suicide Bombers, that's OK. But why don't you talk about the F18 , stealth bombers, B 52 and earth shaking Tanks and their deadly machines that deliver indiscrimate death?

If you have not heard about it, why don't you talk to Afghanis, Iraqis, Palestinians and Lebanese who were and still are at the receiving end of USA and western civilized death squads.

You want a fair game, Have you read anything about the B52 pilots stories and the thousands and thousands of Vietnamese who were massacred by it?

Have you heard of the Napalme and Cluster bombs? have you read about Nagasaki and Hiroshima...etc

The list will go much longer form Chile to El Salvador, Panama to Korea, Iran CIA coup in 1952,the school of Americas to Cars bombing in Beirut (The CIA released classified documents few months ago, Please go read it).

For once, let's change our lenses and look at the MIRROR.

Why after 140 people killed in an open air rally would she insist on putting her people at risk again?

Have you seen the list of crimes she and her husband have been convicted of?

The warrants by interpol?

Twice she was booted from power for corruption?

She was named president for life of the PPP?

How is she the darling of democracy?

Her husband was known as Mr 10%.

She was corrupt.

What is more corrupt is how now she is being used by the West inside Pakistan.

It is absolutely crazy to go ahead with an election at this point.

The opposition party just lost its leader in the most horrible way.

I am appalled that the U.S., Britain and Canadian governments favour going ahead with the January election in Pakistan.

What is wrong with Stephen Harper that he cannot think things through for himself and recognize that supporting George Bush's agenda is detrimental to world peace and security.

Excellent comment Nathan and I agree, criticism and hard questions do not constitue racism.

I am sure that the Islamic community in Canada will loudly and clearly condemn the perversion of Islam that Islamist radicalism represents.

After all as Canadian citizens they believe in the rule of law first and foremost.

To IM

I certainly hope people don’t “believe everything they are told”. They should probably keep their eyes and ears open and do their own thinking.

Even your anecdotal evidence of your poor ‘moderate’ friend adds to the picture.

That and more plus the hateful rhetoric that comes out of the Middle East from various ‘leaders’, would seem to indicate that the post 9/11 dancing in the streets we saw may well have been the real deal.

Assuming that the party that benefited most is most likely the perpetrator is not always a sound policy, especially in a very complex situation like this. It is also way too soon to judge who benefited the most here.

Citing examples of so called Christian atrocities as a defense of Islam is simply absurd.

You cannot find any Christian teachings then or now that justify the violence and hate of WW2 fascism.

Even if you could, you cannot use it to justify the violence committed by Muslims around the world TODAY.

To Hina Mithani

To say that “Islam or the Muslim culture does not sanction violence and bloodshed” is just not accurate.

The origin, history, and current activities of the adherents of Islam all indicate otherwise.

To compare past examples of atrocities committed by adherents of other religions is irrelevant for two reasons.

First, because the historical violence often cited (The Crusades, Spanish Inquisition) is just that: history.

It is just not happening anymore. Second, none of this can be used as justification for current violence coming straight out of the Islamic world.

To blame the illiterate seems a little harsh and simplistic to me. I would put the blame on the message itself. Again, your statement is just not accurate either.

The guys involved in the airport attacks in Scotland were very well educated. They also happened to be quite devout Muslims.

Your comment (and others) about ‘curtailing’ posts is quite alarming. This free speech thing is pretty important. Inventing labels like islamophobic, linking them with HATE and then automatically censoring just does not strike me as the right approach.

Not saying it won’t happen though.

SHE DESERVE TO DIE

Yes, like many in this forum I am thankful to the CBC that we can have an open discussion. Even those of us who are called "racist" (like me) have a legitimate point of view. But we may choose not to embrace the molly-coddling politically-correct "Canadian" way of avoiding telling the truth (or saying what we think) in favor or saying what we think will please other people the most.

I am fully in favor of immigration, and I enjoy the culture that other peoples (notably Pakistani in my city) have brought to Canada. My wife and I attend ethnic events and eat Indian food at least once a week. I LIKE Pakistanis and have no quarrel with Canadian Muslims.

But I am not in favor of sugar coating the reality we see in the world around us, simply to appease those who insist that Islam is a religion of peace.

I am 100% sure that Muslims in Canada (most of them) believe Islam is a religion of peace. I am also 100% sure that Muslims who believe in jihad do not believe Islam is a religion of peace. Just as the Crusades were efforts by Christians to subjugate other faiths, any reading of the Koran and the EARLY history of Islam will clearly show that early Islam was nothing more than a total effort to subjugate--by brutal physical force-people of other faiths.

Unfortunately, there is a Muslim fundamentalist movement in some parts of the world which would like to move back to this very earliest expression of Islam. To my knowledge there are NO suicide bombers in the world who are not Muslim. Until these jihadist movements are extinguished it will be fair game to criticize Islam on the basis of its violence.

If it is fair game to criticize George Bush as "empire building and militaristic" due to his actions in Iraq and elsewhere--why on earth would it not be fair game to criticize certain Muslims due to their actions in Pakistan or New York?

As respect for life, any loss is saddening. He giveth and He taketh. It is up to us how we use our life with sincerity with accountability to Him and to His creation.

We do not know what was in Mrs. Bhutto’s heart so we cannot judge her intentions.

However, her recent and past actions did not translate into being sincere to Pakistan, its citizens or region. To gain power by agreeing to policies dictated by Zionists/pro-Israelis in USA, who have declared war on Islam and Muslims throughout the world. To change their believing system, acquire influence by occupying basically for Israel security and safety while looting its wealth using smoke screen of democracy and threat to USA and the West.

What we need to ask who gains most, by financing chaos in Pakistan all to make an excuse to go in and take control, including nuclear facilities and breaking Pakistan into many pieces.

Government of countries like India, Israel, USA and even (pro-India/USA/Israel) Afghanistan.

Despite my surprise that CBC is posting some comments that spills of hate, racism and islamophoia, I like to publicly say: thanks to the CBC, our publicly funded media institution, for having this discussion in the OPEN.
We, Canadians, try very hard to live up to our perceived image of "politeness, tolerance and niceties", while we know that there are very serious issues bubbling in our midst, but we don't want to go beyond the surface.
I have noticed in many town hall forums, political discussions and follow up on major events and elections at various levels, the CBC guests are overwhelmingly ( if not all) form the one section of Canadians: WHITEs.

So, I ask the CBC to take this discussion one step further: How about a town hall forum to address our social issues including racism, intolerance, hate and prejudices...etc, Where people have to be in the open (not just behind the keyboards like this forum) and face the music?
Oh by the way, CBC could invite participants form this forum and also draw names from various sides of this debate.
Dear CBC, are you up to the task?

I have to love how the right loves to believe everything they are told. From a holy book to what they read in the media. Islamic people cheering after 9/11 Reese? hmm I remember alot of Islamic people living in fear because of reprisals from ignorant, racist simple minded baffoons.

Ask yourself this Reese. Who benefitted most from 9/11? Must be the terrorists eh? after all all the money their weapons factories are set to make *sarcasm*. hmm.

Oh and to correct some other posters the Taliban are hated by most moderate muslims. I have a palestinian friend who considers himself a moderate... that stance got him beat up weekly in his homeland. So if you want to generalize I can sure throw some history out there about the Christian faith.. like the fact that Hitler was a catholic. Does that mean all Catholics are fascists.. remember Mussolini was a fascist and a catholic as well. Starting to see a trend here.

I think if the CBC is going to allow posts of a racist ignorant origin they should also allow the rebuttal; no matter how harsh it is.

To Robt.

I agree with you when you say the killing & violence need to stop but disagree when you phrase it as an "aspect of their religion or culture" because it is not. Islam or the Muslim culture does not sanction violence and bloodshed. Illiteracy is what is at the root of the problem and triggers it all because it is a mass of uneducated people that blindly follow their fanatic ulemas in madrassas who use Islam to their advantage by misinterpreting Quranic verses.

Jason Blanks

I have to agree with you. CBC needs to curtail racist and Islamophobic comments

On a sidenote, it is hard to choose between
corrupt 'democratic' politicians and radical mullahs both who are hell bent on destroying Pakistan and thus I support enlightened moderation. Long live Musharraf!

Trevor from Brampton: The Taliban had nothing to do with evicting the Soviets from Afghanistan, they appeared for the first time in Kandahar province in 1994, five years after the Soviets left.

They fought successfully against the warlord-led mujahideen factions that turned on each other after defeating the Soviets. The Taliban were very well armed, trained and financed, thanks to the Pakistani intelligence services and the Bhutto government.

The Taliban were largely created and financed by Benazir Bhutto and her interior security minister Naseerullah Babar for the purpose of subduing Afghanistan and bringing it under Pakistan's domination. However, it turned out that the Taliban had their own ideas once they got into power. The rest is history, as is said.

It's another round of unstable middle east from Rafic hariri to Arafat to Buttho in pakistan... it's the New middle east with the white house and rice vision...Provide justice and stop making wars... No one really knows who killed Benazir Buttho...except those who are benefiting from unstable Pakistan. American foreign policy is not only a problem, it's a problem CREATOR.

Great, now we can look forward to a stronger
'war on terrorism' message from Washington,
another reason for Musharraf to reinstate martial law, and an extended (if thats possible) US presence in the region.

Maybe US forces will have to move in to Pakistan (sure hope their recruiting is going well for them). Then both the US military and the CIA will be in Pakistan.

I wonder who had the most to gain from this assassination....

Reese

To borrow a phrase from you, "pul-ease."

"Hundreds of ostensibly Islamic taxi drivers at airports across Canada engaged in a mass cheer of delight."

Did one of those ostensible taxi drivers lead the cheer in some Walmart morning cheer sort of way?

What airport did you witness this at and could you hear the "cheer of delight" echoing in from landing strips across our land?

Reese, have you given any thought to the tiny chance many of Canada's "ostensibly Islamic taxi drivers" are actually Hindu or even downright agnostic or that the "cheer" was a figment of some bigot's all too willing imagination?

That might explain why this ugly urban rumour didn't get much coverage in the media as you lament.

Hey, I'll even cut you some slack and offer that maybe the media is controlled by "ostensibly Islamic" types also.

While I can agree we kneel too often at the foot of the gods of political correctness shouldn't we at least aim to please the gods of factual correctness once in a while?

I mean, it seems a bit like a blanket condemnation (or worse), of an entire race to suggests "hundreds of ostensibly Islamic taxi drivers" did anything.

Maybe, as you imply by "ostensibly" these guys were all CIA agents dressed up to appear to be "Islamic taxi drivers."

After all my theory (it's only rhetorical), appears to hold as much fact as does your diatribe.

This is beyond the imagination and comprehension of a human!!!!

Even animals could not harm as such as this.

No words can describe how terrible it is.

I do hope this is not something that a religion or a leader of some people tried to teach or practice.

If yes, then what is that religion?? VOID!

Ali Mallah - oh puh-lease.

Aggressive religions world wide have a lot of 'xplaining to do, whether they are Christian/Muslim/whatever (we all should give a good long listen to John Lennon's "Imagine").

But Islam differentiates itself currently by possessing the most (only) suicide bombers that are crying out "Allah-hu Akbar" as they are pressing the detonator button.

It begins and ends there.

If Islam is a so-called religion of Peace (puh-lease again!) why are the moderates so silent and ineffective?

Condoleezza Rice got Bhutto killed.

Bhutto had no business being in Pakistan but for Rice.

Rare indeed does a government policy end in so spectacular a failure as having the bloody brains blown out of a former and potentially future head of state before millions of onlookers.

It was in the name of the State Department's 'Freedom and Democracy' agenda that Rice first conceived of the purely cosmetic notion of having the telegenic and politically pliable Bhutto pose as the duly elected spokesmodel, for what was to remain a brutal, military tyranny directed by the US to root out, torture, and exterminate every deemed pro-Taliban/Al-Queda lifeform in Pakistan from lizard up.

Even in an Administration infamous for using plausible gullibility to exonerate its members from personal responsibility and guilt for catastrophic failures, surely this last, in a long, long line, of world historical blunders should compel that rarest of occasions in the Bush White House, a resignation for failure.

Rice has got to go.

Benazir Bhutto made a grave mistake in an interview she gave when she said no Muslim would do her harm because she was a woman.

Sadly, she miscalculated the hate and bigotry and she paid for it with her life.

To Chris from Waterloo: whew man! Watch out with that whole 'elucidating the truth' thing. We can't handle much of that in politically correct Canada.

When faced with the spectre of death and destruction we hum a Coke jingle and want to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony.

Benazir Bhutto's assassination points to a form of blind, hatred infused (probably religious) violence that can tear a society apart.

The 'fact' that Islamic Extremism world wide has become the biggest blip on the radar of death and destruction is undeniable. (And, yes our history also shows many other religions acting extremely and with little regard to life, dignity and freedom.)

I want to know why we spend so much time denying the obvious and suppressing real news: on Sept.11 2001 moments after the news broke about the fall of the Twin Towers, hundreds of ostensibly Islamic taxi drivers at airports across Canada engaged in a mass cheer of delight.

Why was this story buried? I thought that we reported the news even-handedly and without a bias toward our namby pamby, 'oh lets just hug' political policies.

To Chris and others who buy his argument.

I do hope that you follow your own advice and get some education in religions and world politics.

Yes, Islam is followed by many race and hateful statements against islam would not be viewed as racist.

You're correct, However you forget to admit such statements are bigoted, Hateful and Islamophobic.

You also need to admit that the Taliban, were the shining stars of USA various administrations and western governments.

They did support Taliban and Al Qaeda with Training, weapons, finance and logistics as well. Many millions of Muslims did not work and or support them!

G.W. Bush, Tony Blair are faithful attendant of Church services and claim that they fear God.

However, they did not hesitate to lie and deceive many in this world to justify their illegal War (They should be brought to International criminal courts and be charged with war crimes) on Iraq that caused more than on Million people so far.

Chris, why don't you get some History lessons to be able to understand that, wherever, there is trouble in the world right now, is the result of western imperialist and colonial legacy, which was and still been led by Non Muslim Leaders!.

Finally and Of course, I will never follow your path and even hint for one second that Christianity and or Christians are responsible for this interferences that sliced most of the world from Africa to Asia and planted many reasons for conflict and killings.

Benazir was a brave leader and the only hope for Pakistanis , & for democracy and the only hope to get rid of the poisonous regime of militants.

Pakistan has become the state of Mafia and Militants.

We take Musharraf as the Hitler of the modern age and you America, sorry to say, that you gave him full shoulder and support to rule.

When the US invaded Afghanistan, Musharraf was made an offer he couldn't refuse.

Either join "the war on terror" or have Pakistan "bombed back to the stone age".

Thus Musharraf became a pawn of the US. But also became trapped between a rock (the US) and a hard place (about 150 million muslims). While being forced to co-operate with the US he also had to be careful not to raise the ire of Pakistanis.

Unfortunately, he gave into US pre$$ure and ordered an attack on a mosque in northern Pakistan.

That was a declaration of war on Islam and since then the army has been targeted for attack by the defenders of Islam.

The US realised Musharraf's days were numbered and insisted that he drop the charges against Benazir and allow her to return.

With the intention of installing her as his replacement in a rigged election. (The US made no attempt to help Sharif, a popular and legitimate contender, who was prevented from running against Bhutto.)

Benazir craved power enough to be the US's willing pawn and made it clear that she supported US activity in the region.

The "courage" she demonstrated after years of avoiding justice was because she thought that the US would protect her in her ascent to power as was done with Karzai.

She was wrong.

Note: to Eric (Montreal)
The Taliban have a lot of support in Afghanistan.

That is why conquering Afghanistan has been so hard. Despite their fanaticism, they are credited for freeing Afghanistan from Soviet occupation.

One need only look at all the muslim nations under Russian rule to realize that they would have quite an appreciative following.

This is why even though we have thrown everything at the Afghans to "win their hearts and minds", the Taliban who are Afghan remain undefeated.

They are fighting to free their homeland from invaders.

A noble and just cause.

This killing (killings) is just another example of the brutal injustices all in the name of religion.

Yes, some may say this was politically motivated, but than again the politics was religiously motivated.

Whether it is Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist or whatever based, I call all those involved in such atrocities the most Non-Religious of them all.

Personally, I consider myself to be agnostic and on my way to being an atheist. There is no way in hell any God would condone such behavior.

Shame on all (whether Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, etc) to think that God would want you to kill on his (her or its behalf).

I wish you all (who believe in such antics) would simply commit suicide and let the rest of the peaceful/loving/caring humans get on with their life’s.

It truly sickens me to see people associating this horrible killing with the Islamic faith in general.

This was the action of extremists; condemning the Islamic faith in general makes you no better than those that carried out this terrible action.

The hopes of thousands of Pakistani's for a free and democratic future were buried today, along with a true beacon for hope and democracy.

May she rest in peace, and may the extremists that carried out this act suffer the full consequences.

First, my deepest sympathy goes out to Ms Bhutto's family, friends and supporters as well as to the entire Nation of Pakistan.

A sensational crime such as this tends to bring out the worst in people, and, sadly the riots that have occurred are proof enough for that statement.

We can only hope that somehow, Pakistan will elect (soon) a new leadership who will do the right thing and provide honest and democratic rule to the country.

The rest of the world will be waiting (nervously) for the outcome...remember, Pakistan has nuclear weapons...we need to hope that calm hands are in control of "the button"!!

It will never cease to amaze me, the constant double-speak and outright lies spouted by the liberal-left.

Militant Islam has been around for over 1000 years, not a creation of the United States or your favourite whipping boy, George Bush.

Your endless socialist prattling and filibustering didn't save this poor woman, and it most certainly won't defeat this evil terrorist force that the free world is battling to destroy.

Unlike you lot, however, she agreed with this and paid the price for it.

If only you were filled with the same courage as she was...

To those who are using this forum to spread racist propoganda--stop it.

This planet has enough of that.

The death of this woman is akin to the deaths of Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King.

And 1 comment to Chris from Waterloo--for your info the Roman Catholic religion also has a centuries long history of bloodshed and corruption--the corruption extending to this day, so perhaps you should brush up on some history.

CNN acts like a terrorist news channel.

They dramatize a simple news to the extent that it sells like a hot cake to people who want to listen to that kind of stories.

And mind you which attracts lot of teenagers to violence.

CNN is spreading hatred amongst religions which is satanic and deadly.

Look at the irony of the so called most civilised U.S. democracy and it's presidential candidates, they are taking mileage over this saddening killing of Pakistan's former prime minister through CNN.

Why doesn't CNN give the answers regarding the assassination of US President J.F Kennedy whereas they seems to know every answer in the world and every angle of politics.

They are not perfoming the duties of journalism and a news channel rather they are performing the hidden agenda against ISLAM.

Extremely Shameful to even talk about.

To Satwinder

This assassination was not because of the fact that she was a woman.

It is a political killing.

What are your thoughts of assasination of the Indian leader Indira Gandhi by Sikhs?

Was it because their religion teaches them to kill women?

I don't believe so.

It amazes me how quick we are to take up the government position on this murder and blame it on Al Qaeda (which really does not exist as an international entity but is really a term used to describe several loosely knit or unconnected groups who for one reason or another have a bone to pick with the powers that be), or the Taliban.

I wonder what happened to the presumption of innocence, or is that just reserved for those of us in the West?

I also wonder about the concept of hard evidence.

What happened to it? I've not seen or read or heard anything that conclusively ties either the Taliban or the so-called Al Qaeda to this incident.

It reminds me of the WMD argument that sent the US guns ablaze into Iraq.

In fact, based on all I've read and watched this past two days, I'd have to say the arrow points towards either Bhutto's fellow opposition opponent, or the Musharaff himself.

The opponent, whose name escapes me at this moment, is the one who really stands to gain from this action.

With Bhutto gone, and his opportunistic appearance yesterday, I'd say he looks like a likely suspect.

And if it is true the current president of Pakistan is a power mad as he's made out to be, then removing Bhutto potentially works in his favour.

It will be understandable now, according to many of our western pundits, if he were to crack down and cancel the coming election.

The big loser in all this is America. Bhutto was their candidate, her very presence back in Pakistan as a direct result of work by Condoleeza Rice and the Bush Administration.

Ms. Bhutto is being praised in death as the savior of Pakistan, but was she really?

This is a very sad event and I not want to in any way downplay the woman's courage and conviction.

We've lost another hero, but I hope we'll all soon get past the fervor and start asking, and demanding that justice be pursued and the truth be told.

Chris from Waterloo posted a comment on 8:05 p.m. while criticizing the religion Islam.

I would to ask you to read your comment again and you would find the ANSWER in your own words by reading between the lines which is: In whichever region USA is interfering the situation gets bad to worst and unfortunately US intelligence agencies and its government are targetting Islamic nations across the world.

