Benazir Bhutto: A woman's reaction to another woman's death

By Diane Silver

Here is a moving and tragic account of the death of Benazir Bhutto from a western photographer who was at the scene. This account includes Photographer John Moore's voice as he tells the story of what he saw and his still photos of the rally, her speech, photos of her just before the assassination. Be warned: Some of the photos show the bloody aftermath of the bombing.

I've surprised myself. I've been quite moved by Bhutto's death. I'm not certain why. I live in Kansas, not Pakistan. I've never been within 1,000 miles of Bhutto or her nation, but her loss has shaken me up.

I know Pakistan itself is important to the United States for a variety of reasons, this feels personal. Perhaps it's because a dangerous country has become more dangerous and, thus, threatens the stability of an already unstable world.

Perhaps, though, it's because a woman dared to lead a Muslim country, dared to challenge a dictator and has died as the result. We have so few women leaders that we can't afford to lose any of them.

I know Bhutto wasn't perfect, but she seemed to offer hope for her people. She seemed to be trying to do something good. How can anyone not feel pain given that she died because of that?

Benazir Bhutto assassination leaves U.S. plan "in tatters"

By Diane Silver

As I said before, I think we have to be careful about which narrative of today's events we embrace when it comes to looking at the meaning of Benazir Bhutto's death.

Informed Consent, University of Michigan Professor Juan Cole's blog, is one of the first places I always go for perspective on that region of the world. Cole's post does a good job of saying why Pakistan and Bhutto are so important for the United States.

Pakistan is important to US security. It is a nuclear power. Its military fostered, then partially turned on the Taliban and al-Qaeda, which have bases in the lawless tribal areas of the northern part of the country. And Pakistan is key to the future of its neighbor, Afghanistan. Pakistan is also a key transit route for any energy pipelines built between Iran or Central Asia and India, and so central to the energy security of the United States....

With Benazir's assassination, the Rice Plan is in tatters and Bush administration policy toward Pakistan and Afghanistan is tottering.

Cole's entire post is well worth reading.

Here are photos from the rally that Bhutto addressed just before she was killed.

PHOTO: Benazir Bhutto spoke to a crowd on Nov. 9, 2007.

What Benazir Bhutto's assassination means

By Diane Silver

A brief word as news of the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto spreads: Resist buying into anyone's instant analysis of what her death means.

Already we're seeing speculation about the assassination's impact on the U.S. presidential race and on just about everything else. The truth, though, is that no one knows anything for certain except that this is a tragedy and a horrible blow for Pakistan.

My sympathies to all concerned.