Bhutto was killed by sunroof, not bomb or bullets, Pakistan says

by Rana Jawad

Pakistan's interior ministry said Friday that Benazir Bhutto was killed after smashing her head on her car's sunroof while trying to duck, and that no bullet or shrapnel was found inside her.

The ministry also said it had intercepted a phone call from a top Al-Qaeda figure congratulating a militant for the attack on her Thursday, and said there was "irrefutable evidence" the group was trying to destabilise the country.

Bhutto's death after a suicide bomber blew himself up at her campaign rally has plunged this nuclear-armed Islamic nation into turmoil, but the ministry said she would have lived if only she had stayed inside her car.

"If she had not come out of the vehicle, she would have been unhurt, as all the other occupants of the vehicle did not receive any injuries," ministry spokesman Brigadier Javed Cheema said.

He said the post-mortem on the populist opposition leader, whose funeral earlier Friday was attended by hundreds of thousands of mourners, found her mortal wound came when she tried to duck after the bomber attacked.

The bomber also apparently fired three times at her but missed, Cheema said.

When she ducked, she hit the lever of the sunroof of the car that was to speed her away from a campaign rally as she was gearing up to contest parliamentary elections set for January 8.

"The lever struck near her right ear and fractured her skull," Cheema said. "There was no bullet or metal shrapnel found in the injury."

Cheema showed a brief video of the moments before the attack and the blast itself but it was unclear.

He said intelligence services had intercepted a call Friday from the man considered to be a top Al-Qaeda figure for Pakistan, Baitullah Mehsud, congratulating a militant after Bhutto's death.

He said there was "irrefutable evidence that Al-Qaeda, its networks and cohorts are trying to destabilise Pakistan".

"We have recorded his conversation in which he is congratulating a militant for the attack," Cheema said, adding that Mehsud was also behind the suicide attack on Bhutto's homecoming rally in October that killed 139 people.

"He is responsible for most of the attacks that have taken place in the country," the spokesman said, calling for national unity "to eliminate the proponents of death and destruction who are trying to destabilise Pakistan."

Pakistani authorities say Mehsud is based in the troubled tribal region of South Waziristan, where troops have been battling Islamist rebels since the fall of the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan in 2001.

Mehsud had until recently been described by officials as the top pro-Taliban militant commander in the region but is increasingly said to have links to bin Laden's Al-Qaeda group.

Making a Martyr of Bhutto

By ARYN BAKER

Just days before parliamentary polls in Pakistan, leading Prime Ministerial contender and anti terrorism crusader Benazir Bhutto was shot dead during an election rally in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, near Islamabad. "She has been martyred," said party official Rehman Malik. The Associated Press, citing Malik, reported that Bhutto was shot in the neck and the chest before the gunman blew himself up. At least 20 bystanders were killed in the blast. Bhutto was rushed to a hospital But, at 6:16 p.m. Pakistan time, she was declared dead.

""How can somebody who can shoot her get so close to her with all the so-called security?" said a distraught Husain Haqqani, a former top aide to Bhutto, shortly after news of her death flashed around the world. Haqqani, who served as a spokesman and top aide to Bhutto for more than a decade, blamed Pakistani security, either through neglect or complicity, in her assassination. "This is the security establishment, which has always wanted her out," he said through tears.

For the past several months Pakistan has been plagued by a wave of violence that has seen hundreds of civilians killed in similar bombing attacks; and hundreds more military personnel, prompting President Pervez Musharraf to declare a state of emergency. On December 16th, Musharraf lifted the state of emergency, stating that the threat had been contained. The bombings, however, continued. Just hours before her assassination, Bhutto, 54, met with visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai to discuss the threat of terrorism against both countries.

The U.S. has long supported a return to power by Bhutto, who was perceived to be a moderate willing to work with Washington on the war on terror. She was also seen as a democratic leader who would serve as a counter to the plummeting popularity of Musharraf, who took power in a 1999 military coup. It was thought that a power-sharing deal between the two, in which Musharraf stayed on as president while Bhutto lead as prime minister, would promote stability in this nuclear armed nation of 165 million. But from the day of her arrival in Pakistan after eight years in exile, Bhutto's return has been marred by violence.

On October 18th, a pair of bombs detonated in the midst a welcome home rally in Karachi for the former two-time prime minister, killing some 145 in a deliberate attempt on her life. The organization responsible for the carnage has not yet been identified, but Bhutto said she suspected al Qaeda and some unspecified members of Musharraf's government who did not want to see her return to power. Despite the clear threat to her life, Bhutto continued to campaign publicly with the kind of mass rallies that are the cornerstone of politicking in Pakistan. "I am not afraid," she told TIME last month, "I am ready to die for my country."

