INTELLIGENCE

Was It Al Qaeda?

Pakistan's government was quick to blame Al Qaeda and the Taliban for the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, but U.S. officials caution that it's too early to pin the blame on any group in particular.

By Mark Hosenball | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Dec 28, 2007 | Updated: 7:04  p.m. ET Dec 28, 2007

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  • Posted By: JBuzicky75@comcast.net @ 12/30/2007 4:07:24 PM

    Al Qaeda is man-made, (at least overblown) by the CIA to be accurate. The 'War on Terror' is a fraud. Terrorism is the new 'Russians are Coming" mentality. The theory is (by the elites) America must a have a perceived enemy to maintain a obedient and 'patriotic' society. 'The Power of Nightmares' explains all of this. I cannot believe how naive some people are! Sad. Its like this: IMO, this Bhutto hit was orchestrated by Bu$hco and Musarraf to maintain instability, reinforce the myth of Islam Extremists, get more American troops to 'maintain the peace' in Pakistan, more money for defense contractors, more money for Military Industrial Complex and perpetuate the WOT.

    • Posted By: christian627 @ 01/07/2008 8:48:14 PM

      To Jbuzicky: You have hit the nail on the head. Well said. If only more people could wake up

      • Posted By: Nath @ 08/11/2009 7:34:20 AM

        ..and next you can explain how 200000 Indians also killed themselves over last 60 years with Paki/ Chinese army weapons just to " slander the poor Pakistani army generals who can't even unzip their pants without American help ?"

    • Posted By: faminchin @ 12/31/2007 3:25:54 PM

      You should alot like a Democratic Congressman....are you?

      You really should try pulling your head out of that Donkey's butt and take a look around at what's happening. Once you pull your head out, get some q-tips and clean all the Donkey dung out of your ears.

      You and others like you are what's wrong with this country today. There are way too many people walking around with their heads stuck up either a Donkey or Elephants butt, apparently incapable of thinking for yourself independently! Who are you going to blame for everything after Bush is gone? Do you seriously believe these radicals are going to stop once Bush leaves office? Trust me my friend, this threat is real. I've seen in first hand! Bush is about to leave office, but these radical islamist terrorist will still be trying to kill you and me!

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 01/03/2008 2:00:44 AM

    MUSLIMS ONLY WANT TO BLAME BUSH. THEY REFUSE TO CRITICIZE THEIR OWN AUTOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS> THEY HAVE BEEN INDOCTRINATED.

    • Posted By: christian627 @ 01/07/2008 8:40:48 PM

      ETo eddiewhere: Muslims have to get in line behind a majority of Americans to criticize Bush. Mulims criticize thier own government all the time. Don't you ever watch the news and see the demonstratons in countries like Pakistan. In America, we live under the Patriot Act and I dare you to go down to the corner and start demonstating against the U.S. using words that those in muslims countries use. You would be in Guantanamo so fast your head would spin.nter Your Comment

    • Posted By: fallingfear @ 01/03/2008 6:03:56 PM

      Oh so you want to play the blame game huh? Why would we refuse to criticize our government? Why have you come across to that conclusion? Who do you think you are? People like you are ignorant, and people like you dont want to understand. You think you have it all written down. You think you put all the puzzles together, and you think you have the answer to an impossible problem. How could you possible assume that we wont recognize faults in our system. Dont you think we would know that. And if we did, why would you be concerned? Do you even care? Probably not. If you want an answer bucko, atleast act like you care. I'd be happy to tell you our thoughts and feelings towards our government. You might learn something. ;)

    • Posted By: farnice @ 01/03/2008 9:57:52 AM

      This is in reply to eddiewhere@01/03/2008; Wrong, wrong, wrong. I m a Muslim. Your comments make me laugh. Please read my comments in this forum @ 01/02/2008 I criticized George Bush and in the same breath I criticized autocratic military dictator Musharraf and his clique. If you read any newspaper of your choice in any language of the world you will find that there are ongoing daily protests on the streets of Pakistan against this dictator. It is the Bush Admin support that is keeping him in office of the President of Pakistan. In the same way, if you look around you will find that in every country where autocracy exists it is hated by the masses and they strive in different ways to get rid of it. Dictatorship and general public are like water and fire; they cant go together. Some dictators have manipulated and introduced sham democracies in their countries to perpetuate their rule ??? iron hand in velvet glove. It is not that people don???t understand it; they are simply oppressed and are forced to live like that. USA being a superpower is expected to behave in a wise manner but when they start propping up dictators like Musharraf and Hosni Mubarak ppl lose patience and start criticizing US Government which in no way means they love these dictators. A typical Muslims is indoctrinated to say the truth at any cost and to follow the leader as long as the leader is on the right path ??? ethically, morally and legally. Please do let yourself get carried away by half cooked notions about Islam and Muslims. I will not comment about any other religion unless I am 101% sure about its authenticity.

