Pakistani Opposition Leader Assassinated

I must admit that I have not been following the political debate in Pakistan very closely, but I know that a lot of people considered Benazir Bhutto a far better leader than President Pervez Musharraf. Others claimed she was the country's best hope for a truly democratic government. She has been a harsh critic of Musharraf, and has been imprisoned on multiple occasions for airing her views. She was assassinated in what appears to be a suicide bombing.

The bomber detonated as he tried to enter the rally where thousands of people gathered to hear Bhutto speak, police said.

The number of wounded was not immediately known. However, video of the scene showed ambulances lined up to take many to hospitals.

The attack came just hours after four supporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif died when members of another political party opened fire on them at a rally near the Islamabad airport Thursday, Pakistan police said.

Several other members of Sharif's party were wounded, police said.

Bhutto was participating in the parliamentary election set for Jan. 8, hoping for a third term as prime minister.

Will this be the end of opposition to Musharraf? Or it is more likely to create a martyr to the cause and crystalize dissent into outright revolution? Only time will tell. But additional unrest in Pakistan is likely to greatly hinder American attempts to keep the Taliban fighters from reorganizing.