Sunday Roundup

The media reaction to the turmoil in Pakistan is as illogical as it is predictable. Given yet another example of how the president's disastrous foreign policy has left us all less safe, we are suddenly being showered with analysis that takes as a given that Bush and those who agree with him -- or have enabled him -- are better at keeping us safe. It's the same nonsense that prevailed in 2004, and is rearing its ugly head again in the '08 race. Witness the rapidly congealing conventional wisdom that Bhutto's murder will help the campaigns of Rudy Giuliani -- who has left no daylight between himself and Bush on Iraq and foreign policy -- and Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate who took the longest to distance herself from Bush. The ticking time bomb in Pakistan brings home -- once again -- what a tragic distraction Iraq has been from where the real danger lies. Isn't it beyond time we all got the message?

Comments

[outnow]

William Wilberforce fought slavery in England. The practice was outlawed. When will the American people see the slavery imposed by the Iraq occupation? Why must Bhutto be martyred while the Republicans pursuit their conquest of the world?

We will look back on these days as we now look back on the slave trade. Did we not invade the Middle East for oil? Have we not enslaved ourselves to this policy of aggression?

Pakistan is yet another failure of the neocons. The US is supporting a dictator once again while professing to "liberate" the people. Pakistan harbors the Taliban, Osama bin Laden and AQ and A.Q. Khan as well as the killers of Ms. Bhutto. This is where ht e events of 9-11 were planned and funded. This is where there are weapons of mass destruction.

How long will the American people support the Christian Taliban in America that backs up the neocons in their quest for the oil of other countries.

We must all join for the restoration of sanity in our energy policy and collectively voice our opposition to the madness that drives these policies.

[kcgeezer]

It would be an act of contrition if the BushCo followers and the MSM that enabled them were to admit that they took their eye off the ball in Pakistan while we chased shadows in Iraq. It would require them all to admit they were wrong which is something they absolutely won't do. We are in for another election cycle of 24/7 fear and of candidates climbing over each other to lay claim to being the one who can keep us safe all this while ignoring our domestic problems. None of them can really but they know the American public is gullible and will swallow anything if it is marketed right. We get the leaders we deserve because we vote for the wrong reasons and only believe what is put in a sound bite.

[thebeerdoctor]

It is so typical that in politics, both the politicians and their jesters, will try to make hay out of anything, including assassination. But alas kind lady, the waking up that you wish for your fellow citizens will more than likely be short circuited by the minions who perform the rather dirty, but necessary work of promoting the totally ruthless selfish work of the entrenched oligarchy.
It would be good to consider that behind these foreign policy fiascoes, that are always given excuses such as democracy, security, liberation, there is the never ending business of weapons. For those who profit from this deadly enterprise, that alone is proof that Might Makes Right. Whatever the monstrous consequences.

[RepublicanBrain]

Arianna, I think you need to look at the information again. It makes me wonder. People do not "think" they are safer, but the question remains: Are they actually? A thought is not reality, if you want to think of it that way. We've had one of the most horrible attacks on American soil, and now, it hasn't happened again. I wonder why that is.

Conventional wisdom is indeed waning, but I wonder if it is truly the media and the Cabinet where it has departed.

[littleblackcat]

Bill Kristol is a repuke supporter which should be enough for any thinking person to tune out most of his drivel. I also heard karl rove is now on the staff of Newsweek???? Are they crazy? Only Richard Wolffe's position on their staff would keep me a subscriber, and I can always depend on Olbermann to keep us up-to-date on Mr. Wolffe's thoughts.

[veracity]

With two (2) words today, Senator Chris Dodd illustrated how the "Democratic" "Leadership" is now completely subservient to the Bush/Cheney/neo-con global war agenda. Senator Dodd said that "STABILITY" is the Alpha-&-Omega of America's relation with Pakistan, and as such, it was "IRRESPONSIBLE" to EVEN QUESTION, not only whether Musharraff had any active role in the assassination (here at HuffingtonPost, we have read that Ms. Bhutto sent an e-mail to Wolf Blitzer saying that if she was killed, Mr. Musharraff would indeed be behind it), but we can't even question the absurd comments by the Pakistan government that Mrs. Bhutto was killed not by a bomb or bullets, but by smashing her head on the sunroof of her limousine.
This amounts to Senator Dodd giving a green light to Musharraff to assassinate anyone he wants (especially the pro-democracy middle class legal and administrative professionals) and blame it on Al Qaida... even as his government funnels millions of US aid to those very reactionary Taliban elements!
It seems like Dodd and the Democrats are taking a page from Henry Kissinger "I approve of Pinochet" book.