This is all COLD WAR era fall out 1979-1989.

For your information war was between USA and USSR/Russia, but interestingly war was being fought in AFGHANISTAN not in USA.

How can a country fight a war thousands of miles away from its own land. The answer is through creating, funding, organizing and training the Taliban. US intelligence agencies did all that to win the COLD WAR against RUSSIANS.

The world became more unstable and dangerous place USA being the only super power.

Had there been another super power things would have been different than what they are today.

Bhutto knew what she was getting herself into. Did some islamic extremists kill her? Possibly. But let's see who benefits most from her death.

Wouldn't be her political adversary; considering she likely would 've thumped him in an election.. naw lets blame Bin Laden.

Chris of Waterloo

It never occurred to me until I read your letter that Jason Blank might have actually been serious with his posts! I took his letters as "tongue in cheek" retorts. What do I know?

Anyway, I agree with your statements. I also hasten to add that we "westerners" have a lot to learn about how the rest of the world thinks and lives. How easily we transfer our own views onto people we know nothing about.

One of the most interesting books I've read recently was "Infidel" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. The book really opened my eyes to how little I comprehend the way a Somali (or Pakistani) sees the world.

The legacy of military rule in Pakistan that contained the path of democracy and nurtured the Jihadis in Afghanistan and Kashmir, continue to draw the support from the military and intellegnce gencies of Pakistan, and they feel vulnurable when any political leadership that has clear vision about eradicating extremism,nuclear smuggling and military's political interference in the country.

Benazir Bhutto was courageous leader with clear vision how best extremism can be comabted with the democratic process and how to keep the religious out of the power.

While the military was very unhappy over the alliance and understanding between Benazir and Nawaz Sharif, two major political leaders had succeeded in cultivating in the larger interests of democracy despite the military's regime efforts to divide them.

The intelligence agenices in Pakistan are widely contaminated with extremist views of Islam and economically and politically they were rewarded by the West in the name of terrorism, which they continue to use.

Canada should understand this nexus and stop rewarding them economically if they fail to restore genuine democracy in the country.

America has conflated democratization and imperialism, causing friends of democracy to fall under suspicion - and into danger.

Sadly, Bhutto's death will not be recognized for what it is - a symptom of American overreach - because war profiteers are already hard at work ensuring we take it as a sign that America has not yet reached far enough.

Benazir Bhutto may have been a corrupt person, but it is obvious from the effect of her death on her followers that this was a minor crime.

She was a beacon of hope for these followers and it is a sad day when a person of this stature is assassinated.

It is absurd to believe that this act was carried out for religious reasons, it has to be pure political terrorism.

I am sick and tired to read about Islam and Muslims being a violent culture. We, in the west, have nothing to be proud of. Millions have been slaughtered in the name of religion.

Our prominent leaders have also been killed...JFK, Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King. The trouble with us is that we have not rid ourselves of current leaders.

I don't believe Bush would be missed.

Jason Blanks,

You sir need to educate yourself on the issues in the world to gain a broader view; you are not alone in this journey either.

Firstly, Islam is not a race, it is a religion followed by Muslims, so to call those who make statements regarding Islam 'racist' is incorrect.

Secondly, as a rebuttal to your defence of Islam, I point towards all the religions of the world and how many times violence is carried out in the name of that religion. Islam constantly has followers engaging in extremely violent acts that overwhelmingly points towards a problem with the religious following itself.

Thirdly, 9/11 has everything to do with Islam. The acts were carried out by Islamic extremists from Islamic countries; the bombings were cheered in Islamic countries by their people and Islamic extremists continue to acknowledge their want for destruction of 'Westernized' nations in the name of Jihad (whatever thats suppose to mean). To call it a 'Bush blunder' is absurd; Bush was in office for about a year at the time; quite obviously the plans for these attacks was taking place long before Bush ever came to office.

Finally, Iraq and Sudan are both Islamic nations controlled or formerly controlled by an Islamic dictatorship.

I know I'm not alone in saying this, but the 'proof is in the pudding' regarding Islam. I can point out approximately 200 controversial issues with that religion within the past 6 months, yet not find 50 controversial issues with all the other major religions within the past 5 years. I think that speaks volumes on its own. Thank you.

Dec. 27, 2007 was the darkest day in the history of Pakistan. The brutal assassination of Benazir by terrorists is a huge loss not only for the people in Pakistan but the civilization itself is also hurt.

Benazir was the last hope for better future for Pakistan. She was very brave. I am in agreat shock, I have no words to express my grief.

Sadly to say the whole situation, pakistan is drawing on its last legs of civilized society. The death of bhuttos, and no person should be condemned to death in this matter, only shows that the extremists are stopping at nothing.

I feel bad for pakistan cause i know they always believed in peaceful ways. They, the current president and officials, will not be able to counter the extremists unless they partner up with nato and quelsh the extremists ways of achieving their golas, and i still don't understand which goals they are trying to achieve. This will be a victory for pakistan and nato and the president has the smarts and means of doing so.

my best regards to the bhutto family. It saddens me to see such a disregard for beings in whole.

The power of leadership , of nation building , of giving the people the pride of independance , the dignity of food ,clothing and shelter, is an awesome and grave responsibility. Some withhold the bare necessities of life and impose the hardships of dictatorship. Education is restricted to the select followers of the dictator. Employment and health care programs are offered in abundance to those who shout the dogmas of tyranny and promote the eradication of all who oppose.

Despite the known formitable barriers and the unknown treachery before her, a courageous wife and mother ,set out to undo the many errors spreading over her beloved land.

Benazir Bhutto , surpressed her personal fears , blessed her husband and children, and boldly stepped into the arena of the people and for the people. The planners of her murder sent a fanatic ,steeped in hate, on the mission. Bhutto, is a fallen hero for her beloved country. But her giant step forward will be followed by a surge of overwhelming support for her cause. Her death will not have been in vain.

Trevor from Brampton said:

"The fact is the US doesn't support democracies if they are non-secular. How many democracies are there in the region? Yet, the US willingly supports them rather than demand free elections. Even the Afghan election was rigged (no Taliban candidates) so that the US appointed Karzai, who enjoys power, could remain in power. The US is the new Rome. Democracy for the Romans. Subjugation for everybody else."

I don't think you quite understand the situation. The Taliban are not a legitimate political party; they are an outlawed (especially in Afghanistan) terrorist group allied with Osama Bin Ladin. They were not elected to power before; they seized it in a coup. The Taliban weren't even the actual resistance to the Soviet invasion between 1979 and 1989; they were merely an off-shoot of the actual resistance.

Jason Write.

and to those who are ignorant and hateful! I am tired of your your own "views" and hateful arrogant "comments" here. Your own opinions have given proof through sheer ignorance that you are just as dangerous to democracy as Bush himself.

Benazir Bhutto Had never created Alqueda or the Taliban. Alqueada has NOTHING to do with Afghanistan since the Taliban and Alqueada are two SEPARATE groups! The taliban in Afghanistan was created out of the AMERICAN goverment to oust Russia!

This can all come from googling and wikipedia. To deny these facts and post hateful rhetoric are the true threats to democracy which threatens us here via poor legislation as "no fly lists" here on our own soil in Canada!

I do not know why the cbc allows pro racist comments to continue to be posted here. In canada hate speech is illegal!

Calling Muslims violent and making up wild accusations about a group of people is as racist as it gets! Muslims NEVER had anything to do with 9/11!!! that was a bush blunder that doesn't even have anything to do with this topic!

Iraq and Dafur again have NOTHING to do with the Muslim community and the strife they face!

I am sick of the racist comments of Robt and would like cbc to delete and then warn his ISP for his behavior since this is NOT acceptable in this country!

Hate speech is NOT free speech!

Its sad to learn of her untimely death l for one don’t think she was going to change anything that she failed to change during her two time in office.

Bhutto was no different from any dictator as they are all greedy. She failed to bring democracy in Pakistan during her terms why now. She knew what was going to happen to her well in advance and several times she knew death was imminent.

She was removed from office because of corruption and she wanted to use the poor people of Pakistan to amass more wealth.

Musharraf is doing a much better job. He tried to protect her by declaring a state of emergency also putting her under house arrest but she refused and said that was undemocratic. He played to her tune and her enemies killed her.

Long live Pakistan and Bhutto rest in peace.

My heart-felt condolences to the Bhutto family.

Now some facts.

Benazir looted the country during her tenure. She sucked it dry. Her family owns assets worth multi-billions of dollars.

She was the one who funded the taliban to get into India and create a havoc in Kashmir. Any Indian can attest to this, but Kashmir did have HIGH tourism numbers. After Benazir came to power it was unthinkable for any Indian citizen to even step foot in Kashmir.

She wanted to come to power and curb the same Taliban that she be-friended years ago because now it was a political issue. It was meant for exploitation.

As far as religion goes, Islam is a peace loving religion. I say this as a non-muslim. There are people who dont understand and/or dont practice an ounce of their own religious teachings but are willing to go kill in Its name. Thats what sucks.

The Quran is written in verses. It is arabic poetry. Poerty always has metaphors and an underlying meaning to it. I believe a whole lot of people who call themselves muslims donteven understand what the Holy book is trying to preach. They just follow it literally word for word and that is a problem.

I also believe Musharaff is the best thing taht could have hapennend to Pakistan. He is very smart. He is the only fellow that has the intelligence and street-smart to dance the fineline between Washington's demands and the local religious demands.

Future does look bleak for Pakistan. And it is very unfortunate that this country that was founded as a Secular state, mainly as a safe-haven for Indian Muslims has been turned into centre-piece with a string wrapped around it.... one end in the hands of the Americans and the other in the hands of uneducated Mullahs. And when any of the ends is pulled, the centre-piece churns.... spilling blood of innocent civilians.

As far as Bhutto's assaniation - She herself saw it coming.

I've taken time to read all posters on this subject, and sadly all except for a few have no idea of what they are talking about. This is a former Prime Minister of Pakistan who was assassinated for God's sake. Nothing she could have done would warrant her to be murdered in this way.

This is as good a time as any to remember, "When you have nothing good to say about a person, then say NOTHING at all", or, "those who are without sin cast the first stone". I believe my meaning is clear.

Just to make one further point: When former Prime Minister Bhutto was in power, she and her government were accused of corruption by those who did not want a woman in power and did not want democracy in Pakistan. She was stymied from every direction, and her enemies ensured she would be forced out of power with her good name in doubt.

For those who for one minute would suggest that the citizens of Pakistan are better off under a strict "Dictatorship", because "a democracy is not a really good fit for their country", while at the same time living in a nice safe, quiet, free Democratic Western Country themselves.

Think about that statement for awhile!! I sometimes fear for my Country, Canada with these nitwits around.

While I didn’t wish death on Benazir, her death doesn’t make her a saint. She, like her father, caused great misery to the people of Pakistan. I like other hard working middle class people (who pay their taxes unlike the multi- millionaire or perhaps billionaire Benazir whose annual income tax was Rupees 2000 in 1997, which is equivalent to 50 CAD at the time), watched the hopes of the moderates who had entrusted their faith in Benazir dashed by her not once but TWICE.

I have written this for the people who think she returned to SAVE PAKISTAN. Not so!!! It was ONLY her hunger for power that brought her back to Pakistan. And, for her fervent Pakistani supporters, I wish you showed the same zeal and passion for you real mother, i.e., PAKISTAN.

Her legacy will be as decided by the Pakistani people, some who decidedly didn't think too highly of her. International interest is largely based on her gender, in my opinion.

Don of Mississauga:

You are correct that, in the past, there has been Christian on Christian violence, Nothern Ireland being the most recent example that I can think of. But I am unaware of any such continuing conflicts. Moreoever, there has been violence by Christians against Jews violence for centuries, the Holocaust being the most most flagrant example.

The point I was trying to make is that Muslims continue to kill each other (and non-Muslims) and using their religion as the justification, such as Sunni versus Shia, based on historic slights and prejudices.

To Hina Mithani of Mississuaga:

I was not trying to whitewash Christian or Jewish killings but only to point out they seem to be, thankfully, in the past and let's hope they stay that way.

However Muslim killing is rampant. They kill themselves (see Iraq and Darfur) and they kill others ( see 9/11). It is an epidemic.

You simly do not see this level of violence in other societies.

Muslims have to come to grips with this aspect of their religion or culture. It cannot go on. I trust you agree with that.

If Pakistan is to survive, we have to get rid of all the remnants of the British Raj and by that I mean the feudal lords who have their own private armies. They are by no means champions of democracy. The West can say whatever it wants to its own gullible people but most of the people of Pakistan know that in order to become a functioning democracy, we have to educate our illiterate masses, and provide them with some sort of economic independence.

Re: Mark Levine's article Blowback, Pakistan Style.

Should the West be involved in Pakistan or not?

Levine's case that the West empowered the Taliban and al Qaeda by arming the mujahadeen is pretty obvious.

That our involvement then, is tied to the issues now, is obvious.

The corollary of Levine's argument seems to be that non intervention would yield preferable results.

Let's assume for a moment that we had stepped aside as the Soviets consolidated Afghanistan.

Let's assume we remained non interventionist as they took Pakistan and the coveted year round warm weather port Russia never had.

Would there have been a point where we decided to confront them? Another game of nuclear chicken like the one played in Cuba?

Was the nasty business of arming mujahadeen the lesser of 2 evils?

Afghanistan accelerated the demise of the Soviets and the world stepped back from the continuous confrontation of two nuclear superpowers.

I think we need to be realistic about intervention. There are times when it has assured our safety.

Conversely, non intervention is not a guaranteed approach. Its perils are well documented.

Neville Chamberlain enabled Hitler's Germany by remaining non interventionist until the last possible moment.

The scale of the conflict that ensued led to an embracing of the notion that intervening early was preferable to waiting and fighting a major war.

The stability and prosperity this strategy has provided to the West has allowed us to come full circle back to the notion that we should no longer intervene.

Perhaps it is better to ask what are the perils of the West not being involved in Pakistan?

What will be the legacy? Who knows. What will happen now? That's up to the Pakistani people - it's their country and their problem.

I would caution everyone to take everything you hear with more than a grain of salt.

Whenever anything happens of any magnitude in the world,reporting is,who can file the story first,facts emerge later on,sometimes never.

Keep in mind that this was a person who did the killing not a religion.

Too many people are verbally attacking everything middle eastern,without knowing all of the facts.

Chaos is happening in Pakistan right now,so don't believe everything you hear.

I also wish someone would muzzle the fear mongering people who are just creating more distrust.

Rob of Ottawa:

You are a man who is absolutely full of hatred, and it is the likes of you (such as the champions of DEMOCRACY: George Bush, Tony Blair, Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld, etc) who are spreading such chaos in this world. If you don’t know anything about the history of Pakistan and the struggle of her people, please refrain from expressing your IGNORANT and HATEFUL views.

What irony: Benazir Bhutto killed by the Taliban she created in 1993-94 to take over Afghanistan and bring it under Pakistan's control.

I don't suppose it's her fault that her creation turned into an uncontrollable Frankenstein monster once she set it loose on Afghanistan in 1994 (with massive military and financial support from the Pakistan armed forces). They swept the murderous Afghan warlords before them and took Kabul, but then they became part of the international Islamic jihad, determined to keep Afghanistan for themselves. Talk about blowback.

I don't wish assasination on anyone; her violent death is terrible--especially for Pakistan. However, it was overweening ambition that brought her back to Pakistan to try and run the country for a third time. She went into exile the last time in disgrace after she and her husband looted the country, leaving it impoverished.

In returning, she showed callous disregard for the lives of her supporters who were killed and wounded by terrorist bombers. She knew there would be more of the same, yet she simply tried to take political advantage of their sacrifice. She was cold and ruthless--and dictatorial--when she was in power; it was looking as though Pakistanis would be treated to more of the same if she had regained power.

I hope the people who are upset will soon calm down and that order will quickly return to that long-suffering country.

I hope that Ms. Bhutto's bravery and sacrifice will inspire other Pakistanis to step forward and enter the political arena in that country. It now appears that al - Queda was behind Ms. Bhutto's murder. They are obviously firmly committed to destabilizing Pakistan. I recall Ms. Bhutto stating that, should she have been elected, she would have permited NATO to make incursions into Pakistan if the Pakistani military proved unable to deal with al - Queda. Perhaps it is time to revisit the NATO/Pakistan policy regarding NATO incursions into the tribal areas of Pakistan. This is truly a global war. Appeasement is not an option.

First of all I actually give a lot of praises to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto for promoting Democracy in Pakistan .To proceed, we have to understand the moslem culture that womens have no saying in the Moslem world . And, Musharatt military understood that, if diplomacy was going to take place in Pakistan, there were going to loose power completely . Prime minister Benazir Bhutto was also , very out spoken about the problems Pakistan was under going .She also spoke a lot of truth about the Pakistan government .Finally , a lot blames should be pointed towards the Pakistan government .

Robt. of Toronto:

You and I are going to have to disagree on this one. History has shown that Jews killed Jews when they felt the need - the story of David, among others, demonstrates this quite clearly. Modern European history is replete with blood curdling tales of religious warfare and strife. The Europe we know today was defined by the religious wars which were largely Catholic vs. Protestant, but these wars were really fought over the usual sorts of things - land, money, power - and had little to do with "religion" at all. Islam is a relative newcomer to the scene at only 1400 years old while the Arabs who invented Islam are thousands of years older than that, so you have to ask which came first - the chicken or the egg? Obviously the tribe came first then the traditions that led to the codification of Islam came much, much later. It was supposed to unify the Arab world but because of tribal conflicts failed to do so. You seem to think of Islam as some sort of homogeneous whole when it is as fractured a religion as any other you care to name. Those fractures, running along tribal / ethnic lines have nothing to do with religion per se, although you are at least partly correct when you identify religion as enabler.

Just because one reads the Quran or the bible, then goes out to commit murder, doesn't mean that Islam or Christianity sanctions murder: they categorically do not. People of faith (and this is the real problem) are usually weak minded sheep that are easily manipulated by assertive individuals with an agenda. That's why you have suicide bombings on one hand and snipers shooting abortionists on the other. There is no difference between them: a fanatic is a fanatic, after all.

Andy wrote:

”Her death only re-affirms what a sick culture,politically and morally, this really is, and will continue to be. Isolate this country and leave them to deal with their own issues before this crap spills over into Canada and other countries.”

First off, your attitude is what should rightly be called crap. Secondly this “crap” that you refer to does not spill over, it is rather meddled with by so-called democratic nations like the US. Had USA’s foreign policy and the pathetic and mythical “war on terror” not come into existence to interfere in other countries’ affairs it wouldn’t have become ‘crap’ in the first place.

US and UK are pushing for election to go ahead on January 8th 2008. That is not going to happen, for sure.
Any person who filed nomination papers for a Municipal,provincial or Federal election, if dies for natural or any reason,the constituency can't have election on the scheduled date, bye- Elections are held at a later in such case. This is a law in Pakistan.

Benazir being head of a major political party would represent all constituencies across Pakistan. This Election can't go ahead,if it did It will be against Law and basic democratic ethics.

Nawaz Sharif head of another opposition Party has already declared to abstain from January 8th 2008 Elections.

Bush and Mush need to fill in Ballot Boxes, if they need to go ahead with their plans.As such Elections of January 8th 2008 will have no legal, constitutional or ethical meaning.

After reading the history of Ms. Bhutto, I have to wonder about one thing. If she was such an incredible leader and person, why was she removed from office twice on corruption charges?

There is now speculation that the upcoming elections in Pakistan may be cancelled.

That, unfortunately, plays right into the hands of fundamentalist Muslims who believe that democracy is totally contrary to Islamic values and beliefs. They believe that it is their sacred duty to perpetuate existence in a time warp and do whatever is necessary to install and protect an Islamic dictatorship that strictly administers the law based on the teachings of the Quoran.

Only the assassins know if that objective was at the heart of their mission to kill Bhutto but it would be a reasonable conclusion to reach.

It's obvious that they are winning most of the battles in that part of the world. Will they win the war, eradicate fledgling democracies and replace them with Taliban type governments? Let's hope not.

If we thought that the old Soviet Union represented a threat to our existence, at least they were mostly unified under a central control process operating with a reasonable level of intelligent thought. A handful of radical, independent, decentralized and intellectually regressive dictatorships with viable nuclear capability in their hands should be a much more frightening prospect to the rest of the world.

Equating Benizir Bhutto with Ghandi would be funny if not for the circumstances. What 90% of the commenters fail to realize is that the Bhutto clan made their vast wealth on the backs of the rural poor. These rural poor are little more than serfs on their fuedal master's land. Becoming prime Minister of Pakistan was a means of amassing an even larger fortune for the Bhuttos. It was in the best interests of Mr. Bhutto that the masses remain poor and ignorant. She didn't care for her people. She was as power hungry and selfish as those who preceeded her to office and those who will follow. Pakistan is a failed state and Ms. Bhutto was yet another in a long line of wealthy despots.

