How politicians reacted to Bhutto's murder

David

Interesting that Brown mentioned cowards afraid of democracy. Uncontested leadership, and afraid to give the British people a say in the EU Treaty...bloody hypocrite.

RW

No doubt Brown is even now commissioning yet another ghost-written volume, "Women of Immense Personal Courage and Bravery I have Known" in the somewhat vain hope that the Courage word will somehow rub off and become associated with his name. But it won't; he'll remain what he is at heart, a bullying coward, which is why he attacks this trait in others. As for statesman credentials, he's well and truly blown them already.

Paddy Briggs

Brown said "Benazir Bhutto may have been killed by terrorists but the terrorists must not be allowed to kill democracy in Pakistan." The use of the word "may" was cleverly ambiguous leaving the possibility open that she was killed by POLITICAL opponents (which many seem to believe). The mention of democracy was also shrewd. There is no democracy in Pakistan because of Musharraf who removed it in his first coup. Therefore Brown's statement was a subtle criticism of the President. I sense a distaste here for Pakistan's military ruler - albeit a carefully hidden one!

Hetty

I hate to question Brown as he is an authority on cowardice - as he showed us all a few weeks ago - but for all their murderous evil, are suicide bombers really cowards?

Bill

Couldn't agree more, David.

Fergus Pickering

Of course suicide bombers are not cowards. It is just an abusive word. If they are cowardly then so was Stauffenberg who tried to blow Hitler up. Unless it is suicide that we are supposed to consider cowardly. Then Captain Oates was cowardly and all those noble Romans. And the people with incurable diseases who go to Switzwerland. Silly thing to say I think. Suicide bombers are courageous. Saddam Hussain was courageous at the point of death for my money Goering behaved courageously at the Nuremberg trials. Ditto Milosevich, if that's how you spell him. It is quite possible to be courageous and very horrible surely?

Duckworth Lewis

Apart from the questionable text of Brown's statement, he delivered it like a brain-damaged robot. How can you say he didn't blow his chance? Millions will have noted that there's something seriously amiss with him. He didn't have to go on TV at all - a statement released to the press would have been sufficient. Was he really deluded enough to believe that his appearance was essential to steady the nation's nerves? God help us.

Stan, Uk

Brown is pathetic. He has been urging Musharraf to hold elections, what a cheek, Brown should practice what he preaches after all he himself has not been elected by the British people or the labour party.

Oscar Miller

I didn't think Brown's words or his delivery were well chosen. He came across as someone nervously parroting the accepted line on democracy and terrorism - uttered without any conviction at all. And it was wholly misjudged to press for January elections in the current climate. Entirely agree with Duckworth Lewis. And with David.

steve_roberts

It would be interesting to know how much Benazir's return to Pakistan was encouraged by UK and US government officials. It seems to me she was very badly advised to return.

Alan

Fergus Pickering -Stauffenberg wasn't a 'suicide bomber'. He wasn't trying to kill himself with a bomb and take the lives of innocent people with him. Those are the facts, unless of course, you regard Hitler and his Nazi entourage as potentially 'innocent' victims.