  • Posted By: fallingfear @ 01/02/2008 6:04:14 PM

    Many of you are confused and have not a clue of Islamic History. In history and in the past, Islam has always maintained peace. For example , a long time ago, Islam used to rule Spain. Your probably thinking that they killed all Christians and others of different religions. WRONG! Islamic leaders were tolerant. They kept peace within the country untill they were raided by Christians. When the Christians took over Spain, they killed every muslim.
    I suggest those who do not know Islamic History to actually try reading about it rather than making up history on your own.

    • Posted By: christian627 @ 01/07/2008 8:35:18 PM

      To fallingfear: I am a Christian and I agree with you except Muslims only took over part of Spain

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 01/01/2008 3:42:35 AM

    In fact, the Koran teaches that sucide is a sin
    Faminchin, then why are so many committting suicide. your argument is that the Koran does not teach suicide what does it teach Martyrism. BE HONEST, the chapter of JIHAD is being used as a tool of war and is indeed encouraging suicide or martyrism what ever you want to kill it. No other religion in the world kills in the name of GOD or JIHAD. JIHAD is for ancient times. Moderate MUSLIMs have not come to terms with reality and are in denial about their own religion. deep down they are sympathetic to the extremist cause against America. KORAN FIRST AMERICA SECOND. YOu cannot deny that the KORAN brings war and not peace. GIve me some facts. NAME AN INSTANT in HIstory where the Koran has brought peace. NEVER. America first all religions second. That what makes us great. America FIrst, COuntry First. Not madness.

    • Posted By: christian627 @ 01/07/2008 8:29:33 PM

      To eddiewhere: I would tell you to get you facts straight, but you have no facts, only grase-school ranting that exposes you as an ignorant bigot. You say no other religion kills in the name of God? Every religion has killed in the name of God. The first crusade saw the Christians kill almost every man woman and child in Jerusalem in the name of Chist and by order of the Pope. Hitler used his own perverted Christian ideals to slaughter millions. Also Christians have killed each other in the name of religion countless times.
      For your info, the Quran has no chapters, only surrahs.
      If moderate Muslims are sympathic to extremist beliefs, then that would make them extremists. But in fact very few Muslims as a percentage are sympathetic to radical Islam. How would you feel if the press was able to convince people like you that the Ku Klux Klan was the representative of all Christian beliefs? The Klan, by the way, murdered in the name of Christ.
      Muslims are very much in touch with reality about thier religion, it is you who is in denial about reality and truth. I suggest you read a book every once in a while and also that your mommy take away your computer to keep you from making a fool of yourself over and over in this blog.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 01/04/2008 1:16:53 AM

    fallinger I will address your comments tomorrow. I can assure you my statement are accurate and backed by facts. MUSLIMS ONLY WANT TO BLAME BUSH. THEY REFUSE TO CRITICIZE THEIR OWN AUTOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS> THEY HAVE BEEN INDOCTRINATED.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 01/04/2008 1:14:11 AM

    Read my comments they have shown to be one hundred and ten per cent accurate. The truth hurts and so does burnt barbecue.

  • Posted By: fallingfear @ 01/03/2008 6:11:42 PM

    Yes your right, some muslims misuse the QURAN ( correct spelling ). Your right, sucide is not permitted and people still do it. Your right, the concept of Jihad is misunderstood. Where your wrong is your concept of muslims hating Americans all over the globe. Dude, I dont know where you get your information from, but if Muslims came here for oppurtunities, why would they hate it. They came here not to get out of the government as you say. Take it from a Muslim who knows, many people come here because they simply want to. You over think things way to much. Relax, and look at the obvious. You see the forest but not the trees. Oh and one other thing, you said Jihad brings muslims together.....your funny. Because you dont know anything when it comes to Muslims. Besides the fact that we read the Quran. I dont know where you get ur info from. Please tell me i want to know.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 01/03/2008 2:01:44 AM