Robt
Toronto wrote:

"However, the violent ones do get inspiration for their homicidal acts from the Koran. Islam needs to reform itself or this spiral of killing will continue."

What a rude & offensive comment! Catholics and Protestants are killing each other in Northern Ireland, however that does not mean that they get their inspiration from the Bible or that Christianity “needs to reform itself” Catholic priests have been accused of raping children and involved in other heinous sexual activities. Does that make Christianity violent or abhorrent? No! Sadly its ideologies like yours that provoke people to react in a negative manner.

The BBC is reporting that Al-Qaida is responsible for the assination attempt. There was a press conference by a Brigadier General which indicates that Ms Bhutto died while trying to avoid her attacker.

I have noticed a lot of blame (in this forum) has been placed on the CIA and Mr Bush, I am no fan of either, but what would they gain from this?

There has also been a lot of fear mongering going on. What about the nukes? Various media have allowed conspiracy therorists too much microphone time. Why to the people of Pakistan need to hear about pre-emptive strikes? There is enough grief in that country without adding more.

I think educated and humane people around the world need to start getting in the faces of fundamentalists of every religion and political ideologies and ask hard questions of what they stand for and what they believe. Bush believes he is doing God's work in Iraq and around the world. Jewish settlers believe they have a God-given right to the West Bank because of a book written thousands and thousands of years ago. Muslim fanatics believe if they kill infidels they will get virgins a plenty in heaven and all their wishes will be granted. All of this is total insanity as far as I am concerned. And the people I feel the most sorry over the last few days is Ms.Bhutto's children who will never see their mother who loved them again.

If u say Benazir was no saint ...believe it or not there has been no saint we are all human ...we dare to dream but very few of us actually fulfill it ...

In a country where women are treated as use and throw items ,where they impose it as a shame for women to fight for themselves women like Benazir is definately someone they can look up to....Dare to dream and Die hard fulfilling it...

There is another uprising Star i see in Pakistan's future and it's Jahangir...People of Pakistan should pull together for
Peace in the country and be there for each other...That is the one and only way for them to survive...

Thanks for the great comments Jerry!

Feel good notions of compromise and moderation cannot succeed when confronted by an agenda of violence. Neither will democratic ideas ever take root in places where people are concerned with basic survival. Is Iraq a better place since the dictatorship was deposed?

Any time a public figure is assassinated, it is a horrid and subversive action. The people of Pakistan have been robbed of an opportunity for change and for shaping their future.

Benazir Bhutto's legacy will be that she dared to believe the impossible! She was not afraid to die for it!

Benazir Bhutto 'mistake' was not knowing that she was at the wrong place, at the wrong time!

What Benazir Bhutto wanted was not on the menu, never mind music, of those in power!

Pakistan is being coerced into changes to its system of government so as to qualify for a membership to the heralded 'Global Village', where anything goes, anywhere and anytime!

Who was really behind her assassination will become apparent, in time, reflected in the greater cooperation and tacit approval of vital political changes within Pakistan.

Those responsible will naturally try to cover or divert any trail leading to them.

If Pakistan doesn't want peace and democracy then who are we to argue ? As long as they confine themselves to killing each other then I don't see any problems.

Lets move on to another story.

Don of Mississauga:

Calling this violence tribal doesn't explain much. The tribes are all defined by their religions.

I was only making an observation which has been made by many others. Muslims (of whatever tribe - Sunni or Shia) have been killing each other for centuries and continue to do so. See Iraq.

Jews don't typically kill other Jews (the assassination of Rabin a notable exception and I won't call that "tribal"). Christians generally have not been killing other Christians (Northern Ireland being an exception as well). But there is nothing going on now that I am aware of.

Kosovo is a religious swamp. The Albanians who infiltrated Kosovo are all Muslim and the native Serb inhabitants were Orthodox. Even Serb and Croat violence is religious (Catholic versus Orthodox).

Sorry, I put the blame squarely on religion.

However, Muslim violence against other Muslims and other religious groups is evident thorughout history. Please read Samuel P. Huntington's Clash of Civilizations (written prior to 9/11)- one the most depressing books I have ever read. He lays it out in spades.

Muslim internecine killing is endemic. Just look at its history. Ataturk got it right. Islam is a necklace of corpses.

Obviously, most muslims are not violent. However, the violent ones do get inspiration for their homicidal acts from the Koran.

Islam needs to reform itself or this spiral of killing will continue.

Poking her head through the sunroof to wave to the masses and celebrate her glory was more than an extreme risk to herself, she risked the lives of those around her.

What is forgotten is the 20 others who were killed due to her ill-advised celebration of herself and quest for martrydom.

There is a very good analysis of Pakistan's reality on the web page at Al jazeera today.

Title 'Blow back, Pakistan Style' (and written by American Mark LaVine), gives the best understanding I've seen yet of the forces playing out in that country today.

Yes, I know some of you will need to hold up a cross or something before going to Aljazeera, but fear not, the Taliban won't jump out and bite you, although some of the history offered in this piece will certainly get your attention.

My deepest sympathy and condelences to the great loss for Madame Bhutto's family, and the people of Pakistan.

It is a sad world to settle things by the bullets!!!

Communists + dictators would destroy the world. At all cost must get rid of these twos, and democracy must prevail.

I'zheet M'drurz
said
"Benazir Bhutto's death serves as a (too late) wake up call to the crack brained, radicals of Islam that continue to embarrass those of my Islamic Faith."

Well said my friend. Well said.

There have been many references here to the corruption charges against Benazir Bhutto over the years.

I don't know enough about the charges to know what to think about them, but I do have two observations:

1. Despite them, many people continued to support her anyway.

2. Since she was apparently thoroughly investigated, and some of the charges were "stayed", and the others were not pursued once she returned, it would appear there was general recognition in Pakistan that the charges were bogus.

I think it is far more likely that a military junta would trump up charges to get rid of a worrisome woman with democracy on her mind, than the daughter of an executed Prime Minister would commit the same offense her father was accused of.

Some very interesting commentary here. Some enlightened, some way off base. Murder is just a cowardly act period, whether your famous or an ordinary citizen. All of this moaning about losing a "Light of Democracy" is just that; moaning.

Who was Ms. Bhutto? A politician? Yes, Rich? Yes, Corrupt? Maybe, Power Hungry? Maybe, Brave? Yes, Fool Hardy? Yes, Heroe? To some. In all just a human being like all of us, no more no less.

Having lived and worked in many parts of the world including the middle east I can tell you from personal experience nothing in these regions will change in our lifetimes, just the faces and aims of those in charge. Certainly not a good thing for the western world, but a reality we will have to live with for some time to come.

Do I have a solution, no. Does anyone? I don't think so.

Interesting how the hundreds of millions of dollars that this Bhutto was involved with laundering, which her husband spent time in jail for is quickly forgotten. Mind you that still does not justify her being killed but neither does killing almost a million people over 9/11 when all those involved have not been named or pursued.

The War of Terror from the west has killed more people than all the terror organizations in the world combined.

One has to wonder who the real monsters are in the world; but hey as long as the price of oil stays high might as well stay the course of babarity Right?

Bhutto did not die for democracy. She did not die for Pakistan’s future. She died for herself and her ambition. Twice elected as prime minister of Pakistan, Bhutto destroyed the economy as she mercilessly stole from the Pakistani people. Instead of having the courage to stand trial for her relentless corruption, she left the country imposing exile upon herself.

For those calling her a champion of feminism, being a woman doesn’t make someone a feminist. Under her rule, Bhutto curtailed numerous press and educational freedoms. For the majority of my life in Pakistan, Bhutto was the leader. I remember countless days of strikes where shops, schools, and offices closed down because of the lack of security in the country she oversaw.

For calling her a champion of moderate Islam and democracy, neither democracy nor moderation exist when you prevent a free press and educational rights from existing. Nor do those exist when the citizenry is at home, unable to work or shop, because there are riots in the street due to your actions. Oh yeah, stealing from your people is also not good.

The assasination of this great human being goes to show that NATO needs to extend operations from Afghanistan into Pakistan, for the sake of both nations. If Musharaff doesn't like it, there's not a lot he could do about it either way: Pakistan is falling into chaos.

It's time to hit the Taliban and other terrorists inside Pakistan itself!

Wanda Eurich of Ontario wrote: "And CBC, since when have you allowed such blatantly racist comments to be posted?"

I have read every post in this thread, and fail to see "racism." Many of us realize the loss felt by Bhutto's immediate family--it seems obvious and does not need to be stated.

Bhutto's family was involved in the worst sort of political corruption itself--a fact that ought to be remembered as well. That Pakistan is a Muslim country, formed on the very basis of religious intolerance also needs to be recognized as the history and legacy of Pakistan.

To recognize these facts is not racist. I'm getting kind of sick of the racist card. Apparently you can say any despicable thing against any religion EXCEPT Islam, but the instant the word "Islam" is iterated in any other sentence than "Islam is a religion of peace," you are a racist.

Islam was founded in the mid-East and has been practiced there longer than any other place on Earth. In Pakistan, Afghanistan and other areas of the mid-east and Asia, Islam is not only the religion but it is the form of government and justice (or heavily influences the government). If you want to know what "true Islam" is, you look at Saudi Arabia and other such countries, not Calgary or Toronto.

Ms Bhutto's death adds the exclamation point to the impossibility of democracy in an Islamic nation.
Clearly a failed experiment!

As to Bhutto and security, George Bush would not stick his head out through a sun roof of his limo as he drove through Washington nor would Stephen Harper on a trip through Ottawa.

This was not Washington nor Ottawa.

This was not a very smart move.

Although China had a very rough late 19th and 20th century, it has emerged as a vibrant, modern society. The sub-continent, despite a long-standing British presence, and indeed British rule, has experienced no such 'cultural revolution' and remains a backward, ignorant, feudal society, despite the call centres, missiles, and atomic weapons, and some of the best educated and smartest chaps I've ever met.

Simply look at female literacy rates. The thin veneer of democratic gov't in India - there is no point discussing democracy in Pakistan inasmuch as Musharraf killed it off yet again, no need to invoke 'terrorists'- is pretty much a farce. Power remains with the zamindars and those of that ilk.

In this context, the assassination of Bhutto, who despite two terms had virtually no accomplishments apart from further enriching her family and that of Mr. 10% her husband, should be regarded as not a tragedy but rather a good start, as destroying the dynastic power of the great feudal families is a virtual precondition for social progress for all the people of the subcontinent. You know that a revolution is needed, and, as we have been told, a revolution is not a tea party (Boston notwithstanding) nor doing embroidery &c.;

Bhutto and her equally venal rivals were not part of the solution, they were a large part of the problem.

Cheers,
dba

This does not come as a surprise. However my point of view differs a lot from a large number of posters, many of whom are obviously Islamaphobes. This isn't about Benazir Bhutto being a woman nor is it about democracy. It is about the US trying to gain control of the region and willing to sacrifice Pakistani and Afghan lives to do it. And this terrorism being a response to US meddling. Bhutto craved power and made it clear that she would be a willing stooge for the US.

Keep in mind that Pakistan was a democracy until Musharraf seized control from Nawaz Sharif. Sharif, head of the Muslim Party, had won a majority in the election against Benazir, the previous PM. Many Pakistanis will tell you that the Bhutto years were rife with corruption and that she went into "self-imposed exile" because she faced corruption charges if she returned.

Sharif was regarded by many Pakistanis and muslims to be a hero because during his tenure, Pakistan developed the atomic bomb. So of course, the US was quite happy with Musharraf's military dictatorship, rather than demand that he return Pakistan to a democracy.

The fact is the US doesn't support democracies if they are non-secular. How many democracies are there in the region? Yet, the US willingly supports them rather than demand free elections. Even the Afghan election was rigged (no Taliban candidates) so that the US appointed Karzai, who enjoys power, could remain in power. The US is the new Rome. Democracy for the Romans. Subjugation for everybody else.

Where are the parents, sisters, daughters, sons, uncles, et al that must know their relatives are committing these crime.

Does Islam preach that you must turn an eye away from these violent acts to protect your relative. I think not. I think no religion would expect that. But I cannot understand why a religion would freely agree with the killing of so many people.

I hope that Pakistan can get through this; but I think not.

Western media's obsession with Bhutto has made her into some sort of a symbolic icon like Gandhi which she was not. Bhutto was not flawless, she was removed from office on corruption charges in her own country and had similar corruption charges abroad.

I wholeheartedly support Pervez Musharraf because Pakistan needs a moderate, enlightened dictator rather than a so-called democratic leader who spreads more chaos than the country can afford!

Another perfect example how both terrorism, socialism and democracy are all nothing more than fashions exploited by the fascist.

Benazir Bhutto's death serves as a (too late) wake up call to the crack brained, radicals of Islam that continue to embarrass those of my Islamic Faith.

When will my moderate brothers and sisters stand up to the jihadi monsters that pervert and hijack a faith that is supposedly one of Peace?

I am sick in my heart today....

Shame of Harper for saying a shallow political thing like "This was an abhorrent act of terror and we hope that [the] government of Pakistan will act to bring the perpetrators to justice,"

This so called Pakistani Democracy is a farce the Americans back. The Harper government should demand the UN to investigate the current President who stands the most to gain for her death. The Pakistani Government will not bring the perpetrators to justice if it is them who are the perpetrators.

Doesn't anyone else see that the Pakistani President has been pulling all the strings to ensure his re-election as Prime Minister? It's just too convenient to be a coincidence. He declared a state of emergency when the High Court was about to declare he could not be Prime Minister and military leader.

Then he fired the high court, locked away all of the law makers and appointed his own people to declare him eligible. So to look good in the eyes of the world, he resigned his post and took on the Presidency until such time as he could kill the opposition and take control of the country again.

I can't believe this has happened. I have lost all heart in our government once and for all for not standing up for Bhutto. I was on the fence, but now the liberals sound like a much better Idea to lead our country then the US ass kissing Harper Government.

Stephen Harper, you had better hope the liberals don't take the current Pakistani Presidents approach to eliminating the competition when it’s time for the next election.

Benazir Bhutto returned to her homeland Pakistan to help return freedom and democracy to her people but she was murdered instead in full view of her people. Her bravery against terrorists is a sign to us all that we must not allow to be terrorized nor must we hide from it. We must stand against terrorists.

Mrs Bhutto has warned canadians never to give up that our troops must remain in afghanistan to fight against the taliban terrorists who are killing innocent people. She also said that our troops must stay the course.

God Bless her soul and may she rest in the God's arms.
God help her people continue to fight for their freedom and democracy.

While you are posting a lot of East Indian, Pakistani, Iraqi, Irani and other very prominent and important views, there are also many from other backgrounds who call for the end of hate. This is not a time to retaliate, but an opportunity to forgive. It is time for a solid voice from around the world to decide that now is a time for non-violence.

I'm very concerned for the stability of Pakistan. Is there a possibility that Pakistan could spiral into a civil war?

I am even more concerned for Canadian troops in Kandahar, Afghanistan. There troop size is way too low and needs to be reinforced greatly. I pray for Canadian troops and that members of Nato to send major reinforcements to back up troops in Kandahar.

My heart rends at hearing about and watching people cause such destruction. It only causes pain and sorrow in everybody's hearts. Those who go out to hurt people...it never evens the odds. We are one. Your pain is mine. It's time to stop. Now...Please...Every body.

I remember Bhutto, back in the late nineteen eighties, when she served as Pakistan's Prime Minister. I was an undergraduate student, majoring in Political Science. In those days, as the Cold War was nearing its end, I am sure that many students, myself included, actually came to believe in a democratic and peaceful world, where women could rightfully establish their place in the political arena. The post Cold War world, however, has come to be quite haunting. The death of this great woman only verifies what I have long suspected: the world is no better now than it was twenty years ago.

There is a lot of money to be made from instability. Where do the weapons come from to carry out these acts of terrorism? Who manufactures these weapons and finances the perpetrators? I hope the CBC will do stories on this.

It is sad day in Pakistan's political history. An innocent lady was assassinated by terrorists who were not Pakistani. Bhutto was a brave woman and was never scared to speak her mind.

Musharaff did not provide her with enough protection. I have lost faith in Musharaff and hope he resigns soon. Army has no future for Pakistan except bloodshed. It was nice to see Sharif and Bhutto make amends the couple of months. It was history in the making. Musharaff should step down now.

I realize that the murder of Benazir (and company) is political by its nature. I hope our government resists any cues from the Musharraf regime to 'support' their military dictatorship. (Admittedly, the government's positions is complicated by the War to De-Terrorize Afghanistan.) It is ugly, watching authoritarians (Bush, Putin, Musharraf) exploiting this beautiful person's death.

all the nation is sorry at the sad demise of a true fighter lady. however, r we sure it was BB who died? it is evident that the woman giving the speech was very fat (notice her neck area and compare with any pic of BB prior to 27 Dec 2007).

This marks a turning point in not only the middle east issue but also to the path the world is taking. Bhutto's death will lead to Pakistans destruction unless they can pull them selves from demise.

It is sad to see glimmers of hope that begin to grow into a flam and then are squashed with a sicken blow to the gut. These are dark times that have been casted upon us and we are requiered to stand strong and face the oncoming flood with a steady hand and a steadier head.

This is when we need to rally around our ELECTED leaders and tell them that they listen to us and we are going to tell them what to do. If this doesn't happen then our democracies have failed and we are just sitting here, waiting for the **** to hit the fan.

Its funny how a 17 year old is speaking like hes 30. I guess Bob Dylan has sunk into me a bit. The times are a-changin' my friends, and we better be ready for whats coming around the corner.

As a Pakistani Canadian first of all I am disgusted that the western world is forcing Pakistan to pick democratic leaders such as Benazir and Nawaz shariff. Both of them have been pervious leader who have outstanding corruption charges against them and any Pakistani would live under military rule rather than corrupt politicians any day.

The Canadian govt should see that as much as we want Pakistan to be democratic country it is just not ready for it yet. This is a country where the rich can buy votes with enough food because when people have families starving they don’t care what you stand for you will have their votes if you can feed their kids.

And until the problem of poverty and education can be solved Pakistan can’t have free and fair elections. We need a leader with an iron fist for the next 10 years, who can take swift action against the terrorists, who can improve the social system, build schools and hospitals.

And we don’t have any more money in Pakistan for these filthy politicians to steal from us. And I beg Canadians to understand our position because democracy is the worst thing for Pakistan at this time Gen Mushraff is a patriot who has taken bullets for his country on and off the field something Benazir and Sharif can’t say.

So please wait and let us stand on our feet and democracy will come when we are ready. At the end I am sorry for Buttho’s family but her death just saved Pakistan a lot of money which she was getting ready to steal once she came into power and unfortunately we can’t take any more of that.

Such violence is never easy to swallow,
but in Bhutto's case it was to be expected.
Her return was suspicious from the start.

I do not believe that she held Pakistan's
interests to heart, and I see her as part
of a worsening trend in political leaders
to use office to fatten their own wallets
at the expense of the daily needs of common
people.

Her legacy ought to be one of crimes
of theft against her own people and nation.

speechless, about what has happened in my hometown. The people of Pakistan know who has been involved in it, of course its the government it self. And its great what they are portraying to other people regarding 'muslims' , 'islam' and 'Pakistan'. Just for the sake of their own rule, they are killing the innocents, who get out to earn money for their own survival and yet aren't able to reach home by midnight or so.

No one knows what the reality is. Of course, government is involved in it, since she was the voice of more then 45% of the Pakistani population and that's a lot in number.

What is going to happen next, people will get aggressive. They have already burned their own cars, buses, trucks and so on. And everything has a limitation to it, when you cross it , there are hazards to it.

For God sake, Busharaf should realize now that he has to die as well one day. For the sake of people of Pakistan, let them rule.

At the end of the day, innocents are being killed, be it the army fighting against their own people, or be it some Mullahs fighting, or be it the innocent killings. Our own people are being killed. Mobalization of people is required and for that we need strong leadership.

Sigh, A strong leader was killed today, there is no surety of life for the innocent ones, the innocent citizens.

No religion will ever tell you to kill people. And we muslims are taught in Islam that to ' kill a single person is equal to the murder of the whole human kind'. So please, please its my humble request dont presume anything like that. You hav to come on ground realities and think about it.

Dictator has to go, he cannot do what ever he wants just to keep himself in power. The power has to be shifted to the people. Because its the nation of the people, his father doesnt owe the country.

Praying for the best.

