The sudden disappearance of Benazir Bhutto from Pakistan's political scene leaves behind a dangerous period of uncertainty for the country, forcing leaders from Islamabad to Washington into difficult choices about how to protect their interests and keep the nuclear-armed, Islamist-threatened country from descending further into chaos.
As rioting and protests spread after Bhutto's assassination Thursday, most of the power brokers in the country—from President Pervez Musharraf to the army generals to the demoralized opposition to the Bush administration—were busy considering their options, eyeing each other in what will be a game of wills playing out in the coming days and weeks.
For Musharraf, the goal will be finding the right moves to quell further unrest that would continue to undermine his weakened hold on power. For his former colleagues in the army command, seeing that order is restored without having to brutally crack down on protesters is key to maintaining their power and standing—and perhaps avoiding being forced to move against Musharraf himself.
For Bhutto's fellow opposition leaders, struggling to overcome shock and disarray after the loss of the opposition's most famous icon, the challenge is whether the fractured groups can work together against Musharraf's party and military rule. Source...