    HASAN you can not deny the facts.The KORAN and the chapter of JIHAD is being used as a tool to indoctrinate the Muslim masses around the world to commit atrocities in the name of GOD for political gain. SUICIDE Bombing is part of this indoctrination. The anger HASAN has demonstrated is a perfect example of the ANGER Muslims feel around the World. It is this anger that makes them very susceptible to indoctrination, by the JIHAD chapter. Muslims are always getting enraged and threatning JIHAD.IT brings them together. Even moderates are anti west because they put Koran first and America second or whatever country they live in. You will never hear a Muslim say they love America and this is why we have home grown terror cells all around the world. Could you imagine if JEHOVAH WITNESSes STARTED BLOWING THEMSELVES Up every time they knocked on someone's door. Although many Americans think JEHOVAH"S are kind of weird, we would still open our doors, because they mean no harm. This is why we should never move unilaterally unless it is absolutely necessary. The Muslim people do not want to blame their own governments, they want to blame America.The offspring of MUSLIM moderates have already carried out JIHAD attacks in England and have tried in Canada and AMerica. They are enraged about the Iraq war. It is like they "SMELLED BURNT BARBECUE". Any little thing can trigger JIHAD. JIHAD BRINGS the MUSLIM COMMUNITY TOGETHER. HASAN, no matter what actions America takes you will still be angry. You have been indoctrinated to believe that the West is evil and that your MUSLIM and ARAB governments are the good guys. I never hear them criticize their governments, they only criticize America. It is a tool of indoctrination that the MUSLIM and ARAB leaderships have been using for centuries. The only thing that can trump the Koran is freedom and money. This is why Muslims who criticize the WEST live here. Because they do not want to live under Muslim regimes. They want to be free to make money and eat Turkey. If you do not want America medaling in your business then elect governments in your Muslim and Arab countries who do not abuse you and indoctrinate you with ANTI WEST sentiments.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 01/03/2008 1:58:59 AM

    You live in ancient times fallingfear, this is my point. Islam and Jihad was meant for the ancient world not the twenty first century.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 01/02/2008 4:06:17 AM

    HASAN you can not deny the facts.The KORAN and the chapter of JIHAD is being used as a tool to indoctrinate the Muslim masses around the world to commit atrocities in the name of GOD for political gain. SUICIDE Bombing is part of this indoctrination. The anger HASAN has demonstrated is a perfect example of the ANGER Muslims feel around the World. It is this anger that makes them very susceptible to indoctrination, by the JIHAD chapter. Muslims are always getting enraged and threatning JIHAD.IT brings them together. Even moderates are anti west because they put Koran first and America second or whatever country they live in. You will never hear a Muslim say they love America and this is why we have home grown terror cells all around the world. Could you imagine if JEHOVAH WITNESSes STARTED BLOWING THEMSELVES Up every time they knocked on someone's door. Although many Americans think JEHOVAH"S are kind of weird, we would still open our doors, because they mean no harm. This is why we should never move unilaterally unless it is absolutely necessary. The Muslim people do not want to blame their own governments, they want to blame America.The offspring of MUSLIM moderates have already carried out JIHAD attacks in England and have tried in Canada and AMerica. They are enraged about the Iraq war. It is like they "SMELLED BURNT BARBECUE". Any little thing can trigger JIHAD. JIHAD BRINGS the MUSLIM COMMUNITY TOGETHER. HASAN, no matter what actions America takes you will still be angry. You have been indoctrinated to believe that the West is evil and that your MUSLIM and ARAB governments are the good guys. I never hear them criticize their governments, they only criticize America. It is a tool of indoctrination that the MUSLIM and ARAB leaderships have been using for centuries. The only thing that can trump the Koran is freedom and money. This is why Muslims who criticize the WEST live here. Because they do not want to live under Muslim regimes. They want to be free to make money and eat Turkey. If you do not want America medaling in your business then elect governments in your Muslim and Arab countries who do not abuse you and indoctrinate you with ANTI WEST sentiments.

  • Posted By: Musaratak @ 12/31/2007 7:45:00 AM

    One thing more that i would like to tell you, the people who are doing this are the enemies of Islam, they are doing it in the name of their releigon, the releigon who does not even give them the permission to cut the tree or talking harsh to their enemies. Mohammad (peace be upon him) was a leader who always taught the values of life. Who always taught to keep peace among the communities. Who always taught to learn and to spread education. Who told us the values of women in the society. You have the right to give your opinion and I reserve the right to defend anything that is misuderstod against my reliegon and my Prophet (peace be upon him).