Haqqani, now a professor at Boston University, isn't sure what the latest bloodshed means for his country. "Will the Pakistani military realize that this is going to tear the fabric of the nation apart, and so really get serious about securing the country and about getting serious in dealing with the extremist jihadis?" he wondered. But he made clear he feels the best chance for such a policy has just evaporated. "She did show courage, and she was the only person who spoke out against terrorism," he said. "She was let down by those in Washington who think that sucking up to bad governments around the world is their best policy option."

Within hours of the assasination, protests and riots broke out in Pakistan's main cities. In Rawalpindi, vegetable vendor Naeem, 25, said Bhutto's murder would hurt Pakistan's poorest, who were among Bhutto's most loyal supporters. "People were hoping her government would help the lower classes and now she is gone," he said. Syeda Asmat Begum, 73, who lives in Pakistan's capital Islamabad, told TIME that "everywhere sadness prevails. We are in fear that even our leaders are not safe from the bombardment of suicide bombers and bullets."

That was a view felt around the country. In Lahore, where shops and restaurants closed and the streets emptied of people except for the center of town where Bhutto supporters gathered to vent their anger, Majid Iqbal, 26, an engineering student was trying to hitch a ride home because bus services had stopped. "People are very worried," says Iqbal, who called his family in his home village outside the city as soon as he heard the news. "If a leader of a great party is not secure then how can the Pakistani people be secure? At this time Pakistan's future is fragile."

Speaking on television outside the hospital where Bhutto died, the opposition leader Nawaz Sharif said, "I myself feel threatened... Are things in control now? Had things been in control, would this have happened?" Bhutto's rival said, "We both were struggling for the same cause, and we had signed the charter of democracy." On camera, he addressed Bhutto's supporters, "I assure you that I will fight your war from now." He said, "It is tragic not only for [her party] but also for my party."

Pakistan can ill afford to sacrifice the few moderate leaders it has left. Bhutto's death will plunge the upcoming elections into uncertainty and the country further into instability. At the news of her assassination, many of her loyalists rioted in the streets of Pakistan. There will be many tense days ahead for the Musharraf government as it deals with this political crisis. And that's good news for terrorism. With reporting by Khuda Yar Khan/Islamabad, Simon Robinson/Lahore and Mark Thompson/Washington

Holiday Tipping - Who to Tip & How Much

A little holiday green can spread cheer for the rest of the year. Here’s a guide to tipping the right people the right amount.

By Liz Pulliam Weston

If you've made your holiday list and checked it twice, chances are you've still forgotten some folks: the service providers who are expecting holiday tips.

End-of-the-year gratuities can show these folks that you appreciate the work they do for you and thank them for helping your life run more smoothly. This extra cash may help foster loyalty and, in a few instances, prevent future problems (like a building superintendent who might become sulky).

If you want to get to the meat of whom you tip and how much, skip down a bit. The next section is for those of you still balking at the whole idea. I've learned a lot about holiday tipping since first writing a column about it a couple of years ago, including:

Some of you think I invented it. "Wow, what on earth are you doing??" one outraged reader wrote. "Get real and try to relate to the public, not just your own little rich community. I expect at least $20 to $50 please for giving you a much-needed service -- a wake-up call!!"

So I consulted etiquette expert Peter Post, who assured me that holiday tipping has been around a lot longer than I have and isn't an isolated phenomenon. The amounts and even who is tipped can vary from place to place, but holiday tipping is ingrained in American life.

"It's not a regional custom," said Post, author of "Essential Manners for Couples." "It's everywhere."

Many of you don't like it.

Like several others, one reader -- who called himself "Scrooge," no less -- opined against the whole idea of tipping, at holidays or otherwise.

"Classic one is a bartender expects a $1 tip on $6 bottle of beer," Scrooge wrote. "Why should he get a tip ... he didn't do anything special? He opened a fridge and pulled out a bottle of beer and opened it. Boy, he really worked hard for that one."

Yes, indeed, why shouldn't that bartender work for the pleasure of Scrooge's company? There's a head-scratcher.

But the anti-tipping crowd has good company. Judith Martin, author of "Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, Freshly Updated" agrees that tipping in general is a "silly system" that "grew up haphazardly" so that some workers -- like the bartender, the waiter, the taxi driver -- expect tips while others performing similar functions -- psychoanalyst, airline attendant, bus driver -- get their compensation from their paychecks. She finds it puts too much power in the hands of not-always-fair clients.

That doesn't let you off the hook, though. The system's the system, Martin says; we tip because it's expected: "It would be Scrooge-like, not to mention wrong," she writes, "to deny these workers their expected income merely because one doesn't like the method by which this is provided."

Some of you want in on it.

I fielded a fleet of e-mails from readers who want some holiday generosity spread their way. Many mail carriers take offense at U.S. postal regulations that discourage tips, and one newspaper carrier thought the amount recommended by etiquette experts -- $10 to $30 -- was "an insult … (unless) the customer also tips during the course of the year."

