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but less dramatic method of death, possibly to make Bhutto's death more "accidental" than worthy of martyrdom, may simply be a psychological maneuvering to try and defuse the power that assassination gives supporters of Bhutto and other anti-government organizations. Making the method of death questionable also dilutes the power (by presenting an additional method of death - shrapnel from the suicidal bomber's detonation) of the assassination to be used as a political tool.

But it is fertile ground for conspiracy theorists. They present in all societies, especially in social and political systems such as the one that exists in Pakistan, a loosely bound, military led dictatorship of traditional warring factions and tribes. Islam is the cement of commonality, yet largely ineffective as a unifier, leaving the area a Machiavellian mess. Centuries of local, regional, and governmental persecutions, tyrannies, oppressive rulings and acts, governmental corruption and lies, have made Pakistan more than accepting of conspiracies as a matter of course. The Bhutto affair will be no different.

And the theorizing will not end with just the charges of governmental manipulation of information. It will continue into the realm of plausible speculation. It will begin with the casket. Even though the casket had a viewing window, it will become known that the body in the coffin was not that of Benazir Bhutto, if there was even a deceased body in the casket at all. Then the backroom hospitalization rumors will begin. The rumors will start that Bhutto is still alive and being kept on life support in a closed room inside the hospital at Rawalpindi (later to be moved to a secret place for recuperation). There will be rumors that authorities allowed the announcement of Bhutto's death to save her further assassination attempts. There may even be a Pakistan government connection to the assassination. Perhaps a second or third gunman. These rumors of conspiracies and behind-the-scenes machinations are vintage post-Kennedy assassination.

Regardless of the method by which the former prime minister died, the Interior Ministry's announcement further fertilized the fields of possibility. And this, as stated earlier, is the fertile ground from which springs conspiracy theories.

Sources:

John Simkin, Spartacus Educational [website], spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk

Mohsi n Naqvi, "Benazhir Bhutto assassinated," CNN.com

"Pakistan: fractured skull killed Bhutto," CNN.com

Learn more about this author, Saul Relative.
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