    • Posted By: faminchin @ 12/31/2007 2:53:09 PM

      Musaratak....I will agree with you 100% on what you say. I have done much study on the Koran during the past 6 years, trying to understand how any religion of God could lead to the murderous acts being committed. I have found many similaries between the Bible and the Koran which have lead me to believe that while we discuss two different books, we worship the same God.

      But if you take a closer look at the two religions involved in this dispute, you will see that both were founded by two men, Jesus and Mohammad. Take a closer look at these two men and you will see a stark contrast between the two. Jesus never killed anybody. Jesus rejected violence and even though his country was occupied by the Romans during his lifetime, he refused to call for war. Jesus taught peace, love, and understanding.......never violence.

      Mohammad on the other hand, spent much of his earthly life, traveling from village to village beheading people in what was referred to as "cleansings". Much of Mohammad's life was spent involved in war and killings.

      Now I have Muslim friends and I know that the majority of Muslims reject this radical movement and their actions, since their actions are not supported by the Koran. What I and many other Americans are having difficulty understanding is why there is no outrage in the Muslim World about these cowardly murderers that hold up the Koran as justificatio for their murderous actions?

      I know....there is no Jihad taking place today. There is only a handful of cowardly murderers that hide behind women's skirts and use innocent children as shields to hide from the bullets that seek them out. These radicals are attempting to deceive Islam into Jihad with their lies. Why is Bin Laden hide behind women's skirts while deceiving Muslim youth into committing sucide, promising 72 virgins when the reality is enternal damnaton according to the Koran? How can Muslim's look up to Bin Laden as a hero, when the reality is that he is nothing more than a cowardly murderer?

      I don't want to see a Holy War in our world. I don't want to see Christians and Muslims killing each other. It just doesn't make any sense and nobody can every make me believe this is something our God wants either!

      I believe it's time for the killing to stop and Christians and Muslims should focus on our similaries and not our differences. We should all be praying for God to bind us together and prevent us from being torn apart.

      • Posted By: farnice @ 01/01/2008 2:02:32 PM

        This is in reply to faminchin @ 12/31/2007 I m a Muslim. Anyone who kills innocent ppl cannot be my hero no matter by what name he / she goes. Jihad is not same as suicide. suicide is haraam (strictly forbidden) in Islam. Killing of one innocent person (regardless of race or relgion etc) is like killing of entire humanity. please broaden your study of the Holy Koran and Islamic faith; read indepedent authors; remember in every religion there are some people who want to exploit the followers by inciting the against the believers of the other religion. Judaism, Christianity and Islam are divine religions. We should try to find root causes of so called terrorism and evolve strategies to root them out. To any intelligent mind it is clear that politics has been mixed with religious biases to achieve the vested interests. Let us stop playing the blame game. Let us do something practical to stop this carnage.

  • Posted By: NightWatch @ 01/01/2008 4:34:45 AM

    "Was it Al Qaeda" A good headline to choose.You're always doing this.You think you can put the blame anyone you wanted.You don't even care about terrorism.You're just trying to blame Musharraf for this. If it's bad for the U.S. then it must be Al-Qaeda.If it isn't then that must be their government (like the lebanon issue)

  • Posted By: mkf1 @ 12/31/2007 8:59:51 PM

    Bush threw Bhutto under the train

    • Posted By: faminchin @ 12/31/2007 10:09:55 PM

      Wow, another Democratic Congressman heard from. Yes....yes...we all know that in your world, everything is Bush's fault. He steered the hurricane into New Orleans, blew up the levies, had Friends cancelled......we know the whole story.

  • Posted By: eddiewhere @ 12/30/2007 8:18:41 PM

    In fact, the Koran teaches that sucide is a sin
    Faminchin, then why are so many committting suicide. your argument is that the Koran does not teach suicide what does it teach Martyrism. BE HONEST, the chapter of JIHAD is being used as a tool of war and is indeed encouraging suicide or martyrism what ever you want to kill it. No other religion in the world kills in the name of GOD or JIHAD. JIHAD is for ancient times. Moderate MUSLIMs have not come to terms with reality and are in denial about their own religion. deep down they are sympathetic to the extremist cause against America. KORAN FIRST AMERICA SECOND. YOu cannot deny that the KORAN brings war and not peace. GIve me some facts. NAME AN INSTANT in HIstory where the Koran has brought peace. NEVER. America first all religions second. That what makes us great. America FIrst, COuntry First. Not madness.

