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Benazir Bhutto Sought U.S. Security But Was Denied: WikiLeaks

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Hissyspit

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Mon May-23-11 01:06 AM
Original message

Benazir Bhutto Sought U.S. Security But Was Denied: WikiLeaks

Source: India Today

Benazir Bhutto sought US security but was denied: WikiLeaks

Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury | New Delhi, May 23, 2011 | Updated 09:03 IST

WikiLeaks has revealed that the US embassy in Islamabad had refused to provide security to former Pakistani PM Benazir Bhutto months before her assassination in December 2008 despite her personal requests to US Congressmen.

It is no secret that Bhutto faced threat from extremist forces including the Taliban. In fact her very return to Pakistan on Oct 18, 2007 was marked by bloodshed when a suicide attack on her motorcade at Karachi killed 140 people mostly her supporters and PPP activists.
Bhutto survived that attack but it was obvious that she was the target.

Subsequently the PPP president did not trust the state apparatus as she thought that it was hand in glove with the Taliban.

Read more: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/benazir-sought-us-security-but-was-denied-reveals-wikileaks/1/138988.html

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sabrina 1

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Mon May-23-11 01:14 AM
Response to Original message

1. Each day we learn more from those documents.

Why would they not comply with her request? I don't understand why the US would want harm to come to her.

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hyphenate

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Mon May-23-11 03:01 AM
Response to Reply #1

6. Two words:

George Bush

or (conversely)

Dickhead Cheney

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The Backlash Cometh

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Mon May-23-11 09:56 AM
Response to Reply #6

24. They wanted her dead?

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Octafish

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Mon May-23-11 10:29 AM
Response to Reply #24

28. Bhutto believed in democracy.

Bush, Cheney and their bosses do not.

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SusanaMontana41

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Mon May-23-11 07:31 PM
Response to Reply #28

44. I've always thought that, too. Wouldn't be the first time that the U.S.

has used assassination as foreign policy.

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muriel_volestrangler

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Mon May-23-11 04:56 AM
Response to Reply #1

8. Because the US government isn't a private security company?

It's one thing to provide security to a foreign politician when they are visiting your country; but to provide it for them in their own country, what's more when they are campaigning for an election, would be seen as interfering in the other country's politics.

How would the US have been allowed to send armed guards all over Pakistan, mingling with crowds? If she stayed alive, she would have been seen as the American puppet candidate; if she had been killed with Americans guarding her, the US would be blamed for it.

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eilen

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Mon May-23-11 05:58 AM
Response to Reply #8

12. Why the hell are we still in Iraq and Afghanistan then?

if not to provide security for their governments, corporate tools and industry?

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democracy _ idyllic

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Mon May-23-11 08:14 AM
Response to Reply #12

14. Exactly

My thoughts exactly!

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fascisthunter

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Mon May-23-11 04:48 PM
Response to Reply #12

36. nail, meet hammer

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Cherchez la Femme

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Mon May-23-11 05:37 PM
Response to Reply #12

39. Cause they're OUR Corparate tools of Industy!

USA! USA!!!1!

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druidity33

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Mon May-23-11 06:08 AM
Response to Reply #8

13. Bhutto was very pro-US...

Her campaign was financed primarily by Americans and ex-pats. We had a vested interest in seeing her win. Maybe, that is, until she started talking about how everyone knew Bin Laden was already dead...

:shrug:

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Le Taz Hot

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Mon May-23-11 08:59 AM
Response to Reply #8

17. You are aware

that the U.S. military has been escorting (privately-owned) oil tankers through pirate country, right? It was U.S. Navy seal sharp-shooters that took out the Somali pirates who had kidnapped the American sea captain a couple of years ago.

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muriel_volestrangler

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Mon May-23-11 10:28 AM
Response to Reply #17

26. You are aware there's a difference between international waters and another country, right?

I wouldn't have thought I needed to ask, since it's blindingly obvious, but your question implies you don't see any difference.

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JackRiddler

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Mon May-23-11 09:13 AM
Response to Reply #8

20. The Karzais would beg to differ.

As would other foreign clients who have been treated to security "advisers."The USG is flexible in the roles its agencies are willing to adopt. It very much depends on the situation and interests. Seeking out ways to help Bhutto (which doesn't necessarily mean an escort of Marines in uniform, so please don't create false dichotomies) would not have been outside the pale of what the USG has done in the past. It probably would not have made a difference, but the point is her request was rejected in the first place.

