Benazir Bhutto Assassinated Following Musharraf's Ending State of Emergency

The exact culprits are both at large and unidentified by 12:46pm Central Standard time on December 27, 2007, but there are few on the globe who are able to avoid the imagery of the former Pakistani Prime Minister's assassination. The two-time Prime Minister of Pakistan was marred in controversy, raging from corruption accusations, to the bare, simply dogmatic intolerance of a woman in such a position of authority.

Her return ten weeks ago to the nation of her birth was seen as both a triumph and the dramatic rocking of the proverbial boat, turning the Musharraf run nation on its head. Without a doubt, her return ushered in a number of dramatic changes, not the least of which acting as the catalyst for the tearful resignation of Pakistan's leader from the military, a major step in stabilizing the hot Pakistani turmoil.

Assassination attempts followed Bhutto wherever she went, the attackers ranging from the political opponents, to the hard line Islamic extremists who plague the nation, enduring Taliban-style influence, which calls for enhanced persecution of women. Nevertheless, Bhutto stood firm in her opposition to Musharraf, her adherence to calls for democracy, and insistent on Pakistani reform.

Following fears that the volatile situation that plagued the country would turn increasingly violent, and perhaps worried about the prospects of losing his position of leadership, Musharraf declared a state of emergency, which warranted a number of harsh crack downs on the media and enhanced security. This State of Emergency lasted until December 16th, when, under international pressure and condemnation, he ended the restrictions, allowing Pakistan to return to its largely chaotic and volatile state.

Eleven days later, with security slackened across the nation, assassins managed to slip by what Haaretz.com calls "negligent" security. The assassin, strapped with explosive devices, managed to slip remarkably close to Bhutto, and following several gunshots directed at her, he detonated them. For the first time since she returned ten weeks ago, the assassins finally struck gold, and succeeded in their murder of the ex-Prime Minister.

Conspiracy theories began arising within moments of her assassination - ranging from accusations that President Musharraf personally had her killed, to the notion that India and the United States were behind it in the hopes of making Pakistan look weak and fragile. The international community has shown an outpouring of condolences, mourning, and even aghast disgust for the assassination.

Prime Minister Gordan Brown, according to the Associated Press, harshly condemned the murder, saying that it was an attack on democracy itself. Sympathy has ranged from India to Israel - all showing a form of macabre unity over the ex-Prime Minister's murder.

Naturally, following the attack, the nation has entered a state described by the Associated Press as "Red Alert" - as Bhutto supporters riot through the streets. Even on news networks such as FOX News and CNN, turbulence can be seen amid the tears of supporters: one man is seen sobbing on a cellular phone, perhaps relating the story to a loved one, as the camera pans to witness another man smashing a car with a board in anguish.

Naturally, the greatest fear held by many, is that following the turmoil of Benazir Bhutto's assassination, the hard line Islamic extremists that dominate portions of Pakistan may succeed in their ultimate goal of taking over Musharraf's nuclear arsenal, acquired by the notorious smuggler A.Q. Khan, who was responsible for both Pakistan's and North Korea's acquisition of nuclear material.