Benazir Bhutto Assassinated

[Kahlessa]

I just heard about this. I once saw Benazir Bhutto give a speech as part of the St. Louis Speaker's Series in 2002. She was a very intelligent and articulate woman.

Here's the story from the New York Times:

Bhutto Assassinated in Attack on Rally
By SALMAN MASOOD and GRAHAM BOWLEY
NY Times, December 28, 2007

RAWALPINDI, Islamabad — An attack on a political rally killed the Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto near the capital, Islamabad, Thursday. Witnesses said Ms. Bhutto was fired upon at close range before the blast, and an official from her party said Ms. Bhutto was further injured by the explosion, which was apparently caused by a suicide attacker.

Ms. Bhutto was declared dead by doctors at a hospital in Rawalpindi at 6:16 p.m. after the doctors had tried to resuscitate her for thirty-five minutes. She had shrapnel injuries, the doctors said. At least a dozen more people were killed in the attack.
www.nytimes.com/2007/12/28/world/asia/28pakistan.html

[Kahlessa]

Here's an update:

Bhutto’s Son and Husband to Lead Party
By JANE PERLEZ, NY Times, December 30, 2007

LAHORE, Pakistan — Three days after the death of Benazir Bhutto, the Pakistan People’s Party on Sunday chose her 19-year-old son, Bilawal, and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, as co-leaders of the party, the biggest and most potent in Pakistan.
www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/world/asia/30cnd-pakistan.html

And a good op-ed piece on Bhutto:

How a Wisp of a Girl Conquered Pakistan
By MOHAMMED HANIF, NY Times, December 30, 2007

WITH half her adult life spent either in exile or in prison, Benazir Bhutto might have lived like a medieval princess, but she died like an ordinary, modern Pakistani. When the assassin struck, Ms. Bhutto, the former prime minister, was doing what so many Pakistanis most love to do: electioneering.
www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/opinion/30hanif.html

[Kahlessa]

Benazir Bhutto wrote a book-- Reconciliation: Islam, Democracy, and the West--which was published posthumously. It’s currently #4 on the New York Times bestseller list. Here’s the NY Times review:
www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/books/19kaku.html

I have her previous book Daughter of Destiny, which was her autobiography. It was well-written and I look forward to reading this book as well. Though after her assasination, there will be an added poignancy.