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muriel_volestrangler

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Mon May-23-11 10:26 AM
Response to Reply #20

25. There's a lot of difference between a UN-recognised govt, and a campaigning opposition politician

Governments deal with governments; the US presence in Afghanistan is covered by UN resolutions. If the US had paid for non-uniform armed guards moving among the Pakistani populace, they would (rightfully) have been denounced on DU as mercenaries. And they would have damaged the US's international reputation. They could not have been there legally without the Pakistani government's permission; if Bhutto didn't trust the government at that stage, there's no reason to think they'd have given the permission. or are you saying they should have been put in secretly, James Bond-style?

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blueclown

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Mon May-23-11 09:46 AM
Response to Reply #8

23. I'm sure the US could send a few no-bid contractors from Blackwater to Pakistan.

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sabrina 1

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Mon May-23-11 12:12 PM
Response to Reply #8

33. The US Government wanted Musharak, at that time

anyhow, to survive in office. She blamed Musharak for the attempt on her life and the deaths of all those people who were killed in the attempt.

There is an arrest warrant out for Musharak now to appear at the trial of those accused of her murder. He is in England. The Brits will not cooperate with Pakistan stating that they have no extradition agreement with them.

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Cherchez la Femme

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Mon May-23-11 05:46 PM
Response to Reply #33

40. So hey, let her die

Edited on Mon May-23-11 05:51 PM by Cherchez la Femme

LIHOP in the truest tradition of U.S. "Democracy" and universal rights.
That is, if you believe in Corporate rights (to Profit$!) and protection of 'U.S. interests' even when they are FAR from the interests of the host country! :puke:

As for Great Britain, heck, they hang on to every vestige of Imperialism they can.
They lost so much :sarcasm:
wouldn't want to see them lose any more of that great Imperialism!
Hell, they might even be admired and dare I say loved in many parts of the world

(Although they're no where near the level to which the U.S. is regarded. Again: USA! USA!!1!! :patriot:)

Yes, I can see clearly why our elected offcials --to the highest level-- think Wikileaks is so eeevvvil!
'Most transparent government' my sweet azz!

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bhikkhu

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Mon May-23-11 07:18 PM
Response to Reply #8

43. We could have subbed it to Blackwater, like with Aristide

...which worked out pretty questionably.

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DissedByBush

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Mon May-23-11 07:33 PM
Response to Reply #8

45. Can I rec just that post?

Very correct.

In any case, I wonder the wisdom of protecting such a corrupt politician.

Her whole family viewed Pakistan as their little fiefdom, to rape at will.

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ieoeja

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Mon May-23-11 10:29 AM
Response to Reply #1

27. She was Left. National Security is anti-Left even when the Right is anti-US and the Left is pro-US.

A better standard of living throughout the world make the United States more secure, but it makes labor more costly. National Security is more concerned with keep down labor costs than making our country more secure.

And, of course, increased labor costs overseas would help American jobs. Again, National Security takes the opposite side.

It would make it easier for average American businesses to compete against Global giants. Again, National Security policy always takes the anti-American side.

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Cherchez la Femme

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Mon May-23-11 05:53 PM
Response to Reply #27

41. Wow, who'da thought that Bhutto was a hippie-type best to be punched?

Gah, I can't take this anymore...

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Cherchez la Femme

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Mon May-23-11 05:36 PM
Response to Reply #1

38. She's a woman, doesn't know her place

which is in the kitchen & if in public, underneath a burka/super conservative clothes (or she's just asking to be raped!)

...after that just imagine what the Pakistani anger against her would be!

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Scottybeamer70

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Mon May-23-11 01:56 AM
Response to Original message

2. Maybe it was because of the remark

she made in an interview about "bin laden had been killed'............or something.
She obviously knew too much.

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dipsydoodle

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Mon May-23-11 03:30 AM
Response to Reply #2

7. That was an obvious slip of the tongue

She was referring to another person in that Frost interview.

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Name removed

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Mon May-23-11 09:35 AM
Response to Reply #7

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. 
[link:www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html|Click
here] to review the message board rules.

MrMickeysMom

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Mon May-23-11 03:37 PM
Response to Reply #7

34. You must have a good reason to say that...

... that is, that she was referring to another person in the Frost interview.

I'm curious ... what makes you confident in that statement?

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Quantess

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Mon May-23-11 10:45 AM
Response to Reply #2

29. That was my first thought, as well.

The minute I saw the headline, I thought, "it's because of Bin Laden".