The real losers and victims are the poor people of Pakistan who have been trying to make ends meet for the past 60 years. The gap between the rich and power is increasing at a phenomenal pace.

And, don’t blame it all on Musharraf and co. As Mr. Shahid Husain and Shahid Nawaz pointed out on the “Nightly News with Jim Lehrer” (interviewed by Judy Woodruff), there is no quick fix to the problems being faced by Pakistan. Mr. Husain pointed out that 50% of Pakistani’s are illiterate, and that it is the inability and inaction on part of the civilian governments and the military dictatorships (including that of Musharraf’s) throughout the past 60 years that has led to the current political situation in Pakistan.

Elections alone are not going to solve the problems created over the past 60 years. The government of Pakistan as well as the Western world has to address the real issues, which are over-population, illiteracy, and unemployment, which are fueling religious extremism and building support among poor Pakistani’s for the likes of Osama Bin Laden and his terror network.

First of all, today was a dark day in the history of Pakistan. I offer my heart felt condolences to the family of Benazir Bhutto and to the families of the other innocent victims.

That said people must not forget that the likely culprits of this senseless attack are the Taleban, Al Qaeda, and the religious parties of Pakistan. The extremists who are currently destabilizing Pakistan and Afghanistan are the product of the United States and its allies, the Afghan war, and the corrupt Pakistani establishment of the time, i.e., the military dictator General Zia ul-Haq and his ISI chief General Akhter Abdul Rehman.

In fact, the CIA funneled weapons into Afghanistan through the Government of Pakistan throughout the 10 year Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Now, the Americans have the nerve to stand up and blame Pakistan for not doing enough to stop the Taleban. Why don’t they just admit that the chaos the world finds itself in is a result of their short sighted policies?

The only people who have benefited from the Afghan war are the Americans (for their arch rival, i.e. the Soviet Union’s disintegration was hastened by the Afghan war), General Zia ul-Haq and his cronies (i.e., Former PM Nawaz Sharif and co., Chaudhary Shujat Hussain and co.), and the religious parties of Pakistan (supported by Zia who also brought about the wonderful Sharia Law and the Islamic courts during his tenure).

Let us not forget that the Afghan war made Zia’s and Rehman’s family billionaires. Zia ul Haq’s family has villas in the French Riviera, and owns property in Central London, and in various other prime locations around the world!!!!!

What is China's expressed position to this, and why have we (the public) not been advised of same. (Since China is now the worlds ONLY surviving super power.

These reptiles that are running the world can kill the body but they cannot kill the Spirit.

We humans must not give in to the hopelessness and fear manufactured by the power brokers.

We must unite our hearts in Love and bless the courage and outspokeness of Benazir Bhutto, for many voices will rise up from the impact that her life had for the People of Pakistan and for our beloved Mother Earth

Pakistan is nothing but tribalism. Where did parts of the Taliban originate from prior to Afghanistan?

How many other assassinations have there been in Pakistan?

This should not come to as a surprise to anyone, which is unfortunate and a horrible thing to say.

Peace be upon the Bhutto's and Pakistani's the world over.

It is 2nd Bhutto assassinated by the military dictators in Pakistan.Her father was assassinated in 1979 by the military rulers and the same thing happened today again. in fact democracy has been killed in that country.Last month the dictators killed the judiciary of that country.
This is extremely barbaric act.

Benazir was indeed one of the most charismatic politicians of our time. Her tragic death should serve as a wake up call for all Pakistanis; almost 20 years ago we had given the world its first female prime minister of a Muslim state and today the result of a 8 year western backed dictatorship is in front of us. It is time our leaders and our people act responsibly; get rid of the dictator and stop letting the USA and others interfere in our domestic politics.

Former Prime Minister Bhutto, a woman, well educated, smart, beautiful, brave, strong, beloved by her followers, has been silenced for eternity by her enemies. They were mostly extremists and terrorist groups.

When she returned to Pakistan to run in the upcoming election she had the permission of the ruling government. She knew the risk, but, she wanted her people to see her and meet with her, it was very important to her.

She had been offered security by the government, but she refused because she did not trust them. She was well guarded by her people and escaped death several times in the last few weeks. Her luck ran out today!

Canadians should be counting their blessings today because we live in the best, safest and most generous country on earth. To think there are Canadians who complain and want to change our parliamentary system, need to remember this day, as the day the people of Pakistan have been denied a return to democracy.

John F Kennedy the most beloved President of the United States, although well guarded, was also assassinated.

He once said: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but, what you can do for your country".

Former Prime Minister Bhutto, a wife and mother of four children will be remembered for what she tried to do for her country. May God bless her soul and reward her in heaven.

Today's events in Pakistan will have, I believe severe repercussions throughout the region and beyond. There are so many elements at play. To begin with, Benazir Bhutto was Bush's Plan "B", in case Musharaff can't hold things together in Pakistan.

Musharaff has his own problems of legitimacy. He has fired the Supreme Court and appointed a new one. The lawyers of Pakistan have been marching in the streets dressed in their suits and ties, to protest the removal of the legitimately appointed judges of the Supreme Court and their replacement with Musharaff lackeys.

The lawyer and judges of Pakistan have led the fight, on the streets, demanding a return to the rule of law and due process.

I am awed by these people. It's not something that I've ever imagined Canadian or American lawyers ever doing, and in truth, here in Canada it hasn't been necessary. In the US, on the other hand, it's long overdue.

This is a tragic day not just for Pakistan, but for the world. And CBC, since when have you allowed such blatantly racist comments to be posted?

Robt. of Toronto:

Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Bhuddism, are NOT "violent" religions at all, the TRIBES who profess belief in those faiths are, however and continue to be. Tribal leaders are the ones who make war often aided by the willing consent of weak minded priests and fakirs who are either promoting their own leadership and power goals, or because they truly think violence is the necessary solution. You really do have to learn to make the distinction because it is vitally important that you understand.

The life and history of the tribe is incredibly powerful and almost impossible for an individual to break away from - priests are no exception to this rule as they represent a major leadership role within the tribe - but while not impossible, it's very nearly so. People who pray one moment for peace and salvation will fire up the ovens in the next without a second thought, and that's a fact. We see it all the time. The war in Kosovo had nothing to do with religion and everything to do with ethniciity. More to the point, it was about 500 year old grudges between ethnicities. It's all about the tribe.

Now, once and for all and with real feeling this time: the attack on Bhutto was a political attack against a politician and nothing more. You can call it terrorism and I won't argue: terrorism by any definiton is political - ALWAYS - and assassination is always a poltically motivated action no matter who the target happens to be. One thing is for certain: Bhutto will not be the next president of Pakistan nor will she share in any distribution of power. That decision has already been made for her whether anyone else agrees with the decision or not. That in itself is enough to remove any and all doubts about the motives behind her killing once and for all.

Politically, lets be honest. Benazair Bhutto will be remembered by most Pakistanis becuase of corruption and her lack of achievements during her time in office. Not to mention her husband aka Mr. 10%. The West should remember he as 1 of only 3 world leaders to recognize the Taliban.

She was simply a member of one of many British appointed Pakistani feudal families that have profited over generations from the misery of the Pakistani people she apparently wanted to fight for and perpetuated it. One only has to ask how Benazir Bhutto from a poor country is able to amass multi-billions in assets.

The sad part is the CBC in the desperate attempt of creating a compelling story have so oversimplified the situation in Pakistan its ridiculous! Perhaps the lack of balanced coverage is because Peters away, but Brian Stewart fear mongering about the potential breakup of Pakistan that is uncalled for.

Power transition has never been easy in Pakistan and thats not about to change now! Benazir of all people should have known this! The fact that Musharrafs government is being blamed for her self inflicted exposure to high risk situations is wrong! Ms. Bhutto could have easily used part of her $Multi-Billion treasure to provide for her own security. The Iraq war is being faught by a private army for god sake! She repeatedly purposely put herself in harms way and eventually stuck her head out one more uneccessary time when she got shot!

Anyone could be responsible for her death on an international or national level.

The CBC also needs to stop showing in their reports on their otherwise esteemed news show the National, Pakistanis who can barely string together a sentence and are merely political "spoons" (those with vested interests with little abilities of their own) as we like to say in Urdu.

I'm sorry if this is too strong on a sad day like this but someone needed to provide some equal, critical for these journalists at the CBC.

Pakistanibynature

What a loss for the world. We have lost a great woman,mother,wife,sister and passionate kind person who could have made a difference.She has left us to continue her work and so the should.

Let all woman in the world celebrate this great woman and carry on her touch.I hope Muslim woman start to stand up and be counted-like Benizer would have wanted.May she rest in peace and hope her children also some day will carry on her great work.

I truly greive this womans passing .I hope people will reflect and do what she had hoped to do let us do now that she is gone.

She will be gravely missed and let her memory live forever like it has for Lady Diana.She was a true martyr.I am very very sad today.

Long live her memory

In reading some of the comments, it seems that few people are noting the saddest and most telling part of all of this. People were killed, lots of them, among them was a woman who was brave enough to stand up for what she believed in, a mother, a wife. To her family and to all the families of the victims, my condolences.

To the people who say this isn't surprising: No, it isn't. I remember thinking this was a likelihood when I watched the coverage of her return to Pakistan from exile, self-imposed or otherwise. However, she seemed to want to help her country and believed that the best way to do that was to return and attempt to regain an influential position in her country. Who are we to condemn her for that? She was certainly aware of the risk to her life, I say she was courageous for going ahead and doing it anyway.

I believe this will have serious repercussions in the middle-east if not in the rest of the world. Only time will tell how this will be answered.

To those who condemn Islam, doesn't anyone remember their history? What about the crusades? I don't believe that any deity truly condones the taking of any life regardless of the reason; extremists have existed throughout history, and countless wars have been waged in the name of religion. It is simply a place to assign responsibility.

I wish for peace and englightenment throughout the world, and I wish that the whole of the human race will one day be educated enough so that brain-washed extremists stop blowing themselves and everyone else in a 10 meter radius to hell.

First and foremost, my condolences to those people who knew Ms. Bhutto and her family. True, they might never see these words but a death of a friend and family member deserves nothing but sympathy.

Secondly, I wish to add my voice to those objecting to the condemnation of certain religious or political groups as a result of this assassination. It seems to me whenever something violent happens in the Middle East, various stereotyped religious and political factions are blamed.

As both a human being and a moderate Anglican, I am appalled at people using this terrible event as an excuse to further their own prejudices and viewpoints without considering the sadness of it.

I realize I'm not perfect and I'm trying to defend a more moderate viewpoint that seems to get attacked on these forums a lot as being weak and uneducated, but save your personal angry thoughts about religion and politics and keep it civil.

This is a shameful act. They say their religion does not allow to attack women or children. Who these peple are? Shame, Shame on them! Now the World should wakeup before we lose another Benazir, please!!

What murderous extremists ? You mean the military ''goverment'' in power? The ones financing the ''Talibans'' currently murdering canadians in Afghanistan? The same thugs Canada and other countries are financing and selling arms to ? The whole situation is a sad joke

What else can be expected from Pakistan?

They have changed the region's history. The kids are not taught about Buddha - for the kids, Buddha never existed. 2nd, the Mughal emperor Akbar was a villain!

Guess, this is just the beginning .... hope the nukes don't fall into the wrong hands.

I beleive it has already been voiced BUT its true. This has nothing to do with religion. Politics and its people are the sources and cause of this evil. Whether you are a Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Christian or even Catholic.

All in all we have people that base their beleifs on what they've been taught and beleive in......good or evil. What have you been raised to beleive? This act was pure evil and has political interference written all over it.

Unfortunately, a great woman, mother and leader who believed in her country and her people died because she BELIEVED what she was doing was in the best interests of her family and country.

The rats come out to play on any given day.

It saddened me to see this news on the cbc web site but she did not have a chance. She needed the security afforded George Bush and then some.

If politicians really cared for her they would have stopped her from going back. Her family probably tried but she sensed her purpose was greater and i salute her for that but look what happened (140 dead).

It is a joke. It is like letting Bush walk around in the streets of Bagdad. This should never have happened.

We as Muslims lost one of our true believers and sisters.

I feel so sorry for my sister Bhutto and ask our god "Allah" to bless her. Islam and Muslims are sick of conspiracy whether it comes from extremists or CIA or others.

I feel very sad for losing a great politician someone who always wanted to do something for the country but her husband who she got married to get support to stay in power ruined her image and got her removed from the government twice.

I would just like to comment on the part where the future of Pakistan is involved, and that is a tip for those who like to bring pakistan down, one politician killed and by this time there are around 15 banks burned down 10 gas stations burned many killed by idiots firing in grief and over 90 cars and buses burned down of most people who did not even knew about this incident that is only in Karachi one major city.

One suicider used and see the result. Its the people killing people, Islam or any other religion has nothing to do with this, Plots like are created by people like long live Mr Bush aka Oil lover.

This is the way to destroy Pakinstan and the result is people kill people over there even if someone threatens them they in response act this way and this is the sad part now and thats why i choose to be out of there. Still i am sad for people who become victims of those who have no brains.

This is a political act of murder blamed on extremists. With elections that she would surely won next week, with the Pakistani govt. under military control refusing to guard her or even investigate the last attempt on her life properly- tis is a no brainer.

"Sadly- Bush's govt. will use this to claim evidence of terrorist activity as will Mussaref. We need answers as to who did murder Benazir Bhutto. Was it the govt?? Were they complicit? Is the US govt also willing to be complicit if they can blame this on 'terrorists'?
Are the terrorists in or own govt??

I am very sad on her murder. I am political oponent of Ms Bhuttu but never evern want this end. My heart is crying. this is big lost of Pakistan.

It's a loss for all South Asian nations. She was an icon of women in the world. Educated, intelligent and passionate. You could count a few Harvard-Oxford educated women with such a leadership personality.

Its a conspiracy against stability and peace in south Asia. President Bush and Musharraf both might be behind the scene to make a ground of another US led invasion of Pakistan, as they did in Iraq by the name of "weapon of mass destruction" !!

Pakistan was carved out of India with firm insistence by the then Muslims leadership of the British India that Muslims can not live under secular democracy. An unIslamic act. They demanded and got an Islamic State to live under Islamic law.

Since then the politicians of Pakistan had been playing the Hindu India card. The image who could do the maximum damage to the infidels, got elected. In this meliu, Ms Bhutto played the Trup Card, she gave birth to Taliban.

For next two terms in power, she nurtured it. Its such a pity that probably the one she gave to , killed her.

However she was also a mother to to children with real body and soul. My heart goes out to them.

Benazir Bhutto had too many enemies, Sikh community hated her after she provided a list of Sikh terrorists to India, her committment to crack down Talibaan and Al-Quaida make her a thorn in the eyes of Talibaan and Al-Quaida members. Her promise to the give a free access
to Pakistan Nukes were not appreciated by most countrymen.

Pakistan is a country where you can not rule even if you win the elections until Army Generals support your position. She was nota popular figure among Army Generals.

Canadians of Pakistani origin are very upset with her assassination, she did not deserve that.May her soul rest in
peace.

Masood Khan,Chair
United Front of the Pakistani Canadians
Director,Pakistani Community Centre.

Bhutto might have had CIA protection before the assasination. Wonder who in the small blue world could replace her in the quest for something that will outlast MUsharraf.

I think it a great tragedy. She was one of the few female PM (president) in the world. And as a female myself I feel sadness inside myself. And in a way I looked up to her and I believe some girl in Pakistan looked upto her. This will make Pakistan girl be afraid to go into politics and that a tragedy also.

Yes, she sould of realized what she was getting herself into, concedering she was once the PM of Pakistan. And also I think that the other victim should be reconized.

But what that sucide bomber did wasn't..wasn't human. To take another life over politics or religious belief is wrong. And personaly I don't understand it. I have my political and religious beliefs and other and have different beliefs but I would NEVER killed someone over that.

I strongly believe that this lost of life is going to impact the Pakistan public. And I know, by watching the news, that the state in Pakistan was bad but I believe this events will make the situation worst much worst.

I am extremely shocked and saddenned by Benazir Bhutto's death.

It is still hard to believe that in this day and age people can still be assassinated by their political views and their will for democracy and social reform. May Allah bless her soul.(Aameen)

I believe this is the saddest day in the history of Pakistan; yet another loss of a competent Leader. My family could not control tears and sour/salty throats.

She was not only courageous but proved herself a brave women around the world. Being a Pakistani I would simply say that Pakistan is not having any margin of errors from now-on.

I urge Pakistani Government to understand the scenario and act upon what is exactly need to be done now.

Extremism and false Islamic lessons and schools should be banned. Pakistan should come to the road that leads towards modernism and progress.

God bless Benazir's soul and give her a wonderful place in heaven as she deserves. Ameen

CIVIL WAR. ANOTHER AFGANISTAN.

Oh well!!!!! The U.S. and the Brits will now have to find another Bobblehead to fill the void. Its a pity that citizens in countries that have Bobbleheads imposed on them have'nt figured this way to dispose of them. May be this is a start of something new.Take note Bobbleheads.

Seems everything I've read about the Bhutto clan indicated they were a bunch of thieves running the country. The western nations have a habit of endorsing corrupt leaders.
She should never been allowed back in the country.

Mrs. Bhutto's legacy is that of a role model for bravery, grace and courage for a cause.

She was surrounded by all the things that she wasn't - violence, hate and ugliness.

The future for Pakistan is is bleak. President Musharraf's first order of business is to restore order and calm.

Second, to make good on his pledge today to go after terrorists in his country with renewed vigor.

Third, he has to protect the nuclear arsenal and weed out any pro-Taliban and al-Qaida sympathizers in his armed forces.

Democracy and any talk of plitical reforms can't even be on the table right now.

I couldnt read all the comments because most sickened me; for Ms Bhutto, against her, for Islam against Islam, for Sharif, against Sharif. NO ONE said what I am about to; not even our ever so enlightened politicians, newscasters et al.

Deepest sympathies to the family of Benazir Bhutto for they suffer the most. THEY are the ones who know her.

Deepest sympathies to the people of Pakistan for their loss of a great woman, politician, Muslim.

It is a loss to the world. I am deeply saddened and affected no less than when I watched President John Kennedy assassinated. I speak for myself and the millions who feel the same as I. I speak for the ignorance of those who think politics are more important than the person. Shame on you.

It really saddens my heart to see Bhutto assassinated. She was the hope for Pakistan, but unfortunately she had many powerful enemies.

zed: "Nazis hated Christianity"... "Nazis aggressively "liquidated" practising Christians"... what ridiculous and untrue statements. The Nazis were in bed with the Catholic Church on more than one issue. Also, on every German soldier's buckle belt, it said "Gott Mit Uns"... which means "God with us".

Believing in supernatural beings doesn't by default mean that a person is stupid, but it sure means that the person don't see things for what they are. It's willful ignorance.

I am deeply saddenned by Benazir Bhutto's death as she was the flame of change in Pakistan. I had the privlege of seeing her at the Women of Influence Series in Toronto at Roy Thomson Hall years ago and one lucky enough from the audience to ask her a question which she answered with grace and deplomacy.

She was courageous and I feel at a loss for her three children.
T. Andrews

My respect and admiration for Bhutto has grown in the last few months as I watched the story unfold. Musharaff has really let Pakistan down once again. I Hope the spineless soul who did this to Bhutto gets what they deserve. What in the hell is this world coming too. I am disgraced by the actions of human beings once again, fighting over religion - when religion is the biggest farce of them all.

Sunil Ram who is the "International Defence and Security Analyst" at CBC said this evening in the news that, Benazir was not the true representation of the average Pakistani.

I think its time for CBC to change its analyst as he is oblivious to the international politics and have a poor knowledge of what he was talking about.

The truth is that Benazir Bhutto won two elections and was the prime minister of Pakistan TWICE, So much for not representing the average Pakistani.

In Memory Of ...." Benazir Bhutto ".... The Flower Of Pakistan ....

"My life now gives no ray of light,
I bring no solace to heart or eye ;
Out of dust to dust again,
Of no use to anyone am I,
Pakistan was once a paradise,
Where Love held sway and reigned ;
But its charm lies ravished now and only ruins remain .
The heart distressed , The wounded flesh , The mind ablaze ,
The rising sigh ; The drop of blood, The broken heart .... Tears on the lashes of the eye.
But things cannot remain ,
" O PAKISTAN ", Thus for who can tell ?
Through God's great mercy and the Prophet , All things may yet be well..... God's Speed .

Raz of Toronto

Just because people do not see Islam like you do, does not mean they are uneducated. I have read "The Crusades Through Muslim Eyes" and have 2 versions of the Koran on my reading table. I am very well acquainted with the "peaceful" occupation of Spain by Muslims. It was "peaceful" if you were Muslim. To be fair, Christians have oppressed others too, but that was not the point. Let's not whitewash the past.