[DallasNE]

The problem with getting the message is that MSM doesn't want that to be the message. All they care about is the horse race aspect of politics. You manipulate the news in a manner that best assures the horse race.

Just this week-end the NYT announced that they were bringing Bill Kristol on board. When was Kristol right about anything? Why, other than to further the horse race, would the NYT bring someone on board with such a dismal track record. So, of course, everything Arianna Huffington has said is true, but will it matter if so few people hear the message.

[littleblackcat]

Is it possible that somehow the bush administration helped with Ms. Bhutto's death? I understand that condi rice "brokered" her return and this is the sort of thing the repukes have no conscience about doing if it furthers their agenda of a "permanent repu base" and if bushit can swing things far enough to order a military strike against either Iran or Pakistan it will give him the green light to declare martial law so as not hold elections in "war time". The war being totally of his own making of course, but that is the whole idea, to create what should not exist in order to get his own way. Either way it means the end of the United States of America as those of us over 50 knew it. If I could roll the dice the way I wanted to, an Edwards-Obama ticket would give us the change we need for the first 8 years coupled with strength, give Obama the experience he needs for the next 8 years and we would have the vigor of youth in both men. Biden for Secretary of State, Richardson in charge of foreign affairs and Chris Dodd as Attorney General. Wishful thinking, but what a powerful force for the rebuilding of THIS country that would be.

[kells1001]

If the US/CIA/Bush Administration is involved and it somehow affects the outcome of the next election then rest assured it will most likely work. Face it we want to control the region and its oil interests and avoid facing up to economic realities here at home. The US has meddled in the affairs of this region for so long that they stand to lose in most negotiations therefore keep the region unstable and provide their only relief/ our protection even if they don't want it.

[getoffmedz]

Dear Arianna - An unstable nuclear-armed primarily Muslim country that has already proven itself unworthy of trust, having sold their secrets to enemies of the U.S., is indeed 100 times more dangerous than Iraq, Iran or North Korea, combined.

There are many who fear Bush/Cheney would actually see an insane benefit from a pre-WWIII in South Asia and the Middle East?

With Pakistan descending into chaos the preconditions most certainly exist.

[maryec]

Only a nincompoop could not see through the headlines claiming Al Queda is responsible for Bhutto's assassination. How freaking dumb do they think we are????

[DenverDem]

Bhutto's regimes as prime minister were most noteworthy for corruptions and scandal. Why did anyone think that we should pin our star to her?

ALSO: Hillary Clinton made the point that she had a "personal relationship" with Bhutto. She said that she and Chelsea visited with Bhutto.

QUESTIONS:

1. Did she meet with Bhutto more than once?
2. WHen she met with Bhutto, what did she discuss?
3. Did she discuss matters of state? With Chelsea in the room?

Hillary is pretty desparate.

[whathehell]

The neo-conservative-laced Bush administration wanted her dead, and Bhutto knew this. She was quite convinced that the Musharraf /Bush alliance was undermining any chance of democracy for her country. This is what brought her back, and had her killed, and the media is, as usual, defending the neocons. There"s really nothing new here, and I"ve become accustomed to it.

[speranza]

I mentioned many times that Pakistan is the most unstable country in the world and possesses masses of uncontrollable nuclear warheads. The danger that Pakistan will sink more and more in civil unrest and civil war and that jihadis and terrorists can capture nuclear warheads has become much more realistic.

I couldnt agree more with you Arianna, a dreadful Foreign Policy blunder more of this presidency. I said all along that the real danger lies in Pakistan and not in Iran! Unfortunately I will be proven right again the sooner that I wanted!

Mrs. Bhutto would have been a hope for more democracy and for the free world. Her Passing is a greater loss than many might realise now.

[Beckyjo]

I am so tired of the Republicans saying that proof of the President's strengths is the fact that we have not been attacked again since 9/ll. This is a rediculous premise...we have not been attacked again because the enemy has not chosen to attack us. Illegals are walking across our borders, north and south...24/7. We know they are not all Mexicans. People are crossing borders, and it would be stupid to think they cannot bring with them whatever it takes to create a terrible incident. We have just been lucky, and it has nothing to do with George Bush being a great big strong president. If this is the only compliment the Republicans can come up with, it's time to stop it. Americans are not stupid, so enough already.