    • Posted By: faminchin @ 12/31/2007 3:16:57 PM

      Eddie, I am telling you what's in the Koran........not the things that Bin Laden and others have twisted the Koran into saying. Bin Laden and his group kill for two reasons. They kill Americans, and they kill Muslim's and blame it on America. Bin Laden has stated openly that his objective is to unite all Muslims into a Holy War against America. He has been very effective at deceiving many Muslim youths into believing his lies and deception.

      But any Muslim that really believe in the Koran should reject Bin Laden and these radicals that preach hatred and murder. There is nothing in the Koran that supports his actions!

  • Posted By: Musaratak @ 12/31/2007 7:32:51 AM

    Siilverloch -- or whoever you are. Islam is the reliegon of peace. It does not teach violence or terrorism. How you can blaim to reliegon of one person's sin?? I will advise you to study Islam, so you better understand it.

    • Posted By: faminchin @ 12/31/2007 3:08:23 PM

      It is very difficult for Americans to understand Islam as a peaceful religion, when we see murders and rioting, bombs and burning buildings.......all because of a cartoon in a newspaper that nobody reads in the first place. How can Americans understand Islam as a peaceful religion, as long as Islam allows these radicals to be their spokes person?

      How can Islam lift up people like Bin Laden, a murdering coward that hides behind women's skirts and uses children as shields?

      It is our hope that the majority of Muslims reject these radicals that kill innonence in the name of Allah. This should be Islam's fight to wipe out these cowardly murderers. It should not be the United State's job to clean up this mess! Muslim's should take care of this themselves and stop waiting on the United States to do it for them.

      It is hard for Americans to understand Islam as a peaceful religion, when it appears that Islam is helping these cowardly murderers carry out their evil actions.

  • Posted By: Musaratak @ 12/31/2007 7:29:28 AM

    Silerloch -- whoever you are!! Islam is the reliegon of peace, it does not teach violence and terrorism. For one person's wrong act, you can not balme his reliegon as wrong. I'll advise you to study Islam and correct your concept.

  • Posted By: Silverloch @ 12/30/2007 10:29:46 PM

    I think if I were a Muslim, I would be thinking, its time to leave this bloody religion.

  • Posted By: Silverloch @ 12/30/2007 10:26:18 PM

    All this sad mess is the face of evil. Its enough to make even the agnostic a believer--in the devil that is. Murder is murder, and we all are spashed with the blood of it. Remember the pope and how the Muslim world went ape over his reflection that Islam is surrounded by a ring of blood? How we hate it when someone tells the truth!
    I suppose it would be only natural to suspect Al Qaeda when we think of an entity that lauds the bombing of innocents under the guise of martyrdom. It is such a farce. To think of martyrdom which was once about innocents who lay down thier lives and were burned at a stake at the hand of tyranny, to now become the very hand of tyranny and evil. Rushdie must have been right. There really are Satanic Verses, no wonder he was threatened with death by the Islamist's supreme leader. When looking in the mirror, I wonder what they see when they see the face of evil? Mohammed?

  • Posted By: AIleader @ 12/30/2007 2:13:30 PM

    Ah..... seems i stumbled upon a religous AND political debate.... these things combined always seem to turn wise men to idiots and calm people into fanatics... If Al-Qaeda was in fact behind the killings of Bhutto and her followers then they have sealed thier fate as defeated and destryoed. They are causing thier shadows to recede, biting the hand that hides, and burning bridges that would save them from our grasp. Bin Laden must be losing his grip on his organization, letting such stupid decisions from a strategists' view. Don't get e wrong, i want Bin Laden dead as much as everyone else, and i hate him for what happened to America, but you have to admit, he was good at eluding and hurting us. I am ure America will be in Pakistan soon to some extent, and the extremists will only have so many places left to cower in fear.

  • Posted By: AIleader @ 12/30/2007 2:04:12 PM

    Wow, it seems i have walked into a political and religious debate , and you all know that thoe two issues combined create idiots out of even the wisest of men..... i think if Al-Qaeda did in fact kill Bhutto, that was nearly as stupid a move as attacking the USA. They are making thier hiding places much more scarce, and biting hands that hide.. By just this act the have ensured thier destruction. God bless America and Israel.

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