As for Bhutto, it was 100% predictable (in my opinion) that she would be killed. I said this as soon as she returned to Pakistan. And it would not surprise me in the least if Musharaff was behind it. For us to attempt to interpret the political machinery of Pakistan using our western experience is bound to lead us astray.

Oscar: Nazis hated Christianity. They regarded all those ideas about turning the other cheek, rescuing the perishing, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and "setting the captives free" as the weak-minded drivel of idiots. Nazis aggressively "liquidated" practising Christians, even while playing into the dark side of a twisted Catholic legacy.

I take issue with your claim that belief in "God" necessarily renders a person backward and ignorant. Nothing in the behavior of atheistic ideologies or individual atheists points us to superior results in the quest for social justice. Quite the reverse.

Benazir Bhutto was a light for her country precisely because she shared the Muslim faith of her country, in an intelligent, democratic, and tolerant way, that is more typical of true faith than the cartoon version you are drawing.

Bhutto's dead. She wanted to be a martyr and she will be.

It's the nukes I'm worried about. This is the closest the world's been to a nuclear war since the Cuban missile crisis.

The people who did this are not religious. They may pray to a god but they are nothing more than mad dogs trapped in a corner.

The only way they see out is to kill any and all who get in their way. They have no respect for human life nor the rule of law.

My greatest fear now is that this will take a very long time to bring back to some sort of normalcy - perhaps 50 years.
I hope they do not gain access to the nuclear capability that Pakistan has.

After a certain number of repetitions we learn how a society deals with conflicts and different opinions.

Pakistan is emotional. Its people do not demand that Pakistan's rulers protect its institutions above its religious leaders and above its military.

They don't demand that the institutions which are protected are those that affirm free individuals and suport their democratic freedoms above everything.

Its leaders are so required to rule, and are given this power to act by the people, that there is nothing left for its institutions to do.

This is untenable, no matter who the ruler, no matter what their powers or beliefs. Some form of totalitarianism is the only kind of politics which can keep such a society together.

We have seen this in Iraq, in Russian, and at other times in Europe. Cruel, harsh and people breaking control. Until the people revolt and begin to build their own institutions, hopefully with respectful help from NATO, the West, and other sympathetic democracies.

Whether you say it's religion, it's political, it's jihad, it's something else, let's not forget that it's still murder.

Those who plan, recruit and carry out these acts are people who place absolutely no value on life itself.

We should mourn not only Bhutto but the 22 others who were also taken from our us and the countless others who were maimed by this horrible act of evil.

I think that Mohammed Ali represents the nation of Islam quite well.

The perpetrators of this despicable act are in no way, shape or form to be compared with the ideas and beliefs which propelled both Mohammed Ali and Benazir Bhuto to represent the face of Islam in this world in an attempt to make it a better place. She will be sorely missed.

Ms. Bhutto didn't have a chance. Her enemies were many and her return to Pakistan was suicidal. Everyone knew this day would happen soon.

Pakistan is a deeply divided country, much like Iraq and other Mid-East territories.

Tribal hatred is increasingly untethered. And just as it was in Iraq under Saddam the only thing that has been able to keep any semblance of unity and normalcy has been military domination. But even IT is corrupted to the core, and probably at least partly responsible for today's event.

The grand plan for democracy will come at a terrible price, and will likely take at least two generations before true peace is achieved.

I hope it happens, but there will be many more days like today before we see any kind of true peace in the Middle East. The hatred and mistrust is just too deep.

I think that the Islamic faith has two sides...one is represented by such ones as Osama bin Laden and the other, hardly ever mentioned, yet so well known ambassador for the nation of Islam...Mohammed Ali.

To those who would make this an issue of religion and the folly of believing perhaps the iconic simplicity of the true ambassadors to each faith is the best reply.

re:
one of the common folk
Vancouver

"It is annoying that when a politician dies in a suicide bomber attack it is called an "assasination" and when a soldier or civilian is killed by the same suicide bomb it is called "collateral damage".

Too much value is placed on a politicians life with terms such as this. She was killed. Not assassinated. "

Um, you do know that the definition of assassination is the murder of a public figure especially where the assassin has an ideological or political motivation, right?

Using the term "assassination" has nothing to do with rating a person's worth. It's merely a term to describe the reason behind one's death. Just as murdered people are referred to as "victims" and those that die in accidents are "fatalities".

Almost twenty other people were killed along with Bhutto.

I used to dislike her because of her alleged fleecing of Pakistan and her people.

However, nothing - absolutely nothing - justifies cold-blooded murder of her; of those who were killed with her; of indeed of any Muslim or non-Muslim anywhere in the world.

Funny how some of the rightwingers immediately jump up and blame Islam and by extension all Muslims for her death. The reality is that a lunatic minority is responsible for this, and ironically that fringe is Islam's or Pakistan's lunatic neo-conservative religious right too.

Furthermore, just imagine if she was killed by Pakistan's Western-backed military. Would anybody be justified in jumping up and ridicolously saying that Christianity or Christians were also implicated in her murder? No? Then don't apply the same logic to Islam and all Muslims.

This has nothing to do with religion. I'm not a Muslim, but Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Sikhs all have members of their collective communities that are evil. In the same way the human race has members of it's community that are evil.

To label this with religion is nothing but wrong, I don't know much about the victim, but I do know that this was a cowardly act of evil... period.

Please be fair and stop attacking Muslims and Islam, if they were to blame then Musharraf and many others would have gone before her..

Only those who love power and authority would do something like that. And for those who say Islam is the most aggressive religion I say may Allah lead you through the right path and make you wake up, how many Muslim countries attacked a western country?

Yet how many Western countries attacked Muslim countries? Hello, have you heard of Iraq?

Ms. Bhutto's legacy will be to elucidate the difference educated, conscious thought and parochial, blindered religious extremism.

It should also be also provide an opportunity for moderate Islam to step up and assert it's influence.

For too long Islam has been code for "terrorist" and nothing could/should be further from the truth! Extremists have made it clear that they have no problem cutting off a nose to spite their face.

And in the face of such reckless hatred bolstered by religious fervour, we in the West need to make it perfectly clear what the result of a Jihadi WMD attack woud be.

Just as Mutually Assured Destruction kept the USSR and the US from pushing those itchy nuclear trigger fingers, so we need to let Radical Islam know that the collateral damage would start with their Holiest of Holies and knowing this should stay their reckless and destructive hand.

This is assuming that Jihadi Islamists hold Mecca dear.

To CBC and Robt form Toronto,

Your statement "To those who don't believe Islam is a religion which spawns hatred and murder"...etc is full of hate and prejudice plus ignorance.

I may not surprised by it as unfortunatley there are plenty of people like you around, However, I wonder how the CBC would allow such rubbish?

You mentioned Iraq, Yes, it is the lagacy of God fearing G.W. Bush and Blair in casuing more then one million death, not the other way around.

Islam, Christiantiy, Judaism and all other faith get noting to do with Inhuman behaviour. It is the people who committ crimes for all kind of reasons.

The light of Pakistan has been snuffed by a wicked and selfish nation.

Benazair Bhutto has been the light for many years and as a woman in world politics her death will affect all people in all nations. I am deeply saddened!

I am truly saddened by this tragedy.

Bhutto will always remain in our memories. I admire her for her tremendous courage in her fight against terrorism. She was a strong and amazing individual. She deserves more respect. She was the only hope for democracy in Pakistan.

This is a great loss of a great individual, and an equally great loss for the promise of true democracy in Pakistan (at least in the short term).

I am saddened by some of the deeply ignorant comments on this board, many of which are dismissive, misogynist or overly deferential toward the Musharaff regime.

I am heartened however by the words of the late Ms. Bhutto herself, who persistently called for a political solution to defeat the (il)logic that drives fundamentalism and terrorism.

We also have to recognize that fundamentalism (the absolute conviction that one's own value system and views, no matter how suspect the foundation for said beliefs, are absolutely paramount) can take many forms. It can take political form in the case of the Bush or Musharaff regimes, or religious form in the case of Christian, Islamic or Jewish fundamentalism.

In any form, it fails to recognize that we all have a planet to share, and that making peace against all odds is very often (but not always) the ultimate demonstration of courage. We all deserve better leadership and therefore owe it to ourselves to improve our own democratic systems to ensure we begin to get it. This will start when we begin to nurture a debate that acknowledges the views of all sides, recognizing the valid arguments and exposing the invalid (and in many cases intemperate) arguments, rather than picking a side, hoping for the best and receiving the worst.

A wise man once said the moment you raise your voice, or even worse, raise your fist in anger, is the moment you have lost a debate. This applies equally to terrorists and to strong man regimes (in the West and East).

Is this really that much of a surprise? Pakistan is barely more reputable than Afghanistan, so expecting progress there is expecting a bit too much. Sad to see someone who cares for the better life be killed.

Islamic extremists strike again! But remember, Islam IS NOT an evil religion!

See? This is what we're up against in the global war on terror. The knee-jerk reaction is "Musharraf is behind this." I just don't think so.

Bhutto espoused moderation, and that just doesn't sit well with the terrorists, the people who hide behind the Quran, and who have probably never read it - yet interpret it THEIR way.

As I have said so many times, God bless our troops stationed in the Mideast, around the world, and our police stationed everywhere, all on the watch for murderers like those who stilled the voice - the peaceful voice - of Benazhir Butto.

The promise of disparate options for the Pakistani election have been severely dimmed. Mushareff and Zia is such a limited choice...the military dictator or, hmmm, the military dictator.

It is also interesting to note that Al Queda is claiming responsibility - not the Pushtin Taleban. AQ is arabic (Saudi). And yet they accuse the west of interference. Not conflict there.

Also interesting to notice how many people who post here are intimate acquaintances of Ms Bhutto (actually, Dr. Bhutto, I believe). A first name basis yet. How presumptuous.

Good Lord. What now? Just as it looked as if Pakistan was making some progress, albeit slowly, the light of democracy has been extinguished and Pakistan has stepped a thousand steps backward.

What a senseless and terrible tragedy!

Oscar Owens stated: However, the most dangerous and regressive religions - which also happen to include the world's most numerous and most powerful followers - are of the Judeo-Christian variety""

What is regressive is how mankind who claims to be "enlightened" still hasn't figured out that he isn't the Alpha and the Omega.

Such comments by Mr. Owens are almost laughable if it weren't for the fact that some people who write this jibbersih actually believe what they write! So be it.

It is sad to learn that this courageous woman has been assassinated. This will cause the free world to worry about an atomic nation in turmoil.

The fear and dread terrorist will eventually get their hands on the counties nuclear weapons leaves the leaders of the world in despair.

A way must be found; a way without American pressure or adverse action. The situation is a considerable reason to worry.

I find myself deeply saddened when I learned of the assassination. I truly hoped that she would be able to rally support and help to put an end to a borderline dictatorship. I think we have lost a strong voice of reason in the area.

Do not doubt the courage that she had to try and go back and change what needed to change. She will be greatly missed.

THE EVIL THAT LIVES IN US

Killing that lady, sends a message to the world of an infamous act that pretends to silence the truth and freedom.

Human beings are so complicated indeed but when this entity let its own will to be canalised and conducted by an evil mind, it just becomes an instrument of destruction with luck of glory.

We, the free men of the world, condemn such atrocity and pray because of the goodwill and the reason be over the insanity and evil in Pakistan and other parts of the world.

From: Toronto with love:
G.VASMEL

It is annoying that when a politician dies in a suicide bomber attack it is called an "assasination" and when a soldier or civilian is killed by the same suicide bomb it is called "collateral damage".

Too much value is placed on a politicians life with terms such as this. She was killed. Not assassinated.

The comments that Musharaff and by extension the White House are behind this just don't add up.

This situation leaves both Musharraf and the White House with an incredibly unwanted and difficult situation.

Add to that reported claims of responsibility from al Qaeda and you have a very probable perpetrator.

Robert from Quebec - the term Islamist is used specifically to refer to Islamist radicals not to Muslims or followers of Islam.

Bhutto was a symbol of liberalism, democracy and the rational mind at work.

She was a symbol of straight speak as a mirror to anti-democratic Musharraf's double talk and double acting.

What tragedy! The forces of intolerance would not let the light in.

A fine leader is a treasure . For Pakistan to have lost this leader while the wily wolf, Musharraf, is still at play is deeply saddening and worrisome.

On and on it goes, killing, maiming, destroying, all in the name of a cause. More like all in the name of power and control. At the root is power and money, masked by talk of religious rights and causes. Hold on to power no matter what the price.

I'll never believe that such acts are rooted in nobility. Not, at least, by the leaders anyway. One would suspect that the suicide bomber may have felt otherwise. You will never see the leaders out there with an explosive vest on though, after all they are much to important to sacrifice themselves aren't they? They spend all their time hiding behind all of their brainwashed flock to come out and face the music.

And where is all the money? Before all of us Christians get too comfortable, understand that this is not an attack on Islam either, pretty much any of these type of leaders no matter what religion are the same, cowards with power and money.

Makes me want to live in a tree somewhere far far away.

This lady may have made a difference, but as I suspected long ago, she never had a chance. Rest in peace, you earned it.

Michael wrote: "It must sadden true Muslims to see their Faith used by those who bring shame and innocent blood to doorstep of their Faith."

Mike, I'm not convinced this is far off the mark of general Islamic ideology having read the Quran and other books with the emphasis on Jihad, infidels etc. etc. It is a most aggressive religion and we have seen that for a long time.;

Our politically correct (NOT) society in the west has a serious threat on our hands and unless we study up on what we are dealing with we may find ourselves under the same threats to our culture.

Zed, I can agree with you that everything that spawns from religion is not necessarily bad.

Yet, much of the good work, especially in helping the poor and suffering of the world, comes with certain strings attached.

Why is it that Christians feel the need to spread the Gospel to uneducated people as a solution to their problems?

Why does the Catholic church sanction an abstinence-only approach to stopping the spread of AIDS in the third world when that approach only worsens the problem?

Why do Christian missionaries have to hand out Bibles with every portion of rice they hand out to people whose LEAST concern should be some sky God?

There is an agenda behind every action of the Catholic church, and it's more about exerting power and control than about the survival of entire populations.

Oh, and to say that Nazism is an anti-religious movement is a fallacy. Hitler used historical Christian animosity towards Jewish people as a tool to garner support to further his agenda.

There have NEVER been crimes against Humanity committed in the name of Atheism. Not even Stalin. It's always about power and control.

Shocking, sad and tragic, but predictable.

It is sad that another intelligent world political figure would once again have their life shortened through the violence of intense political and religious opposition. You could compare Bhutto to other historic figures such as Martin Luther King, Ghandi, and Robert Kennedy who accomplished more through the power of the spoken word and civil action than others accomplished through hatred and violence.

I believe Bhutto's legacy will live on, she certainly has been martyred; the conspirators of hatred may have strenghened the movement towards democracy and tolerance rather than weakened it; this assassination may prove to be counter-productive to their cause of religious and political extremism and intolerance.

However, a wide field of political opinion predict that a long period of violence in Pakistan will follow this tragic event. This will strengthen in the short term Muslim extremism and the Al Queda forces in Pakistan and the Middle East.

Her ego-driven impulse to have to pop her head out of the sunroof so she could wave to admirers gave the assassin his chance. She should have considered the security risk in her behaviour.

A champion of democracy has been assassinated by Islamist (religious) extremists, in a country with nuclear weapons.

Osama bin Laden, behind all this turmoil; with his group(s)Al Qaeda , is in hiding in that country.

There is no chance in a million years that any system wil arise in Pakistan without the approval of the rest of the (free) world. Not in this , or any other ; lifetime. Period.

A very decent Humanitarian who truely did love her country, considering how it consumed her own family and eventually her own life.

One of her most stellar achievements as a young woman was this: "In December 1976 she was elected president of the Oxford Union, becoming the first Asian woman to head the prestigious debating society".

A brilliant beautiful woman that will be missed by all progressive Pakistanis. She was their future and perhaps their only real hope. A very dangerous table has been set, for future events in that part of the world.

Cory there is no conflict about to rage in Pakistan. Of course there will be flashes of anger and destruction of public property.

The real conflict is whether the continued military dictatorship supported by US and its allies will continue to damage civil society and prevent the return to the rule of law.

If the military dictatorship continues so too will the lawlessness and the horrible tragedies like Benazir's assassination.

A very very sad incident. A very cowardly and shameful attack on Benazir's life. A huge void in Pakistani politics.

She did not deserve an end like this. She was very popular in the country. There is just darkness in Pakistan right now. Her family is suffering from a lot of tragedies, now another one.

Cory Barnes, when you say.....

"This is really something to watch out for. There is a conflict about to rage in Pakistan and we all have to hope that in the end the Islamist's loose."

Are you suggesting that the population of Pakistan should be the loser? (or in your case looser?) You know that Pakistan is mainly a population of the followers of Islam?

Like many posters here you seem to be using this event as a platform for the further suffering of those who follow Islam. This job has Musharaff hand written all over it. He wants civil unrest to put in his martial law.

Jay wrote ;

"Paul, democracy IS the right system for all societies."

On what logic to you base this as a fact ? I for one find this laughable and more then certain I am not the only one.... This is another issue and debate altogether, so I'll stick to a minimum on this matter.

"The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter": Winston Churchill.

CBC's " your view " tends to prove this....

Check out the "unofficial " internet sources.

Al Qaeda is claiming responsibility for assassinating Bhutto thus completing a plan authorized by al Zawahiri back in October.

Not found on Fox or CNN.

Bhutto's return to Pakistan was supposed to help restore order and facilitate fair elections.

Likely the opposite will now happen. How sadly ironic.

I think the bigger question remains how do politicians campaign in elections in the Middle East where the threat of suicide bombings is greater in countries in which democracy has been commplace for a long time.

If politicians cannot campaign how then can elections be held fairly?

Well let's cut to the chase.Is anyone surprised by this?

I am as to why it took so long to happen as what would people expect from a third world country the size of Quebec with a population of 170,000,000.

She goes BACK to the country which HUNG her father thinking things are hunky dory..............to a military junta......how stupid could one be......

All people in the world should pause and shed a tear for Benazir Bhutto. Who can understand this tragedy? Not I.

Was she a saint? Perhaps not, but she stood up and faced death, and paid with her life, perhaps when certain magazines and newsmedia lists the person of the year they will wait till the year is over and realize that among the bravest people in 2007 was Ms Bhutto...person of the year, newsmaker of the year, senseless tragedy of the year...let us pause and reflect on her life, her courage, and be angered by her death, and fear for the fallout yet to come......

Goodbye Ms Bhutto, the world will not be a less safe place with you gone............

This tragedy was inevitable. But let's get one fact straight: the CBC keeps calling her a graduate of Harvard.

Not that it would bring her back, but let CANADIANS know that there's another university she graduated from, unknown in this nation of Canada, the university of Oxford. And we mourn her too.

This is really something to watch out for. There is a conflict about to rage in Pakistan and we all have to hope that in the end the Islamist's loose.

It is so tragic for the people of Pakistan and for the world that another bright light has been extinguished.

An individual fighting for justice, compassion and equality.
The individuals responsible for this are simply cowards and murderers.

The leaders use religion as a tool to advance their political agendas. They do not care about their own people and unfortunately brain wash individuals to carry out these murderous acts based on some erroneous martyrdom belief.

THey are against all of what is good. They stand against humanity.

Its a very very sad news that Benazir Bhutto passed away. I don't have much idea as to what kind of a leader she was but she certainly wanted to bring good to her country, she was fighting for democracy.

I don't understand why do people want to kill each other?

The news of her death was a complete shock to me. I still don't believe she is dead. Pakistan is heading to a civil war. The country is in chaos. Pakistani people who are inside the country should remain calm, support each other and unite at this time but instead they are making the situation worse.

I hope everything gets better with time. My prayers are with Pakistan. Its really sad to see this happening.

It appears again we see the beasts in their search for blood. Again low life using religion for their personal gain, person politics. It must sadden true Muslims to see their Faith used by those who bring shame and innocent blood to doorstep of their Faith.

To those who don't believe Islam is a religion which spawns hatred and murder I strongly recommend Karen Armstrong's History of Islam.

It is intended as a sympathetic history of Islam. Yet on just about every page Muslims are being killed, butchered, assassinated, massacred, murdered - by the other Muslims.

Iraq is a recent excellent example. Once Saddam was removed it was open season for Sunnis on Shias and vice versa.

Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, as a secular state, reportedly called Islam "a necklace of corpses".

Sadly, the assassination of Bhutto is one more link in that necklace.

I am not singling out Islam as a religion alone. Christianity certainly has had its murderous phases. Regrettably, every religion creates the justification for murder of co-religionists for a variety of petty and stupid reasons.

