by Matthew Hay Brown, updated
Congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle say the murder of Benazir Bhutto must not slow Pakistan’s progress toward democracy.
“The assassination today of former Prime Minister Bhutto is not only a tragedy for her family, loved ones and millions of supporters, but also a severe blow to real democratic reform in Pakistan,” House Democratic Leader Steny H. Hoyer said in a statement today. “Madam Bhutto was committed to democratic principles and it is imperative that the cause she championed continue to move forward.”
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said Bhutto’s bravery “stands in stark contrast to the cowardice of those who remain committed only to chaos, murder and thwarting democracy in Pakistan. It is our expectation that President Musharraf and the Pakistani people will go forward with free and fair elections.”
House Republican Leader John Boehner called the attack “yet another reminder that we must remain vigilant in standing against the enemies of freedom in Pakistan and around the world to ensure that their efforts to thwart democracy will once again fail.”
“Pakistan has been a vital ally of the United States,” Boehner said, “and a strong relationship with a stable, democratic Pakistan is important to our success in seeking out and defeating Islamic extremism in the Global War on Terror.”
Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin, the Maryland Democrat who co-chairs the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, called Bhutto "a courageous example to those of us who believe in unfettered participatory democracy and reform."
"Prime Minister Bhutto fought for democracy and made the ultimate sacrifice for her country," Cardin said. "The political unrest in Pakistan comes at a critical time for the region and we must not forget what Prime Minister Bhutto was fighting for and urge peace, stability, and democracy to prevail."
Rep. Elijah Cummings, meanwhile, urged close American involvement in Pakistan in the days ahead.
“It is critical that we ensure that the Pakistani government is receiving proper guidance on how to move forward from this point, particularly with regard to conserving the stable, democratically led government that is key to succeeding in the fight against terrorism,” said the Maryland Democrat, a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
“Additionally, I encourage the Bush Administration to conduct better oversight of our continued financial assistance to Pakistan during this tumultuous time to achieve the intended results of better education, health, and security systems for the country.”
Hoyer called the assassination “an urgent reminder that the civilized world must remain vigilant against the forces of extremism, hate and violence,” and added that it was “critical that the Pakistani government reassure its people that this kind of violence is completely unacceptable, and that it bring those who planned, aided and perpetrated this attack to justice.”
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Comments
"MEANWHILE THE GOP IS WONDERING HOW THEY CAN INJECT THE SAME HERE"
WITH OUR OWN MARSHALL LAW IMMIGRATION REFORM THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING IN OUR OWN ETHNO SECULAR STREETS OF AMERICA. YOU WOULD THINK THAT MUSHARIFF IS RUNNING AMERICA TOO, OR WE ARE RUNNING OUR COUNTRY SIDE BY SIDE TO PAKISTAN.
WHO IS GOING TO PROTECT HILLARY CLINTON FROM EVIL MINDED MEN, JUST PISSED OFF BECAUSE A WOMAN IS IN THE HIGHEST OFFICE OF THEIR LAND, AND NOT LOOKING OUT THE KITCHEN WINDOW TRYING TO FIND DAVID VITTER IN THE PARK!
SO WHO WILL PROTECT OUR FIRST LADY, OUR COMMANDER IN CHIEF HILLARY CLINTON IF ELECTED PRESIDENT.
NO DIFFERENCE, WE ARE LISTENING TO A DAILY WAR ATTACK ON WOMEN OF THE WORLD, A WOMAN IN THE WORLD, AND UNMARRIED WOMEN IN AMERICA. WE ARE BASICALLY BEING TOLD ALL THE PROBLEMS INCLUDING 9/11 IS DUE TO A WOMAN.
MAYBE SO, MAYBE LAURA BUSH TOLD BIG POPPY NO, AND HE FREAKED WITH HILLARY LOOMING IN 04. SEND OUT THE KARL ROVE SEVEN DWARFS AND DESTROY DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA IN HOPES OF A FINAL HOUR MARSHALL LAW MOMENT TO DISCUSS THE MATTER.
BECAUSE BEING PRESIDENT IS HARD WORK, AND HE MUST WORK HARD, AND A WOMAN CAN'T DO THAT. WE ALREADY HAVE CONGRESSMEN ROLLING OVER IN THEIR GRAVES BECAUSE OF NANCY PELOSI.
BY THE WAY, WHERE IS HANNITY, SANTORIUM, MR. VIAGRA HIMSELF LIMPBAUGH, I THOUGHT THESE CHUMS SAID THEY WOULD LEAVE POLITICS IF AMERICAN EVER HAD A MADAME SPEAKER.
BUSH KNEW!
Posted by: Roger Morris | December 27, 2007 1:47 PM
Instability benefits Al Qaeda. Mushariff is a Bush/Cheney puppet. The people in the region could easily feel the U.S, had a hand in this. Try convincing them otherwise. We are so hated due to the policies of the Bush regime.
The people are going to rise up, marshal law will be racheted up, and total chaos and violence will ensue.
And make no mistake, the Republicans will use this as an excuse to whip up all they have left, FEAR.
Posted by: John E | December 27, 2007 1:52 PM
Yeah right. Blame it on the Republicans. If your buddy Clinton had taken care of Osama to begin with, NONE of this would have happened. I love how the Dems are always quick to blame Bush. What idiots.
Posted by: Bruce B. | December 27, 2007 2:57 PM
Bruce B,
Congress has the authority to declare war. Why didn't the Republican Congress during Clinton's Presidency declare a War on al-Qaeda, a War on Osama Bin Laden, or a War on Terror? I think this would have only humuliated Democrats for them to take such a stand. Oh yeah they were more concerned with Monicagate. They even accused Clinton of "wagging the dog" when he tried to kill Bin Laden.
Posted by: jethro | December 27, 2007 3:33 PM
Yeah right. Blame it on the Republicans. If your buddy Clinton had taken care of Osama to begin with, NONE of this would have happened. I love how the Dems are always quick to blame Bush. What idiots.
Posted by: Bruce B. | December 27, 2007 2:57 PM
Idiot,
Bush got a memo shortly after stealing office that said "BIN-LADEN DETERMINED TO STRIKE INSIDE U.S."...and the clown ignored it and to top off his stupidity he responded to 9/11 by invading.....Iraq.
Mission Accomplished, my arse!
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi76.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fj2%2Fdanakf1%2FArtwork%2520by%2520Dana%2520Flores%2FMission-Accomplished.gif&searchTerm=mission%20accomplished&pageOffset=15
Posted by: John E | December 27, 2007 3:36 PM
"If your buddy Clinton had taken care of Osama to begin" THEN HE SAYS "I love how the Dems are always quick to blame Bush. What idiots".
Posted by: Bruce B. | December 27, 2007 2:57 PM
Do you even see......?????
Posted by: bill r. | December 27, 2007 3:54 PM
"If your buddy Clinton had taken care of Osama to begin with, NONE of this would have happened."
Posted by: Bruce B. | December 27, 2007 2:57 PM
Has Bush captured him yet? Has Bush killed him yet?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/washington/08intel.html
Posted by: AJF | December 27, 2007 4:58 PM