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http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/Al_Qaeda_Suspect_bhutto/2007/12/27/60178.html
Al Qaeda Top Suspect in Bhutto Murder
Thursday, December 27, 2007
WASHINGTON -- Al Qaeda is the chief suspect in the murder of Pakistani
opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, standing to gain by preserving its remote
stronghold, undermining President Pervez Musharraf and destabilizing the
country, U.S. government and private analysts said.
The militant group, which has rebuilt its command structure on the
Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was blamed for a previous attempt on Bhutto and
it has denounced her as an instrument of U.S. policy in Pakistan.
Bush administration officials said it was too early to identify a clear
suspect in Thursday's assassination.
But one U.S. official said: "There are a number of extremist groups within
Pakistan that could have carried out the attack ... Al Qaeda has got to be
one of the groups at the top of this list."
Al Qaeda's Taliban ally, which has publicly threatened Bhutto, was another
potential suspect, said the official, who spoke on the condition of
anonymity.
One analyst said al Qaeda supporters in Pakistan's security services may
have also played a role, but it was unlikely Musharraf himself was involved.
Killing Bhutto undermines Musharraf, viewed by the United States as an
essential ally against terrorism, by eliminating the prospect of a
power-sharing agreement between the two that could shore up his
deteriorating political standing and stabilize the country, the analysts
said.
That in turn reduces chances that Musharraf can revive efforts to drive al
Qaeda and the Taliban out of the remote Waziristan tribal areas. It also
fans popular suspicions against Musharraf and sows general confusion.
"Their (al Qaeda's) motivation for doing this is entirely clear," said David
Gartenstein-Ross of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "They have
the most to gain."
Bhutto was assassinated by a suicide bomber after an election rally in the
city of Rawalpindi, a two weeks before national elections meant to return
Pakistan to a civilian-led democracy.
Her death follows a failed assassination attempt in October as she returned
from exile to Pakistan. She blamed that attempt on four groups including al
Qaeda and the Taliban.
AL QAEDA DENOUNCES
Al Qaeda's second in command, Ayman al-Zawahri, this month denounced
Bhutto's return as a U.S.-orchestrated maneuver.
"Everything that is going on in Pakistan, from the arrangement for the
return of Benazir to the declaration of the state of emergency ... to
repressive measures, is a desperate American attempt to remedy the
deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan," Zawahri said in an
interview with al Qaeda's media arm.
Shortly before Bhutto's return in October, Taliban commander Haji Omar had
pledged to attack her.
Pakistan's investigation of the killing will be a major test of Musharraf's
credibility, said P.J. Crowley, a former National Security Council official.
In particular, he said, the probe must make a thorough effort to identify
any elements in the government who may be complicit in the attack.
The United States offered FBI assistance in investigating Bhutto's
assassination, but Pakistan has not yet made a request, FBI spokesman
Stephen Kodak said.
Bhutto, in an October letter to an acquaintance read on CNN on Wednesday,
said she would hold Musharraf responsible if she were killed, for a failure
to authorize adequate security.
U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said: "We don't know who is
responsible for this attack. ... But it is clear that whoever is responsible
is someone who opposes peaceful, democratic development and change in
Pakistan."
Al Qaeda Top Suspect in Bhutto Murder
Thursday, December 27, 2007
WASHINGTON -- Al Qaeda is the chief suspect in the murder of Pakistani
opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, standing to gain by preserving its remote
stronghold, undermining President Pervez Musharraf and destabilizing the
country, U.S. government and private analysts said.
The militant group, which has rebuilt its command structure on the
Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was blamed for a previous attempt on Bhutto and
it has denounced her as an instrument of U.S. policy in Pakistan.
Bush administration officials said it was too early to identify a clear
suspect in Thursday's assassination.
But one U.S. official said: "There are a number of extremist groups within
Pakistan that could have carried out the attack ... Al Qaeda has got to be
one of the groups at the top of this list."
Al Qaeda's Taliban ally, which has publicly threatened Bhutto, was another
potential suspect, said the official, who spoke on the condition of
anonymity.
One analyst said al Qaeda supporters in Pakistan's security services may
have also played a role, but it was unlikely Musharraf himself was involved.
Killing Bhutto undermines Musharraf, viewed by the United States as an
essential ally against terrorism, by eliminating the prospect of a
power-sharing agreement between the two that could shore up his
deteriorating political standing and stabilize the country, the analysts
said.
That in turn reduces chances that Musharraf can revive efforts to drive al
Qaeda and the Taliban out of the remote Waziristan tribal areas. It also
fans popular suspicions against Musharraf and sows general confusion.
"Their (al Qaeda's) motivation for doing this is entirely clear," said David
Gartenstein-Ross of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "They have
the most to gain."
Bhutto was assassinated by a suicide bomber after an election rally in the
city of Rawalpindi, a two weeks before national elections meant to return
Pakistan to a civilian-led democracy.
Her death follows a failed assassination attempt in October as she returned
from exile to Pakistan. She blamed that attempt on four groups including al
Qaeda and the Taliban.
AL QAEDA DENOUNCES
Al Qaeda's second in command, Ayman al-Zawahri, this month denounced
Bhutto's return as a U.S.-orchestrated maneuver.
"Everything that is going on in Pakistan, from the arrangement for the
return of Benazir to the declaration of the state of emergency ... to
repressive measures, is a desperate American attempt to remedy the
deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan," Zawahri said in an
interview with al Qaeda's media arm.
Shortly before Bhutto's return in October, Taliban commander Haji Omar had
pledged to attack her.
Pakistan's investigation of the killing will be a major test of Musharraf's
credibility, said P.J. Crowley, a former National Security Council official.
In particular, he said, the probe must make a thorough effort to identify
any elements in the government who may be complicit in the attack.
The United States offered FBI assistance in investigating Bhutto's
assassination, but Pakistan has not yet made a request, FBI spokesman
Stephen Kodak said.
Bhutto, in an October letter to an acquaintance read on CNN on Wednesday,
said she would hold Musharraf responsible if she were killed, for a failure
to authorize adequate security.
U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said: "We don't know who is
responsible for this attack. ... But it is clear that whoever is responsible
is someone who opposes peaceful, democratic development and change in
Pakistan."