Bhutto gave Islamic extremists at least one of those reasons to kill her.

Paul, democracy IS the right system for all societies. Tito and Saddam kept "peace" by brutally repressing those who dared to speak out against them.

The violence you see in Iraq is a direct result of being held under a thumb for far too long.

Those who complain that we in Canada are not democratic because we don't vote or take part in thedemocratic "process" are misguided. It is our RIGHT to not take part that makes us democratic. It is our RIGHT to have our own opinions, make our own choices and do as we please that makes us democratic.

Speak out in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and countless other countries and you are likely to be murdered for your beliefs. When was the last time such an event happened here?

It is ignorant to say the the oppression of women and minorities is justified because they aren't "ready" for the freedom that democracy brings.

Lack of democracy, freedom and education (often because of religous restrictions) leads to ignorance, poverty and extremism.

Democracy isn't necessarily the same as Capitalism, so let's not confuse the two. Mostly, don't tell me that some people aren't ready for democracy - they are, but only need to be given a fighting chance to get it.

Oscar: While I sympathize with your disbelief in an "invisible sky god", I would like to point out that at the same time religious perversions have brought great despair to parts of the world, religious ideals have also propelled many sorts of "progress" as well.

And anti-religious ideologies such as communism and nazism have been responsible for the worst horrors ever perpetrated on populations of many kinds.

Benazir Bhutto went out of her way to respect and live by the Muslim faith, and is/was a good example of the enlightened,, and tolerant Islam of the distant past, and the hope for democracy in Islam in the future.

Buttho asssination is a murderous act and could not be justified by any reaosns. However, let's keep in mind as some people noted that there are mulitiple factors in this violent act.

The politics in pakistan been dominated by oustide ineterference since the end of British occupation of India.

In late 60's and early 70s, USA inherited the British role and influence. The CIA was and still a major player in Pakistan's Politics since the fall for Zul Fekar Ali Bhuttu ( benazir's father) who was hanged by USA strong man Ziaa El haq.

Since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, USA and at the highest level get direct access to the military, secret services and political elites in Pakistan and never left.

As long a stheir an outsie interefernec by " supper players" to dominate and influence teh political directions in teh region and as long as there are local politicians " agents" willing to play the game for personal, financial and political gains, No real democracy will be implemented and am afraid that mor people will suffer.

On a final note, As usaul, some people will jump on the wagon and show their ill conceived and hattered towards islam and mulsims. I wish if they only attempt to open their minds and try to undertsand history, geoplitical and the reality of the regions that they claim to b expert on its affairs.

It's a sad day when a pragmatic, political figure, representing a significant part of the population is killed due to conflicting political opinion.

It's times like this that I appreciate the malaize and quitness of Canadian politics, and respect our subtle nature. It's a sad day for everyone...

it is really very sad. She could probably restore democracy in Pakistan. It is big setback for democratic efforts there.

I feel like it's just another women who tried to raise her voice and was shut down .

It is not just about another leader....
Sadly but truely it is more about just another women they could not take .....

I hope the dare that Benazir had will actually become a dare in each and every women not just in Pakistan but around the world .

The spoken word is a most powerful weapon. Benazir Bhutto used this and knew quite well she was in danger.

Anger is one letter away from danger; she knew this better than anyone having been in her father's jail cell before he was killed.

Stating there will be 'more headlines' because she is female, as we all know, is a crock. Because Democracy is once again Dead in Pakistan; THAT will cause headlines; that and how courageous this person was in the face of almost constant danger.

It will take more than a gunshot to kill those kinds of HEADLINES! She has given not only Pakistan a legacy to work on, but the whole world will remember democracy means you work at it; to make it work. There are only 2% of Canadians actively assisting our democratic system; get involved please.

Brian R wrote:
"Bhutto's exile from Pakistan was self imposed, she was not "booted out"."

Just my opinion, but having to flee the country to avoid being brought to justice is close enough to being kicked out for me.

When will we learn that democracy is not for all nations at the same time? Tito kept peace in his country: Sadam kept peace in his country: Mussariff is trying to keep peace in Pakistan.

400 years BC Plato stated that a benelivent dictator is a good form for some governments. The pope has practiced that for 2000 years. Democracy is not the be all and end all for everyone. Let us all get more realistic.

Paul Cadeau

When we read the news this morning our 9-year-old daughter asked, "what does assassinated mean?" When we told her she said, "Why don't they just use their words?" as she walked away to get ready to play outside she muttered half to herself, "Words are powerful."

She's right on so many levels.

The Free World has lost a great champion for freedom from tyranny with the death of Ms. Bhutto. My hope is that this cowardly act will unite the forces of freedom and democracy to once and for all eliminate the forces of extremism and terrorism once and for all.

As a daughter of immigrants from the UK and Pakistan, born in the US, and raised in Canada, I have always tried to follow the politics of these nations and see the connections between them.

I would hope that all Canadians would take such a pluralistic approach as all us, with the exception of First Nations peoples, are immigrants by origin or ancestry. However, reading some of the comments above I am sorely disappointed.

When I heard the news this morning of Ms Bhutto's death I was deeply saddened for many reasons. A loss of a human life by violent means is always sad, but Ms Bhutto also brought with her a differing voice and perspective to the political debate, whether I agree with it or not is irrelevant, in a country so sorely lacks pluralism. For that I mourn personally.

In regard to some of the more ignorant comments regarding immigrants posted:
My father left Pakistan at the age of 17 to make new life here in Canada for the exact same reasons immigrants from all over the world come here.

They are no less human than the rest of us who were raised here. Sure, hey bring different views and beliefs based on their experiences and culture, but so do we! How many average Canadian reach out to welcome these people? I guessing not many - and then you complain that they don't integrate? Racism is alive and well in Canada - we just ignore it.

While the loss of any life in the pursuit of freedom is a tragedy perhaps this event will serve to unite those forces opposed to the Taliban/al-Qaeda both in that country and throughout the free world.

These militant forces serve only to remind the world that despotism, whether it is Nazis, Communists, Pol Pot, Saddam Hussein or whomever seeks out personal power and gain by subverting principles of freedom and human rights through any means possible.

While any murder of any kind is reprehensible, Bhutto's arrogance got her killed. The rally the PPP organized in Karachi for her return from exile was utterly moronic. She was warned that there would be attacks, yet she flaunted her return, basically using her supporters as sacrificial lambs.

I fail to see the hope she represented. Bhutto presided over Pakistan in two separate terms, both of which can be called nothing but utter disasters. Her stances changed continuously to whatever was most convenient. What's changed?

How can you claim to be democratic when there is no democracy within your own party? She became the leader of the PPP only because her father was. She was no great beacon of hope. Hopefully the new leader of the PPP can galvanize it supporters towards the best interest of Pakistan and not self benefit.

And let us hope that rather that resulting to violence this event unites Pakistan against the extremist minority, though that seems highly unlikely.

It was only a matter of time before this happened, it's sad but all too common for those leaders who champion the call for change and right of the people to be disposed of.

Evil rules the world because evil does not play by any rules.

Sadly her killing does not come as a surprise. Even sadder is that few people realize the implication of this further destabilization of Pakistan on the rest of the world.

It seems to me that there is a void left in Pakistani politics, one that will be filled by the extremists if not already. What it comes down to is a numbers game. Exactly how many people in Pakistan openly or secretively support the agenda of the Taleban/Al Qaeda/other Islamic militant groups? This is a question that to me has been unanswered.

Going further, how many Muslims in the Middle East and Asia, and for that matter the world support Muslims that are fighting an ongoing war against Western forces (Afghanistan,Iraq) and Western backed forces (i.e. Israel)? If there is even 1% support for them war and instability will be a mainstay in this region far into this century.

I personally believe there is far more than 1% support which is why the conflict is ongoing and may spread further.

To 'N':

You are out to lunch. Extremism isn't caused by poverty. Look at Osama Bin Laden - he's a multi millionaire! The 9/11 attackers were well educated and certainly not poor! Let's get over this hand wringing about causes other than the real one - Islamic extremism.

To 'Will':

If you can look past your hatred for George Bush you will see that he is a defender of democracy, and if you haven't been watching, has helped install democracies in two countries that never had it before - Iraq and Afghanistan. And he is urging Pakistan to return to democracy. Islamic extremism is to blame - not George Bush!

Roch, to say this assassination wasn't at least partly religiously motivated would be ignorant.

After all, Bhutto was one who championed a more secular society. In Pakistan, religion and politics are so interwoven that there is very little to distinguish the two.

Oh, and on the topic of religion, I stand by my belief that ALL religions are an impediment to a rational and reasonable society, and the progression of Humanity.

To believe in invisible sky Gods is akin to believing that the Sun is not a star, or that a circle is a square. It is completely ridiculous, delusional, and flies in the face fact and reality.

Granted, some religions such as Jainism or Buddhism are less harmful and destructive to society, but are still detached from reality in many ways.

However, the most dangerous and regressive religions - which also happen to include the world's most numerous and most powerful followers - are of the Judeo-Christian variety.

Do you know, Roch, what is monumentally scary? the fact that, in order to be the leader of the most powerful country on the planet, you are REQUIRED to believe in an invisible sky God, terrible and wrathful, yet benevolent, who sees all and knows all.

Well d - for what it's worth I don't watch Fox or Cnn.

If you look at Bhutto's publicly articulated position against al-Qaeda she is obviously a target for them.

If you read the news, watch BBC, CBC,or use Internet you also know that Islamist radical thought is, in fact, a powerful force in Muslim countries.

It is a revolutionary movement, it contradicts basic precepts of Islam and endangers moderate Muslims everywhere.

I would suggest YOU get educated and read the works of Qutb, Zawahiri et al and review bin Laden's pronouncements.

They abhor the rule of law and rights for women and condone the murder of Muslims who disagree with them.

As far as criticism of US foreign policy there are many Americans calling for the re evaluation of said policy.

But I don't think it's likely anytime soon that the US will lose control of its nuclear arsenal.

Your characterization of the US as a failed state on the edge of anarchy is hyperbole at it's best.

So I don't think its unbelievable to think Islamist radicals killed Bhutto and there is plenty of precedence to support my opinion.

Nor do I think it's implausible to suggest that Islamist radicals have very clear political ambitions.

Bhutto was courageous to return to Pakistan.

In retrospect, however, her legacy will be mixed.

She helped the Taliban initially and was prepared to go after them upon her return to Pakistan when elected as President.

She and her husband were dogged by corruption during her term of office.

Pakistan is a very dangerous country at the moment possessing nuclear weapons and extremists bent on destruction and devastation.

Time will tell whether Pakistan will accept democracy.

Peace

Thank you Pete from NB,

For once someone on this site is showing some critical and analythical thinking.

As well as some common sense.

A sad day for a troubled part of the world, but not unexpected.

I don't know what is worse, the assassination or the fact that so many are not surprised it happened. Has mankind only evolved to this??

She will be remembered as an opportunist and power hungry second class politician as it should be.

This woman was not a saint, what happened to her is very discusting but to say this women was an innocent person, whom for all intent and purposes, wanted to bring about peace and democracy to Pakistan, is misleading and mis-information to say the least.

Rest in peace, for a lot of us you fall into the shadows of oblivion, where you belong. The masses more then likely dont even know this women and those who do will forget soon enough about this so called martyr of democracy.

Since my opinion is not politicaly correct or full of sympathies I strongly doubt it will get posted, here's to trying...

When I heard that Bhutto had been assassinated this morning, I let out a wail. Benazir Bhutto was a beacon of hope and progress. That is why she was killed.

There are people in Pakistan, as in other countries around the world, who thrive on chaos, violence and division. Every martyr that is sacrificed to this death cult must be remembered, and their memories honoured by the rest of us taking up and continuing their struggles.

To the people of Pakistan who still believe in Benazir's message of liberty, equality and democracy, I implore you to take up her fight and transform your country for the better before it is too late! The world is with you!

We should all be concerned for the stability of Pakistan at this time. They are afterall a nuclear power.

We certainly do not need instability in a country that has extremists, and nukes. And just how did they become a nuclear power? Little help here please.

A very sad day for Pakistan and for democracy in general, hopefully calm will remain and no more bloodshed will occur

Ok people get a grip here, don't forget that this was a women who twice fled her country amid allegations of corruption, bribery and murder.

Her father was hanged for corruption after which she swore to carry on his work.

After a falling out with members of her family her brother is murdered during a robbery and his wife "mysteriously" dies in London of food poisoning.

She returns now to Pakistan and her husband who is still facing corruption chooses not to.

An attempt on her life several weeks ago that killed over 150 people didn't slow down her lust for power. Oh no out she goes and who cares how many die as long as she gets power.

And the crap from Prime Minister Brown and President Bush calling the assassins "cowardly" is a bit over the top as both represent countries have a long and proud history of using assassination when it suits their own purposes.

If you look at her honestly she was just another self serving oily politician on par with the worst of them.

Pakistan lost a great leader and possibility of semi democracy after many years of American backed military dictatorship.

Look at history and you will find that Americans and Saudis are to blame for subsiding and training of the extremist Islamic groups such as Taliban and now these groups can employ their resources to undermine any country and slaughter any leader in the region.

Democracy echoes!!! Where has this succeeded ? In the US ,in Canada?
Its devastating to waste any soul..for that we all grieve!
Religion is hardly the Culprit but can be convenient made so!!

India,Pakistan and Shrilanka,share a similar heritage and also similar tragedies.What is needed now is money spent on Education(Women in particular )employment, to include health care ,sound familiar? But Less on Arming themselves to Destroy each other at the behest of "the Decomracy touting Powers"Perhaps a foreign national like "Ghandi" will emerge to lead the way...But Lets Give Musharraf a chance meanwhile,eh?

All of Pakistan must indeed mourn the lost of their daughter for she was true to her land and to all her people. Benazir Bhutto will always be remember for her courage to come to homeland and willing to die for what she truly believed was in the very spirit of open public discourse - that is taken for granted and earned in so many societies all over the earth.

Her legacy will go as an immortal daughter of Pakistan’s political freedom anchored in her moderate expression of her Koranic faith Islam.

Her martyrdom is too often the price paid by nascent developing democratic nations in their early stages of formation.

Pakistan and all opposition parties must take a deep breath and pray and learn to respect her human life of their lost but not to be forgotten Muslim sister.

She lived as pure as pure to her convictions and lead by her honorable educated voice for modernity and liberty in her land that was her love and now follows to her father’s in spiritual union untouched by the desert of ancient dreams.

Tribal and civil non-violent outrage must be conjoined to actions and thoughts in leading the forces of moderation.
We in the democracies of the world celebrate her life as of bravery in life’s example, talking to her peoples and believe that living life’s journey is truth and a personal calling that will never die.

She was the purest of bonds to her great nation’s aspirations in creed and yet to separate her life’s brave spirit in leadership to her core and to say she was just a member of the political herd mentality is not what loving Pakistan will or must honor her life lived.

Let’s Honor all opposition parties conversations debating the common path of pure truth for all in the homeland not just the ones who will try to kill a voice that comes from on high. Now Benazir Bhutto is a voice in the stately stars true to guiding all democracies with toleration and bravery.

A sad day for Pakistan, to be sure. Bhutto's legacy is truly a mixed bag, however. She certainly showed great courage in returning to Pakistan, but I think the accusations of corruption will always dog her legacy.

The real irony of this is that Pakistan will now likely, more than ever, be coming apart at the seams. Between the strong-men in the army and the Islamists, the average Pakistani is in for a dark time.

Democracy in Pakistan was little more than a shadow before Bhutto's assassination, it's now likely to be a complete sham. No matter what happens, however, the West is likely going to lose an important, if somewhat unsteady ally in the region.

Now, more than ever, I think the Partition of India can be seen as one of the great tragedies of the 20th century.

What a heartbreaking day for the world. I admired her courage, determination and singleness of purpose to modernize & bring democracy to Pakistan. Her legacy needs to be carried on - I'm hoping that her death and all she stood for will spark some action among the Muslim world to unite and root out the violence and get on with the business of being positive contributors to the world at large.

She was a true voice for moderate Islam, but she will remain an inspiration to me.

I'm surprised as are most, but "shocked" is a bit of overplay considering this happened in a country at the crossroads of so many ideologies smashing up against one another.

While Islamic fundamentalism no doubt gets the initial blame for this needless death, the real motive may never be known given the crush of anything but innocent players attempting to manipulate this nuclear state for their own agenda.

That latter fact brings a frightening edge to this murder.

But equally frightening, at least to me, is the response from some here in Canada, such as the Jerry Oconnors who want to use this thread to spread their Islamofascism hatred.

Canada is not threatened by its immigration policies. If anything, our ever-broadening international population offers all Canadians better perspectives on the world.

Unfortunately, many Canadians simply refuse to try looking at events through the eyes of their neighbour and, instead, retreat inwardly to their own self-inspired view of what a "true" Canadian is.

Sadly, it's usually based on some outdated myth that includes only white faces.

"Erasmus", sadly adds to that vein in his lament "how do you explain democracy to someone who can't read or write?"

Erasmus, people who can't read or write because they have not been schooled are still quite capable of grasping democracy.

If there is a problem, it's usually because those selling the concept have an even greater problem living by the concept, as in "do as I do" rather than "do as I say".

Blame Bush!
If it weren't for the US keeping Musharaaf in power all these years perhaps Pakistan would have worked out its issues by now.

BTW: All those folks who are pointing at Bhutto as being corrupt, when was any of that ever proven? Clue, it wasn't!

The whole Bhutto corruption thing was part of the US plan to put Musharaaf in power, because he was one guy who would do things the way the US wanted them done.
If there ever was any legitimacy to the war on terror, then the US would have gone after Musharaaf before taking out Hussein.

Looking for someone to blame, blame the current US administration for propping up dictators, and creating the popular unrest in the first place.

Blame Bush, then look in the mirror, because each and every one of us in this society, driven by oil, is to blame.

Bhutto's death is tragic, but the bigger tragedy is in how we in the west continue to support governments, like the Bush regime, who continue to meddle in the affairs of other countries.

Irving Schwartz: "...she was kicked out by Pakistan in the first place."

Just one of the many falsehoods being exposed here today. Bhutto's exile from Pakistan was self imposed, she was not "booted out".

The other glaring falsehood is that this has nothing to do with religious extremism, it has everything to do with religious extremism. I could explain further but the CBC thought police wouldn't allow it. That's the "democracy" we live in.

Today is a very sad day for the people of Pakistan!

As a woman I am very hurt to know that we lost a great person full of knowledge hope and love for her people. I hope someone has the courage to fill in her really big shoes!

She herself could of had a normal life outside of her country. Instead she fought for her person, which makes her a true Hero. May god bless her soul and her family.

A very courageous woman who knowingly put her life on the line for what she believed in. Not is this only a terrible day for Pakistan but the entire world.

I think that this is terrible, and those responsible should be brought to justice. However I did wonder, it she was strong enough to keep Pakistan from falling to the militants, and maybe getting us wrapped up in a conflict in Pakistan as well.

It's amazing to see how many people took the opportunity to project their hatred rather than answer the question!!!

Bhutto's legacy will be of a great leader and a democrat.

While I don't necessarily agree, her death is tragic nonetheless. Pakistan will now be further destabilized and elections will likely be postphoned but contrary to what some folks online from Alberta believe (who could blamed for Harper btw) most Pakistanis do not have fangs and devil horns and would be compatible with a moral democracy in Pakistan and in Canada.

This is a very unfortunate and untimely event. She had her flaws, however she also had the courage of her convictions as well.

Maybe there is a religious motivation to her killing or it might have been political. The diffrence between the two might be 'shades of grey'.

"We teach children to believe in a god, the tooth fairy and Santa Claus (Saint Nicholas, Black Pete, whatever the incarnation). Fortunately no one kills in the name of the last two. Perhaps we should learn something from that?

This is a tragedy for both Pakistan and the free world. She was a much loved and much revered individual whose mere presence, not to mention her immense courage, provided hope for the future of Pakistan and the world.

Democracy has suffered a huge loss. Hopefully the criminals will be brought to justice swiftly and the PPP will continue it's mandate. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and Pakistan.

It is more than a little worrisome that Pakistan possesses such radical hotheads and nuclear weapons.

An educated, articulate, political woman appears to be anathema to the fundamentalist (misogynist) Islamic mind. Having a woman trying to spearhead bringing these stone-age radicals into the 21st century was a dangerous gambit and Ms. Bhutto has paid the ultimate price.

Her assassination is an enormous nail in the coffin of Pakistan moving forward into an Islamic Society of freedom and dignity (if this is even possible in the face of such parochial, misogynist hatred).