Bhutto did say that Bin Laden was dead in an interview.
I forget the year, but who would know more than her? It's obvious.

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Aaria

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Mon May-23-11 11:39 AM
Response to Reply #29

31. It was in 07 with David Frost, Frost, didn't even skip a beat.

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defendandprotect

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Mon May-23-11 02:00 AM
Response to Original message

3. k/r and another k/r for WikiLeaks!

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The Wizard

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Mon May-23-11 02:01 AM
Response to Original message

4. Cheney

ordered her hit.

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cosmicone

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Mon May-23-11 05:24 AM
Response to Reply #4

9. Did they find buckshot coated with beer in her? n/t

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cayanne

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Mon May-23-11 03:00 AM
Response to Original message

5. I recommend Bhutto on Netflix

The documentary starts out with her father and then moves on to Benazir.I liked it and thought it was extremely informative. Ypu might want to take a look.

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closeupready

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Mon May-23-11 09:09 AM
Response to Reply #5

18. They played that on Frontline recently; fascinating and gripping if you have any interest in

South Asian modern politics and history.

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cosmicone

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Mon May-23-11 05:25 AM
Response to Original message

10. Musharraf killed her. n/t

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Zorra

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Mon May-23-11 05:56 AM
Response to Original message

11. I'm very surprised that she didn't know that our government only provides security

to large multinational corporations and their representatives.

What reason would our government have to provide security for a democratic populist?

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blackspade

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Mon May-23-11 08:22 AM
Response to Reply #11

15. Well put.

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Overseas

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Mon May-23-11 08:54 AM
Response to Original message

16. K&R.

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karynnj

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Mon May-23-11 09:10 AM
Response to Original message

19. There were stories of this even at the time of her death

Edited on Mon May-23-11 09:10 AM by karynnj

There was a Senate resolution

Here was Kerry's statement after she was killed that suggested that she had asked the US for help - he had spoken to Condi Rice.

For Immediate Release: December 27, 2007
Sen. Kerry on the Death of Benazir Bhutto

BOSTON, MA- Sen. John Kerry, (D-Mass.), issued the following statement about the murder of Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto today. Kerry is the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East and South and Central Asian Affairs, which includes Pakistan. He introduced a Sense of the Senate Resolution expressing concern for Ms. Bhutto�s safety in the fall of this year.

"This is both a horrific and heartbreaking tragedy, and a lightning bolt wakeup call for anyone who had taken their eye off of the turmoil in Pakistan. Teresa and I send our deepest condolences to Ms. Bhutto's family. Benazir Bhutto returned home after years in exile knowing fully that she was taking a great personal risk to fight for change and democracy. When I met with her this fall just days before her return to Pakistan, she raised the issue of her own personal security. Subsequent to the bombing and assassination attempt that greeted her return home, I spoke to Secretary Rice about ways the United States might work with President Musharraf to ensure her safety.

�Her loss underscores the fragility of the situation in Pakistan and the perils of a volatile mix of unrest, tension, radicalism, and nuclear weapons. Her killing embodies everyone�s worst possible fears and reinforces how tenuous the circumstances in Pakistan really are. The loss of Ms. Bhutto demands of the United States and our allies an urgent focus on developing a Pakistan strategy that will crush extremists and provide freedom, peace, and security for the country that mourns her loss today."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=273&topic_id=143780

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Old and In the Way

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Tue May-24-11 12:29 AM
Response to Reply #19

46. I guess we know how the administration reacted to that request.

The same way they reacted to the bi-partisan report on terrorism. It was more important to keep the regime in place for the GWOT then it was to promote a democratic revolution in Pakistan.

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Muskypundit

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Mon May-23-11 09:40 AM
Response to Original message

22. courtney love killed her

Since we are wildly speculating.

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progressoid

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Mon May-23-11 11:21 AM
Response to Reply #22

30. +1

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Politicalboi

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Mon May-23-11 11:49 AM
Response to Original message

32. She was a truther

Can't have anyone want a real investigation of 9/11.

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mmonk

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Mon May-23-11 04:06 PM
Response to Original message

35. That's correct. I wrote about it at the time.

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WillyT

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Mon May-23-11 04:53 PM
Response to Original message

37. K & R !!!

:kick:

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Vidar

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Mon May-23-11 06:37 PM
Response to Original message

42. In other words, we set up that courageous woman to be assassinated.

It's not "our freedoms" they hate us for; it's shit like this.

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