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LAHORE – The suicide bombers who attacked Benazir Bhutto’s convoy as it traveled through Karachi managed to kill 140 people and injure more than 550. But their real targets were free and fair elections, and a return to some kind of parliamentary democracy rather than continued military rule. The bombers failed to kill Bhutto, but they may have succeeded in paralyzing Pakistan’s political process.
This is a favorite question of Western analysts but it's an absurd question because Partition is a fact of life and a fact of history now for millions of Indians and Pakistanis.
Young Pakistanis just do not ask this question any longer and accept that they have to make Pakistan a better place. Going on about the past is just not what they are all about. On the 60th anniversary of independence, I think we should finally put this question to rest and think about what we can do to improve the lives of our citizens.
Musharraf cannot survive the year. His actions over the past few months have pitted the armed forces against the Pakistani public and a section of the establishment that includes the judiciary and civil society. If Musharraf continues along this present path in defiance of public and judicial demands, he may plunge the country into civil war.
Lahore, Pakistan - In Afghanistan, some Taliban leaders will open peace talks with the government of President Hamid Karzai, which will be supported by NATO, the U.S. and the international community.
Lahore, Pakistan - The majority of Afghans think the Taliban is winning its war against the government of President Hamid Karzai.
Lahore, Pakistan - The first and most important act for a newly elected U.S. House and Senate is to impeach Donald Rumsfeld. The defense secretary waged incompetent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, undermined the U.S. military, introduced torture, destroyed U.S. credibility worldwide, lied to the American people, caused the unnecessary deaths of tens of thousands of Iraqi and Afghan civilians, failed to catch the perpetrators of 9/11 despite access to unlimited funds and caused the U.S. to enter a long period of isolation from the world.
Lahore, Pakistan - The crisis in Afghanistan is a result of the failure of the international community to respond adequately after the Taliban regime was defeated in 2001. The Bush administration began preparations to invade Iraq just weeks after the Afghan war ended and divided the world community in the process.
Lahore, Pakistan - "Traditional" tribal societies in many parts of the third world are often considered backward, discriminatory against women, and politically incorrect. However, states must still treat tribes with patience and political respect.
Lahore, Pakistan - The terror plot uncovered by the British police today shows the hallmarks of al Qaeda operations and suggests that the alienation of Muslim immigrants from Western societies continues to aid terrorist recruitment. The plot's timing was likely meant to protest U.S. and British support for Israel's bombing of Lebanon.
Lahore, Pakistan - Hezbollah's strength rests on the unqualified support of the Lebanese people. Hezbollah is unlikely to risk that support and plunge Lebanon into another civil war by trying to assert total political control once the war is over.
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