We lost a good partner in the fight against Terrorism.
We need to stand with 99% of the people who want peace and love health care and jobs and not terrorism.
This is proof the fight is not over, we are making progress but we need to hang in there another 10 years.

How can this event be a threat to Canada? Making that conclusion is really jumping the gun, don't you think? Sounds like fear mongering as well. I think a lot of Canadians need to realize that not every muslim is violent. 99.9% of muslims are peaceful people just like we are, just trying to get by.

Finally, if I remember correctly, Bhutto wasn't exactly a saint when she was in power. Nor was her father, for that matter.

The family was extremely corrupt and violent when they were in power. Rather than being a champion of democracy, she just wanted power for herself. It's too bad most people don't do any real research when they watch the news.

Why do the good ones have to go?
It was shocking and disppointing news right after the Christmas feelings of peace and hope for this world.

Having to put up with the response from George Bush on the news was distressing and depressing.

To Strong and Free, yes we are. It is people like you who probably sit at home when it is time to vote, and not because there are armed guards which taunt and bring fear to the hearts of people seeking out democracy, but because you Choose not to.

Thank God for Democracy, it allows you to say what you think without fear of retribution.

Sadness....
A female(yes that's important) politician who went back to try and lead her country despite threats and negativity.

Let's honour her legacy. Let us catch and punish the repsonsible or should I say, irrepsonsible person or persons who killed her and others.

Let this not be the continuing of a dark era for Pakistan.
P;ease, no more violence!!!!.

I'm shocked and saddened by the death of Ms Bhutto. My deepest sympathy goes to her family and supporters. And to the people of Pakistan, they truly lost a hero.

As usual, people making comments without proper knowledge of the state, the people, and the history. I just arrived here from the BBC site hoping to find a more enlightened discussion. Yet, it becomes evident that in this pluralistic society, we sitll have immense ignorance.

My biggest gripe is the blaming of a religion? How ridiculous. If you had any intelligence and sincere care for an issue, study it!

From my work overseas and analysis, the largest contributor to extremist behaviour (not true islam, but one created by "religious" leaders for political gain) is POVERTY. Young recruits are boys who can not afford schooling let alone food. Thus, being recruited for a cause, for a purpose in life....they are easy targets. Thus victims as well. These extremests can be simultaneously be viewed as rebel fighters if you actually assess what they are doing. Its not for religion, its for control of the state.

In any case, the loss of Bhutto is severe in many aspects, however the loss of my faith in true knowledge in the west (we pride ourselves to be highly educated), is far more disconcerting.

What in the world is wrong with the rest of our politcal leaders and the media who keep saying this is a blow against their "Democracy"? What democracy and where?

There is none in Pakistan and never will be and unless we wake up soon , we'll not have any either because under the guise of protecting us we will lose whatever democracy we may still have left.

I am not surprised at this assasination of Ms Bhutto, such a great hope for some form of democracy in Pakistan is now gone.

Musharaf musty take the majority of the responsibility for this murder, for the lack of security provided to Ms Bhutto. It truly is a sad day for all of democracy, and my heart goes out to the people of Pakistan.

Bhutto will incorrectly be remembered as a martyr, as everyone seems to have "forgotten" why she was kicked out by Pakistan in the first place.

Bhutto's list of enemies is not short, so I would be a bit cynical before blaming religion. Her policies and promises always seemed to change like the wind, and while she and the PPP are super popular right now, she had the opportunity while she was in power to make substantial changes.

You wanna stop the extremists in the north? Perhaps the government should set up more publicly funded schools so people don't have to go to madrasas to get an education.

For me, it isn't only the extremists in the north that need to be isolated. But any Pakistani government has to deal and minimize the corrupt power of the military that has had coup after coup.

Even now, I am skeptical for a government free of the army's influence given how Musharraf changed laws and constitutions at whim to allow for the army's role in politics.

Pakistan, as a country, is now a write-off. Between militants that the government can't contain and Musharraf's dictatorial manipulations to stay in power, it would probably be best for all other countries to cease having any contact with it until they themselves realize that killing each other does nothing but rack up a body count.

When they mature, maybe they'll be let back in. We can be thankful, at least, that they border India, who is not likely to let any of that sort of thing into their borders.

If you are a Canadian born in Canada and have not seen how others live in our world,or traveled to other countries we can not judge the way things happen in other counties.

This is a very bad time for all of us! If you don't believe this can happen in this Country then you are in a dream world. It's only time before this will happen. We live in a free country , but all things are not free it comes with a price to keep this freedom we have to go to places like afganistan Wake up Canadians ...........

By the way who give them the Cando reactor ?
The whole world should be greatly shocked by a woman being killed this way. She wanted the same things for her country as we do. May she rest in Peace
Rose

I was surprised she lived as long as she did in Pakistan.

Her assassination is a tragedy for everyone in the region who yearns for democracy and freedom of thought, action and association.

I followed the triumphs and tragedies of her career for many years (and her father too), and believe she was a true hero, a fine and proper Muslim woman, and intelligent example to many people of what an honest and courageous woman could achieve in the Middle East.

But it appears that some forces in the Middle East have made her an example of what they will do to all the things she stood for.

It amazes me, after reading several comments, how people are exclaiming how democracy is such a golden goal to strive for. In Canada, how representative is our democracy?

A pitiful few actually make it out to the voting polls, yet does that make us democratic? We are told that we are democratic, but just how many freedoms do we really have? Freedom of expression, of religion, are still severly curtailed in our Western societies, yet in a much more subtle manner than we can even notice.

Racism and sexism are still rampant in Canada and other Western nations, and it is only with utter naivete that anyone can say otherwise. The media is selective in what is published and what type of image is portrayed; consider that the next time you pick up a newspaper or turn on your TV.

Besides, if democracy is supposed to be a vehicle for freedom and justice, how free and just is "democracy" at the tip of a gun? Does that not go against its main principles? Once again, this is just our Western perspective of how the world should be and how we should all be mega-consumers who occasionally vote in elections to "exercise our democratic voice" and sympathetically say how unfortunate and "backwards" non-democratic nations are.

Benazir Bhutto's death is a tragedy, as are all terrorist instigated deaths. But please remember that she was not a female heroine trying to bring such fluffy ideals as some seem to think.

In reference to Jason Blanks comments, I did not read any hate speech here. I am glad to read opposing opinions, but saddened to see political correctnest and paintbrushed neutrality so strongly entriched in Canada and Western societies.

First, let's not put all religions in the same basket. They are different, just as individuals, countries, subjects are different. Secondly, about religion, let's stop blaming today's problems on events that happened hundreds or thousand of years ago.

How many Christians go around shooting people, yelling I'm doing this in the name of Jesus? The closest I can think of is during the abortion debate of 15 years ago or so. It's obvious what the religion of the persons commiting religious killings are today. The problem of today is with fundamental Islam, not Christianity, Judaism, Hindu, Buddhist,.etc. My point is don't paint all religions with the same brush.

The West has to unstuck it's head from the sand and see it and say it as it is. How about starting with fighting for basic rights for Women for the whole world not just the West. We can start where women have the least rights, in Saudi Arabia. Acknowledging the problem and speaking up is a start. What to do once identifying the problem. I don't know. Maybe God knows.

It's amusing to see the Islam is the problem when it comes to situations like these. It was an assassination. People of all faiths do them. My condolences to Bhutto's family.

She knew what she was up against when she went back to Pakistan. She willingly stood up to the risk, and her supporters did the same. They accepted the risks every bit as much as she did.

Her resolve will be a beacon of hope to the many that need it there and abroad. While her political career was marred with controversy, I am glad she at least tried to bring positive changes, especially for women, to her country.

I must say the most amusing comments tend to come Calgary for some reason...like this :

"Attempts to destabilize Muslim governments are ongoing." Yes and Western powers have a big part of that as well (pretty much the entire middle east was destabilized by colonial powers, the effects of which we see to this day)

"Whether we in the West pay attention or not Islamic radicalism is a force to be reckoned with in the Muslim world. What better playground than a failed, nuclear armed Muslim state?"

How about a failed, nuclear armed Democratic state ? Im not sure but is a rouge superpower that ignores International law and supports torture and illegal war much better ? If thats democracy than why would any government want it ?

Non-Interventionism...look it up

Maybe Bill should turn off the Fox/CNN and try getting your information elsewhere...something tells me you think Bush is a beacon of Democracy HA

This event is not good news, showing another spiral down towards civil war in Pakistan. A instable Pakistan is not good, unless you are from Iran, India or China.

This assasination will have dissastrious results for generations to come. Bhutto may not have been the best choice, but the present President could be worse for the future.

Oscar Owens, what is stupid is someone blaming ALL religion for an obviously politically motivated assassination. She had already been removed from office twice for charges of corruption. She knew the danger in returning to Pakistan to try to become leader once again, and tragically has paid the price for taking that huge risk in her effort to regain power.

Ah geez, did you not all see this coming. Although all deaths are tragic, she is no loss to the polictical stage in my opinion.

This has to be a very sad day for Benazir Bhutto's supporters both home and abroad.She worked so hard but wasn't even allowed to see what the outcome of her labor would be.Pakistan has lost a rare gem and so has the international community.I hope there's someone who will be able to take off where she left, so her selfless labor for democracy does not go to waste.

Bhutto's murder seems to have made significant impact on the world community. Digestion of the details regarding this horrific events as portrayed in the media outlets abroad, and then reading the commentary herein, it also appears that we as a species are solely to blame for this dysfunction due to our inability to learn from our collective pasts. Specifically, if one wants to make significant and radical change in human society, it seems inevitable that this person is destroyed by one or more human beings.

To all the fear mongers and those in the grasp of ignorance: religious extremism and political upheaval is fostered by the system of control we all live under, which is managed by those in power within the corporations and financial institutions of the G8 countries.

It's time for everyone to wake up and smell the reality. Start asking the hard questions, i.e. what are the real benefits from Bhutto's murder and the events that unfold afterwards? Moreover, how does her death control and it's underlying rationale your perspective here in Canada??

Failure to recognize the answers to these questions [holistically], further proves my point, that our species will continue to remain in funk of denial and dysfunction fueled by rage and greed.

For the few of us that can see through incidents of this like, may the Creator, God, Allah, or however you believe, protect and guide us.

It is not surprising to me that this brave woman was murdered. It seems to me that their is something wrong with a culture and religion that embraces the murder of intelligent hard working woman who believe in democracy.

I think its time for the Canadian government to protect Canadians from these Islamic immigrants that seem to be pouring into Canada and their views. I don't want to live with these people, or else I would live in a violent undemocratic Islamic country.

I for one feel it is time like in Quebec to pose sanctions and conduct codes of behavior of these people who are here. Anyone who believes that a religion where men go to heaven and get numerous virgins for killing in the name of Islam and for living a good life is not in line with Canadian society. Why are so many of these people here.

To resort to assassination -- an extreme measure which snuffs out the unique life of the leader. Leaders, good leaders are still very rare. Although the population of the world has increased by so many, we still have few good leaders.

Those who kill the leader understand how powerful that person can be, and how in the absence of that particular person, that unique person, the void is great. It's a last resort to stop the personal and political power an individual may have, and it's so interesting that in this day and age of technology, where it's often difficult to have a personal moment with a human being who does not represent an organization, assassination is in a way, an odd affirmation of the irreplaceable nature of the human being.

As a woman, I am saddened by her death. As a human being, I am sad for all those who feel that killing is worth any political or religious goal. When will there be another woman -- who had so much promise for this country, for these people?

Not a bit surprised that she has been felled. We'll see who had a bloody hand in this and what will happen (or not) next month. Who is pulling the strings in Pakistan - as elsewhere ???? Interesting indeed. Rest in peace Benazir.

Perhaps some of Jerry O'Connor’s (Calgary) were a bit harsh, but I do see some of his points. I have travelled to many countries and have met many friends (including Muslim) along my journeys. Islam has mostly good people within its community, but like Christianity (i.e.; the troubles in Northern Ireland) twisted minds are among them.

It is these few twisted minds that can (and will if we let them) cause severe havoc upon the rest. The large majority of regions of the world with a troubled past are religious based. I too believe religious based terrorism must be taken more serious in this country (and around the world), and that should start with the Islamic (and other religious)leaders taking a much more proactive approach at denouncing all extreme activism.

If they don’t, dislike for Islam (and its followers) will only grow here as it is other parts of the world.

We refuse to look backwards to history to show us the future. Islam is like Christianity in the bloodthirsty, backward ways of its people. I predict educated people of Islam will free themselves from the stupidity of suicide bombing.

Much like the former Hashashins (from which we get the word assassin) freed themselves from their Islamic overlord, today's Muslim discards will realize they don't have to kill themselves at the request of some evil religious leader and will return to the true way of following Muhammad's teachings.

Since it's invention in the seventh century Islam has followed in the footsteps of Christianity with it's ignorance and violence. Educated Muslims are sick of the carnage and will turn on religious leaders who foster death and destruction.

I disagreed with Bhutto on a lot of her policies. As a citizen of your American friends and neighbors down south, I hope that Bhutto's assassination won't derail relations between the U.S. and Pakistan.

Pakistan pledged support to the U.S. in the War on Terror and I feel that we need to have strong relations with countries despite such despicable acts.

With an election coming up, I hope that it doesn't have a negative effect on it.

Gary, I don't quite think that Christian, Jews and Muslims lived in harmony in Spain. There were two different fundamentalist Muslim dynasties, and then a Christian one, which tortured (remember the Inquisition) and expelled the Jews and Muslims (after taking their money first).

Otherwise I think you are right that we cannot export out Democratic concepts everywhere, how can you explain what democracy means to someone who cannot read or write?

Once again, ignorance and blind belief have trumped reason and reality.

You have some (or many) idiot(s) who kill others because they truly believe some invisible man in the sky wants them to and think they'll go to heaven and be with virgins because of their 'heroic' act.

Yet, the reality of their actions (for which the consequences they'll never have to face) is the farthest imaginable thing from 'heroic'.

I only wish the world, collectively, would abandon religious beliefs completely and we could live in a peaceful world based on respect for fellow humans. Otherwise, I fear religion will be cause of the downfall of humanity.

Stupid, stupid, stupid!!!

Isn't it always a sad day when someone dies, just because someone else thiks they deserve to?

I don't pretend to understand all the issues or problems there, but it seems like Bhutto was only trying to make Pakistan a better place for all. Ultimately, only the people of Pakistan can and should decide what kind of country they will have.

It is truly ashame when one who worked so hard for peace and equality is slain in the name of name of the status quo, ignorance and intolerance.

Bhutto was a mother and leader and her family and the people of Pakistan will suffer as a result of this senseless act.

I agree with Raz

My wife and I just got back from visiting Granada Spain where the Moors (Muslims) ruled till 1492. The art and architecture is stunning. Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together in peace.

It was one of those places Leonard Cohen referred to as "the holy places where the races meet". In 1492 the Christians took over and a year later the Spanish Inquisition began.

We Christians have our share of blame for the hatred and intolerance that invades our world.

I am very upset to hear this news. Bhutto herself was not innnocent, but there are no innocents in this arena, Another writer noted the contrast between the world experience of Pierre Trudeau compared with George W Bush. Bhutto herself was educated in England and had served a term as president of the Cambridge Debating Union. She carried with her the ability to bridge vast cultural differences.

She was no panacea, but the world will miss her.

I wonder if this will stir more controversy, but I cannot help but think that in the west we worship democracy. I wonder if democracy can work only in those places where there is already broad consensus on the fundamentals of society. In places that lack this broad consensus western democracy (based on voting rather than consensus building) may not be a good fit.

Are we in the west not being unrealistic in insisting on a system of voting to goverrn states where this may well just impose the tyranny of the majority, especially in nations like Pakistan and many others, whose boundaries have been artificially created by former western colonial powers.

Are the formally democratic former Yugoslav states really better off than the they were under the undemocratic consensus building regime of Tito? I wonder.

Her death is heartbreaking. I can't help but feel that the murderers who assassinated her partially did it because she was a woman.

And as a brave, intelligent female leader in a part of the world where women lead lives controlled by a very patriachal value system often filled with violence, her death must be especially painful to women in Pakistan and other parts of the muslim world.

As a woman, I am very sad to hear of her death. I also admire her great courage in standing up to people who want to repress men and women alike, but especially to control women.

This is a very sad day for anyone who believes in democracy. I am truly saddened by this tragedy, but I hope that democracy will prevail all over the world for the sake of her and others like her who never stopped believing and encouraging people to believe despite the threats.
May she rest in peace

This was much more than the assination of an individual, but more about what she was seen as standing for. We who value peace, equal rights, freedom of choice and moderation need to understand that this was also an attack on us.

It is basically the lack of tolerance that actions like this are being perpetuated.This again proves that putting human lives lower than ones belief or idealism is rampant nowadays.

There is too much hate today and when we look at others we sometimes fail to see them as ones we can relate to as a fellow human being.

At times we even fail to see the innocence in children and those that are helpless in situations where humanity should have preference over our political or religious beliefs.When human lives are lost as a result of promoting our own beliefs and ideals,it is a sign of a degradation of humanity in todays society.

In a related story you say that people of Pakistani origin living in Canada are in shock and grief.
It is not only them but any supporter of democracy and women's rights who is in shock.
This is a sad day for us all.

It is sad but i think it was expected. I do not know much about her except to say she must have been very brave to do the things she did because my understanding is that Pakistan is still somewhat backwards as to what a woman can and can not do.

I hope calm prevails and the media reframes from sensationalizing. The media just seems to make things worse.

The acid test will be Musharaff's response. If he responds by declaring martial law he incriminates himself.

If he stands behind the democratic process then fingers point elsewhere.

What the West encourages him to do is also very telling.

Encouraging the democratic process to continue is in the best interests of the people of Pakistan.

It also cuts off Islamist radical strategy at the knees.

When Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan I said it will only be a matter of time before she is assassinated.

As time passed I remarked how lucky she is to have survived this long. Unfortunately my prediction came true. My condolences go out to her family.

I also questioned why she wanted to return to Pakistan as she must have known the surety with which there would be many attempts made on her life and the tremendous amount of luck she would need to survice.

Pakistan is a country of bombings, murders, beatings and violent mass protests. This stock in trade is practiced all under the guise of politics but really is simply a way of life in Pakistan. Bhutto's killing may not even be politically connected.

It just may be some dissafected Pakistani citizen getting caught up in the protest du jour. I have absolutely no doubt that given time countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq will self-implode beyond salvage.

This is a sad day for the world! My heart hit the floor when I saw the news on television.

Ms. Bhutto worked so hard for her nation. My heart goes out to her family and to the nation of Pakistan. She knew the risk of running for office, but to think the worse has happened is all to tragic....

This is a devastating blow to any hope for democracy in Pakistan. It is dreadfully worrisome in its implications not only for this seemingly endlessly conflicted region, but for the world as well.

For all of her faults and naivety, Bhutto was a leader adored by her people, and a beacon of light for a democratic Pakistan. She took her life in her hands the moment she returned from her exile, and displayed staggering bravery in the face of assassination attempts and house arrests.

But for all her passion to see a free and democratic Pakistan, her martyrdom today leaves a gaping vaccuum of popular leadership in a country that needs her now more than ever.

No doubt, Benazir Bhutto fell victim to her own perceptions. She paid the ultimate price confronting the reality of life in Pakistan.

Those, who wanted quick and radical changes take place, could not afford ignoring Benazir Bhutto's influence on affairs of Pakistan.

My only hope, now, is that the true murderers don't reap the perceived benefits!

Exactly why is anyone shocked or surprised by this event?

Pakistan, like the rest of the countries full of religious extremists is a hotbed of extremism, hatred and terrorism ready to erupt in violence and murder at eny moment.

The only question is who will be next. The best we can hope for is that the assassin was Pakistani; if he was Indian it might result in nuclear war.

A very sad and frightening day indeed.

I don't know what the future could hold for Pakistan, a country created just so everyone in it could be just Muslim. I am very worried about the increasingly negative impact of religion on our world lately, (not that it's a new phenomenon).

We also have to realize, politically incorrect as it may be, that very large numbers of Muslims in the Middle East are not interested in the concept of Democracy, human rights, women's equality, freedom of (and from) religion. In fact as you can see they are prepared to do anything to uphold the only law they accept, that of The Qur'an. Even if it means killing everyone else who disagrees.

I think we can expect more fundamentalist Islamic governments in the Middle East (ruling with the support of large segments of the population), and more tension between religious (not only Muslim) and secular citizens of Western democracies in the near future, if such verbatim interpretation of the Abrahamic scriptures continue to increase in popularity

What happened in Pakistan was very wrong. But what is worse is people here that do not even understand the history of the region and its politics yet will use every ample opportunity to peddle hate speech such as islamphobia and other pro Nazi tactics.