Given that holiday tips are customarily given only to people who provide regular, repeated service, the most puzzling letter came from an appliance-repair person who wanted a customer-supplied bonus. Sir, if you're showing up regularly enough to be tipped, doesn't that say something rather negative about the quality of the service you provide?

But by far the biggest roadblock to holiday tipping is that:

Many of you think you can't afford it.

Post empathizes, and hastens to add that holiday tipping, and gift-giving in general, "isn't about going into debt." If your budget won't stretch, it won't stretch.

But that doesn't release you from your obligation. Post recommends that in situations where a holiday tip would be expected, the financially challenged compose a handwritten thank you note and include with it some kind of seasonal gesture, like a plate of holiday cookies. Superb service might prompt a praise-filled letter to the worker's supervisor.

Personally, I think there may be more room in people's budgets than they think. The average American consumer is expected to spend $90 on gifts for him- or herself this season, according to the National Retail Federation. A little self-restraint could help you express your appreciation for at least some of the people who help you during the year.

Who shouldn't expect a tip

Now that the debate portion of this column is finished, we can run through the shortlist of people you don't tip.

You'll be relieved to know that there are people who aren't expecting cash from you. That doesn't mean you can ignore them, though; it just means your gift shouldn't be green. These people include:

• Teachers: Professionals in general shouldn't be tipped, and teachers typically include themselves in this category. Ask what classroom supplies they need, and supply them. Gifts of food or a well-deserved day at the spa (perhaps purchased jointly with other parents) can be thoughtful, as well.
• Friends: Whatever the service they provided for you, a gift is a more appropriate thank-you than a check.
• U.S. Postal Service employees: The Postal Service discourages tips, but your mail carrier is allowed to accept gifts worth less than $20.
• Anyone who would be insulted: You'll have to feel your way on this one a bit, since some of the people you traditionally didn't tip -- a beauty salon owner, for example -- now often have no problem accepting your money.
  

  If you offer the cash and it's returned to you promptly, you'll know you've found one of these elusive folks.

  The ground rules for tipping

  How much you give, Emily Post and other etiquette authorities tell us, can depend on a number of factors, such as:
  
  • The quality of the service
  • The frequency of the service
  • How long you've used the service
  • Regional custom, and of course
  • Your budget

  Use your own judgment, but be guided by the spirit of generosity. The better you take care of the people who care for you, the better off everybody will be.

  Now that we've got that settled, let's move on to who, and how much.

  The "who's" break down into four basic categories:

  People who provide you service regularly but briefly

  These folks typically get $10 to $30. The list here can include:
• Newspaper deliverers
• Parking or garage attendants
• Trash collectors
• Any regular delivery person (for food, laundry, overnight packages, whatever)
  

  Several readers asked how they should handle holiday tipping when they get regular service from a company, but people actually providing the service change constantly. Post handles this by simply tipping whoever happens to show up on the day he's handing out the cash, and hoping that others do the same so that the holiday generosity gets spread around.

  People you see less often but for longer periods

  These are usually the ones who are working hard to tend you and yours. The holiday tip normally equals the cost of one visit, although you can reduce that to $20 or so if your patronage is sporadic.
  
• Hairdresser or barber
• Manicurist
• Facialist
• Personal trainer
• Massage therapist
• Regular after-hours baby-sitter (not your nanny or day care worker)
• House cleaner (unless he or she is full time, then see below)
• The lawn-care crew
• Pool cleaner
• Pet groomer
  

  If you use a day-care center, ask the director about appropriate tips for the child's primary caregiver. The accepted amounts can range from $10 to $70, plus a small gift from the child.

  Your employees

  Anyone you employ more than a couple of days a week gets a bigger check, typically at least equal to one week's pay. Exceptional or long service might boost the amount to two weeks' pay or more. A small gift is often appropriate as well. This list includes:
  
  
  • Nannies
  • Full-time housekeepers
  • Home-care attendants
  • Caretakers

  If you're not planning to tip your full-time employees, you need to ask yourself why. If you're genuinely not happy with their services, you should have long ago detailed your concerns and given them a chance to improve. Otherwise, withholding a holiday tip is sandbagging. You wouldn't like it if your boss surprised you with a negative evaluation out of the blue, so don't do it to others.

  People who can be strategically tipped

  All tips can have an element of strategy in them, but these gratuities can make a real difference in the quality of your life. Here the range varies enormously:
  
• Building superintendent: Ask around your building. The going rate can vary from as little as $20 to $200 or more.
• Doorman: Ditto. Usually the range is $10 to $100.
• The bartender, wait staff or maitre d' at a place you frequent regularly: Try $20 to $50 and see if your typical table location doesn't improve.

Talk back: Are you tipping this holiday? How much?