While we condemn the attack we shall also condemn those in our own society that use such hateful propaganda and tactics.

Remember. Hate speech is NOT free speech!

The most horrible thing about this horrible act is to see how some of us are already pointing fingers against whoever we may find convenient to support our political opinions.

Please stop using the death of a human being to suit your purposes!

The most important question to think at this time is that Benazir was not as much a danger for fundamentalist as other politicians who pursued their policies against such millitants over the past several years.

All Benazir could do was to tell what she would do in case she came to power.Other question is who will benefit from her death in order to gain power in upcoming election.The death of Benazir has disguised the politial opponents who are seeing no trouble getting to power now.

Pray that this will not be Archduke Ferdinand 2.0. It's so easy for things to truly spiral out of control beyond the borders, especially in a very explosive place like Pakistan.

The clash of civilizations are raging inside Pakistan's borders. Be forewarned of consequences if we don't safeguard our own institutions from cowardly acts and through greater integrations of peoples into a common culture and world view. This is a sad day for all humanity.

If the US becomes more involved(from reports military aid will increase drastically in 2008)the situation it will only get worse thats for sure. Apparently since 9/11 Pakistan has been an ally in the mythical war of/on terror, and they cant even keep a lid on the terrorists operating on their soil.

sidenote to Jerry in Cowtown : maybe keep the Islam fearmongering to yourself, amazing what the paranoid crap some people spew. No religion is exempt from extremism...even Christianity

This tragic event demonstrates the spiral of lawlessness that the military-backed government of Pervez Musharraf has put the country in. When arguably the most powerful woman in the world can be killed in this manner, what sense of safety are the ordinary citizens of Pakistan expected to have.

While I offer my utmost condolences to the family of Benazir Bhutto, I hope that the people of Pakistan unite from the ashes and the pieces and forge a unite front against military hegemony that has fathered extremism and lawlessness.

An Eternal Scar , on the face of Pakistan . For .....Benazir Bhutto : " There are other worlds beyound the stars , Other testing grounds for the passion of love and life , Don't stay enmeshed in you ( EARTHLY ) nights and days , There are other measures of time for you in other places ( YONDER ) , For in this world , only change has permanence " .

Benazir Bhutto, was a truly inspirational woman, the first head of state of a muslim nation, a graduate of Oxford and Harvard, a forward looking , truly modern woman ..to die in such a way is a truly tragic, im still coming to terms with the news,

I can't beleive she's been murdered! I just hope that Pakistan grasps this moment and takes on her vision to be a truly democratic, liberal, Islamic democracy. Good bye Ms Bhutto thank you for everything that you have done for Pakistan. Long live Pakistan.

This is terrible news not just for those in Pakistan but for those in the West. A voice of reason has been silenced in an area where common sense is a rare and precious commodity.

Say what? A "Freedom Torch," or Bhutto held in the same esteem as Ghandi? Are you people serious??!!

Comparing Bhutto to Ghandi, or trying to pass her off as some sort of martyred saint is beyond belief. She was a flawed politician at best, removed TWICE for corruption, for heaven's sake.

How is that, in any way, grist for the sainthood mill. People, people, people, get some perspective here! So she was assassinated. So what? Lot's of people are assassinated in politics. Hell, look at all the presidential assassinations that have occurred in the US alone, and that's SUPPOSED to be a civilized country.

Well, hardly, but you get my point I think.

I wonder if we're now going to hear all the wailing and chest beating and mass hysteria we had to endure when Diana was killed: please, spare us that.

Benazir Bhutto was a politician, not a particularly good one or even an adept politician at that. Having escaped one murder attempt that killed 150 people she bravely put her face to the wind, strode forth and got another 15 or 20 killed a few short weeks later. That's madness by the way and has precious little to do with a "Freedom Torch." I never saw a "Freedom Torch." Is it like an Olympic Torch by any chance? Ah well, I digress.

Her death may yet serve a purpose: there is a war on right now between extremists and moderates and no one can stop it until it's run its full course.

The moderates may use Bhutto's image to rally the troops and make a successful push to disenfranchise the extremists for a time, but until the west ends it's occupation of Muslim lands and stops raping their resources this will only continue.

We should "cut and run" immediately and leave these people to their own devices. When the smoke clears we can deal with the winner.

When will the religious leaders of Pakistan stand up as one voice and say that assassinations, suicide bombings and whatever evil these militants dream up is wrong.

Unfortunately, this lamentable assassination will be applauded by a few, who in their distorted minds seek to destabalize-for what? When will the people of Pakistan stand up and reaffirm -enough is enough.

The children of Pakistan deserve better. They need to know what it feels like to live in peace.

An absolutely despicable and predictable act that falls at the feet of Musharraf's inability or unwillingness to provide adequate security for her.

In the short term, you can expect Nawaz Sharif to become the new spokesperson for the democratic movement in the country. Because Sharif has been barred from the upcoming elections, this means that a popular revolt is inevitable.

I won't offer my opinion of how this development will affect Canada's Afghan mission. I will encourage you to look at a map, and at how you have to go through Pakistani airspace or territory to even reach Afghanistan, and it is clear that the new situation will present some major logistical difficulties in even getting our troops in our out of that country if Pakistan descends into chaos.

A very sad day for Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto promised hope for a democracy in this troubled country.

She was a very brave woman willing to face the enemies of her country knowing her danger. Now it seems more violence is to be expected. This must pose danger to the international community with this country in such a volatile state, and to the situation in Afghanistan.

This is indeed very sad. It is not my place to make judgement as to what kind of leader or person she was because I do not have enough information to make such a decision, she was undoubtedly very important to many, who saw her as a ray of hope in a region where hope is hard to come by. It is for her supporters for whom I feel saddest.

I think, at a time like this, whith all this uncertainty, the best, and most logical thing Musharraf/Pakistan should do is get rid of the bomb.

Seriously, The whole world should step in and say "you're not playing with our lives". While we're at it, and while I'm apparently living in an imaginary world, get ride of all atomic bombs.

Well Murtaza thanks for stereotyping me right back.

Logic dictates that it's Islamic radicals and I did offer the statement as my opinion.

She is female, liberal and secular. If you read the writings of Qutb and Zawahiri she is an apostate and a clear target.

I don't think my conclusion is either stereotypical or ill informed.

Very sad. I suspect that there will be pressure on Musharraf from the military to cancel the elections and declare martial law.

All of that said, "no man (or woman) is an ISLAND." Bhutto's death is a setback - A VERY BIG TRAGEDY - I grieve for her husband and children.

Bhutto's death does not have to mean that Pakistan should fall into turmoil. Pakistan has existed for over 50 years, it has a history of democratic governments followed by military rule followed by democratic governments and so on and so forth.

The cycle will repeat itself soon. Her death should be used as a strong indicator that Musharraf's rule has been ineffective at combatting the violence in Pakistan. Change at the top is desperately needed.

A sad day in the world for Violence Against Women and for the Fight for Democratic Freedom.

Very sad. I suspect that there will be pressure on Musharraf from the military to cancel the elections and declare martial law.

All of that said, "no man (or woman) is an ocean." Bhutto's death is a setback - but that does not mean that Pakistan is completely in turmoil.

Pakistan has existed for over 50 years, it has a history of democratic governments followed by military rule followed by democratic governments and so on and so forth. The cycle will repeat itself soon.

We have to accept that democracy and respect for life cannot exist in the Middle East and Central Asia.

Religion was born there, and will ultimately destroy the region unless the majority of Muslims, Jews and Christians stand up and say "enough is enough".

Pakistan is on the brink of collapsing into a chaos that will draw the rest of us in as well unless its people come together against the radicals and state that they're not going to take it anymore.

Until then, I'll continue to assert that religion provides no benefit and no value to the world. It only divides us against one another.

Firstly, this is a great tradegy for a country that has suffered from corruption and the greed of a few.

Now I don't understand why people must jump to conclusions concerning the details of this event based on their own narrow and ignorant view of the region it took place in. There are a plethora of factions who could have engineered this evil and there are just as many factions that benefit from it in some shape or form.

"Destabilization will be the result and the desired result for Islamic militants. That is who I think is behind this."

Islamic extremists aren't the only ones who benefit from a destabilized Pakistan Bill, but thank you for reaching the most steriotypical and biased response to what has transpired. Obviously you watch too much cnn.

Pakistan will now descend into totally unpredictable pandemonium!

I admired her courage, but she was naive. After the first assassination attempt failed on the first day of her return, I knew that assassination was inevitable unless she stopped presenting herself as an open target.

She was a moderate woman leader, moderate who believe in Democracy. Obviously, she was everything which fundamentalist could not accept. She was an anathema to them.

Let's be realistic, even if only 1% of people in Pakistan are fundamentalist whose belief is similar to the Taliban. If Pakistan's population is 100 million, then there's 1 million people who would want her dead. It doesn't take many rotten apples to rot the whole basket.

I'm surprised that she strongly opposed Musharaff instead of working with him. Even though he is not elected, I'm afraid that chaos and violence maybe unleased in Pakistan and the world, if he were to be removed from power.

It was too late for Ms. Bhutto to realize that the enemy's in Pakistan is much worse than Musharaff. The problems in Pakistan may become the problems of the world one day.

Dear Jerry O'Connor,

Being vigilant only makes it inevitable by attempting to put fear into Canadians. We don't need to hear this hyperbole from you.

This is Canada, not Pakistan. It won't happen here, only if people like you want it too. Obviously a result of your discomfort for others who are not exactly like you.

Peace

(Please read his post people)

The process to kill Bhutto began the day she arrived back in the country.

It is a miracle she survived as long as she did.
Her death only re-affirms what a sick culture,politically and morally, this really is, and will continue to be.

Isolate this country and leave them to deal with their own issues before this crap spills over into Canada and other countries.

This kind of political corruption and brutality has a habit of following it's supporters wherever they go.
Pakistan will destroy itself from within without anyone elses help!

Who really cares about this farce? Judas gold never begged too long for the hand of a shill to kill, and Bhutto's certainly won't be what human nature itself forbids: the last.

The Bush Mafia's candidate, US-trained General Ashfaq Kayani, is already firmly in the only office where real political power lies in Pakistan, that of Chief of Army Staff and he is presently obeying the commands of his masters by ensuring in the Waziristans that every "pro-Taliban" life form from lizard up is exterminated.

The rest is just silly, diversionary window-dressing.

If there will still even be an election, I'll be breathless in anticipation of the sheer horror of watching Pakistan wobble, -in the midst of a civil war for added interest, -with the twin wolves of fanatic religion and secular militarism going bezerk, while between them, up for grabs, floats the Bomb.

It is such a great tragedy that Asia and the Middle East is home to some of the world's great religions, and yet it seems people cannot live in harmony.

Will it take this very sad event to open people's eyes to what they are doing? I don't think so.

What is the future for Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, it is hard to say. The taking of Bhutto's life is a very sad statement of the affairs in that part of the world. May God keep her in peace.

Benazir Bhutto was the last saving grace in a land barren of constructive ideas.

She was the final shining light, however dim and tarnished, of a nation reeling from conflicts thrust upon it by history, corruption, a lack of popular wisdom, and poor judgement.

She was the last alternative to continuing chaos and disarray - an alternative that has now been wasted. To shoot oneself in the foot is to bring pain and suffering, but to shoot down the sun is to bring war, famine, pestilence and death.

I was extremely saddened but not surprised by the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. I admired her courage for deciding to come back to Pakistan to reenter the turbulent and violent political arena because she must have realised that she would be jeopardising her safety.

Therefore I can only surmise that she must have believed that she could bring about change in a country where sadly nothing much seems to have changed politically since independence.

Pakistan has had military coups/ takeovers throughout its history all done for the greater good of its people. Sadly though, these military rulers have not had anything but their own interests at heart.

The general population is used to seeing this and seems to accept that politics in Pakistan are very bloody and that noone can change that.

Free speech is dangerous and noone seems to know who is behind the various violent attacks on opposing political parties. There seems to a deliberate attempt at spreading fear through the general population through these suicide bombings/ violent attacks on any free political speech.

It saddens me to see the continual and escalating violence in Pakistan. I don't have high hopes for its future because it has been proven time and again that democracy cannot be sustained there while there are elements present to consistently thwart it with violence. The message is that power is attained through force not by votes.

This is a sad day indeed.

With regard to the "who cares" crowd. The Islamic radicals once again show their true colors.

In their minds an educated woman, a liberal, dedicated to restoring secular democracy must be killed as soon as possible.

But hey, its far away, let's do the Canadian thing and shove our heads in the sand.

That way it'll be much easier in the future for someone to come along and kick us in the ass.

Another sad day. But until the Islamic faith and there peaceful followers of the religion stand up in mass and say no more to the extremists and put them in thier place nothing will change.

The muslim world has not had enough yet just by the actions that happened today. A sad day.

James wrote;
"It was rather foolish of Benazir Bhutto to return to Pakistan in the first place. It just goes to show you that she could not control her fantasies for power."

James, you clearly don't understand the issue at all. She was not foolish. She fully understood the risk to her life the moment she stepped back into Pakistan.

As a matter of fact, it was well documented she expected to be assasinated. She did it because she knew Pakistan needed change and decided to work toward that change until the moment of her death. All though her return was short, it will have an impact on this very troubled part of the world.

I think you are mistaking foolishness with courage. Therefore, who is the fool?

I was shocked and very sorry to hear this news. I had hoped that she would be the saviour of Pakistan and that she would expell the Taliban forces out of the region.

Who knows what will happen now. This will damage whatever hope there is of defeating the forces that are terrorizing the world.

I'm so sorry this happened!!!!

She will be seen as a martyr,rightly or wrongly.

In death rather tragically or not,people will make people into something they are not,perfect with no flaws.

Pakistan will continue it's course but will it bode well for anyone,only time will tell.

Bhutto now will be remembered as hope stoped dead in it's tracks. She will now join the ranks with Rabin, MLK and Ghandi.

Well, it was predictable that it's a trap for her.

In my opinion she made a mistake coming back to Pakistan. She was killed by the agents of the country which installed and still supports Musharraf.

I think a similar fate is waiting for Musharraf himself too once that country is done with him.

What happens next? Another puppet who got trained in that elite country will be installed after Musharraf is gone. Military dictatorship will never end anywhere in the world. It just lives with different faces and disguises.

Only racist and people who are ignorant will post comments like we should be vigilant about Muslims.

I am the son of a convert and Pakistani Mother. I was in Pakistan for the time Benazir was in power, she and her party authorized the killings of many people. There is an eastern saying "The blood of the innocent will not go in vain." Eventually someone killed her, do not blame the religion for the acts of the people.

And if anyone fear Muslims, they dont know anything about Islam. For example, India was ruled by Muslims for more than a 1000 years (12 centuries to be precise), Spain wa ruled for 700 + years, and we allowed other religions and cultures to flourish and keep their beleif system, we never forced any beliefs on anyone unlike the Spanish when they destroyed cultures after cultures of their forced conversion to Catholic faith back in the 16-18 th centuries.

Yet, we do not accuse other religions as dangerous, extremists, etc. If Muslims were extremists, India would have been all Muslim among many other countries.

Do your research Mr. O'Connor. Try getting out of your province and travel the world and REALLY look into the cultures and how people and their histories are developed. It is easy to form opinions based upon what you see in Canada, but it is just a miniscule side of the big picture.

Geez, there was more tolerance a 1000 years ago than now! O'Canada despite all the Perils we Muslims face EVERYDAY, I still stand on Guard for thee.

Some nations appear to not be ready for a democracy. There is a fine line between bravery and foolishness. It appears that Bhutto crossed that line.

With the history of assassination attempts on her life, how was anyone allowed to get that close to his target?

The 15 million Pashtun who have been infiltrated by the Taliban on the Pakistan border will now be emboldened to support the 15 million Pashtun in Afghanistan.

This is bad news for Canada.

Bhutto's legacy is still alive and will always be, the only difference being that now the freedom torch will have to be carried by someone else.

Though the chaos will linger for a while, her death will only fuel the drive for long-lasting democracy.

Only fools would think killing the flag holder would kill the flag. Long live democracy.

Who cares, just another suicide attack, what else is new.

I'm so sick of hearing about these things, it is not even a shock anymore. It is never going to change, so we should start focusing on Canadian issues, and stop focusing on the daily attacks that consume 75% of our newscasts.

It was rather foolish of Benazir Bhutto to return to Pakistan in the first place. It just goes to show you that she could not control her fantasies for power.

Yes, it is indeed a sad day for her loyal supporters, but they should have seen it coming.

A strong, courageous woman who will not be forgotten. A great loss to a country when that country needed her most.

It was not the first.
It was not the last
It is Pakistan*

* A country owned and operated by internal and external groups

What a shame. The worst part is that now her supporters are blaming the Musharraf camp. This, predictably, is playing right into the hands of extremists in the region.

Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf was right all along to impose emergency rule, citing threats from Islamic militants.

Without going into great detail it is certainly apparent to me that citizens of Pakistan are incapable of handling a democratic process. Maybe it’s time to accept the fact that religion and democracy are not compatible. Good to be Canadian today.

Destabilization will be the result and the desired result for Islamic militants. That is who I think is behind this.

Typically they cannot function effectively in stable democratic states. They require either a friendly dictator or a chaotic failed state like Lebanon, Afghanistan, or Iraq.

Attempts to destabilize Muslim governments are ongoing. Whether we in the West pay attention or not Islamic radicalism is a force to be reckoned with in the Muslim world.

What better playground than a failed, nuclear armed Muslim state?

The candle of hope flickers, then dies.

There is no light in Pakistan.

Further destabilization of a nuclear power in the middle east is something that everyone should be wary of, but few actually are.

This is history making news.

Manly, all your contrived cynicism aside, the assassination of a former world leader and major political player in a troubled country will always be front-page news, regardless of gender.

It is interesting to note that the attack on supporters of Nawaz Sharif was at Islamabad Airport. The airport is close to the city of Rawalpindi, where Benazir Bhutto was killed.

The proximity suggests they may be related. This could cause President Musharaf and the country big problems.

This is terrible, when someone along with many others are killed in this way. I fear the worst for Pakistan now, that more civil strive and violence will follow. I grieve for her loss and what she meant to her people.

Benazir Bhutto was an imperfect idol: a little too opportunistic, ineffective at times, possibly even corrupt.

But she was undeniably a moderate, committed to the cause of secularism and human rights, in a part of the world where rights, tolerance and moderation are in perpectually short supply.

Plus she was a woman politician, a profound anomaly in her society, but in itself a beacon of hope for the future. Her death at the hands of a violent opponent may not be a suprise to many (and alas it will cause many to rejoice).

Yet it is a tragedy of unmistakable proportions.

I am extremely shocked and saddenned by Benazir Bhutto's death. It is still hard to believe that in this day and age people can still be assassinated by their political views and their will for democracy and social reform.

I am a member of Amnesty International and today more than ever before there is a need to withstand against those who try to silence the masses or anyone for that matter. May Benazir's death never be in vain.

Another dysfunctional act of murder in a dysfunctional Country. When people are so obsessed with politics that they resort to self-destruction, I shudder at what the ultimate outcome will be.

What a tradegy this senseless murder is for not just the people of Pakistan but for all of the world who values demomacry and peace.

This person was absolutely relentless in her giving and was also fearless in awaiting her untimely death of which she new was always around the corner as she fought like a brave soldier in her pursuit of duty for her people.

Now as I reflect on this cruel tradegy, I cannot help but wonder what lies ahead for countries like Canada who continue to keep their borders open to vast and huge amounts of immigration of Muslims who are also importing with them the very lifestyles and horrors that they seek to escape from their own countries yet for many of them, they also are importing those very same problems and horrors with them to their new destinies!

The Islamic faith is one of the fastest growing faiths in Canada and one cannot help but fear for the future of this country of Canada if what is tragecally happening now today in Pakistan and other Muslim countries is what is awaiting Canada in the future.

If we doubt such possibilities then all we need to do is remind ourselves of the Air India bombing. That my dear friends was all about religion and make no mistake about that
tragic horror.

We need to be vigilent now in Canada so that this country can remain as free as possible for its own future from such violence and begottry as that is whats happening now throughout much of the Islamic world today.

When a people have no respect for life its very self, then those same people can never hope to respect anything else in life and that includes our Canadian values, laws, morals and ethics that a true free and democratic society offers to its people.

She should have realized the risks associated with what she was doing. This will receive more publicity since she was female, had she been a male it wouldn't even be front page news.

Barbarism!!

It looks like Pres. Musharaff was correct in declaring martial law when he did and keeping Bhutto in her home (and safe from extremists).

After he was pressured by Bhutto and the west into ending it Bhutto is assassinated.

Sometimes, harsh measures are required to prevent heinous crimes.