Monday, December 31, 2007

John McCain New TV Ad "Respect" VIDEO


From John McCain 2008 - For Immediate Release December 30, 2007. TV Ad: "Respect"

Transcript: Anncr: John McCain reacts to Mitt Romney's negative attacks.

JSM: You know, I find it ironic Mitt Romney would attack me on the issue of immigration. This is the same Mitt Romney who called my plan, quote, "Reasonable". Before I can win your vote, I know I have to win your respect. And to do that, you know I'll always be straight with you And on this issue I've learned that we've got to restore government and secure our borders.

JSM: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

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Fred Thompson New TV Ad "Substance" VIDEO


From Fred '08 - Friends of Fred Thompson - Thompson Launches Closing TV Ad in Iowa, "Substance"

McLean, VA -Senator Fred Thompson today launched a new 30-second television ad, titled "Substance," which will begin airing today in Iowa. Below is the Transcript for the new ad. Substance (30 seconds)

Fred Thompson : I'm Fred Thompson and I approve this message.

Announcer : The Wall Street Journal says Fred Thompson's tax cut plan "leads the GOP field."

A leading economic group calls it a plan "conservatives can rally around."

The conservative National Review says only Thompson has outlined "specific, conservative policies" on immigration.

Investor's Daily says Thompson's national security plan features a "Reaganesque rebuilding of our military."

And the National Right to Life Committee endorsed him because they know he can win.

Fred Thompson. The clear conservative choice.

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Mitt Romney New Television Ad, "Everywhere" VIDEO

From Romney For President - Boston, MA – Today, Romney for President launched its newest television ad, "Everywhere." The ad features Governor Romney talking with the American people about the challenges confronting our country and the need to change Washington. With an exceptional record of turning around businesses and institutions, Governor Romney is the one candidate prepared to meet today's challenges. Together, he believes we can grow the economy, stop illegal immigration, defend life and preserve our traditional values.

With his experience, vision and values, Governor Romney will make Washington work again and build a brighter future for America.

The ad will begin airing today as part of the campaign's rotation in Iowa. Transcript below.

Transcript For "Everywhere" (TV:30):

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "Everywhere my family and I go we hear that America's challenges are simply too big for Washington politicians.

"I've spent my life tackling big problems – helping turn around business, the Olympics, and state government.

"Together we can grow our economy, stop illegal immigration, defend life and preserve the values that make America the hope of the earth.

"It's time to turn around Washington.

"I'm Mitt Romney, and I approve this message."

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Ron Paul New TV Ad " Immigration" VIDEO


From: Ron Paul 2008 - ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – Republican presidential candidate and Texas Congressman Ron Paul has released a new television advertisement on the topic of immigration that will run in Iowa and New Hampshire.

“This advertisement makes it clear that as president Dr. Paul would oppose amnesty, secure the border, end birthright citizenship, end welfare to illegal aliens, and restore the rule of law,” said Ron Paul 2008 campaign chairman Kent Snyder.

The following is a transcript of the 30-second advertisement:

Narrator: For generations, Lady Liberty welcomed immigrants that came here legally, followed the rules and led productive lives. Today, illegal immigrants violate our borders and overwhelm our hospitals, schools and social services.

Ron Paul wants border security NOW:
Physically secure the border.
No amnesty.
No welfare to illegal aliens.
End birthright citizenship.
No more student visas from terrorist nations.

Standing up for the rule of law… Ron Paul for President.

Congressman Paul: I’m Ron Paul and I approve this message. ###

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Sunday, December 30, 2007

Subliminal messages can influence us in surprising ways

The New Unconscious (Social Cognition and Social Neuroscience)Exposure to national flag brings political moderation!

Jerusalem, Dec. 27, 2007 – Flag waving is a metaphor for stirring up the public towards adopting a more nationalistic, generally hard-line stance. Indeed, “rally ‘round the flag” is a venerable expression of this phenomenon.
It comes as some surprise, then, that studies conducted by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have shown that exposing people to a subliminal image of the national flag had just the opposite fact -- moderating their political attitudes.

Further, the researchers say that their studies indicate that, in general, subliminal messages -- that is, messages that are processed by our brains but never reach our consciousness – do indeed influence explicit attitudes and real-life political behavior, a significant extension to what we know about the effects of non-conscious processes.

The studies, led by cognitive scientist Dr. Ran Hassin of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Psychology Department, show that the subliminal presentation of a national symbol affects not only political attitudes, but also voting intentions and actual voting in general elections.

In an article in the U.S. journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a team led by Hassin reported on a set of experiments that examined the effects of the subliminal presentation of the national flag. The experiments involved over 300 participants who were recruited on the Mount Scopus campus of the Hebrew University.

In the first experiment, the Israeli participants, divided into two groups at random, were asked about their attitudes towards core issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Prior to answering these questions, half of them were exposed to subliminal images of the Israeli flag projected on a monitor and half of them were not. The results show that the former group tended to shift to the political center.

In other words, a brief presentation of the Israeli flag – so brief, that people didn't even notice it – was sufficient to make people adopt more moderate views. Another experiment, that was conducted in the weeks that preceded the Israeli pullout from Gaza, replicated these results and reflected centrist views in relation to the withdrawal and Jewish settlers in the West Bank and Gaza.
The third experiment was held just prior to Israel's last general elections. The results were identical. The subliminal presentation of Israel's flag drew right wing, as well as left wing, Israelis towards the political center. Crucially, participants who were subliminally exposed to the flag said they intended to vote for more central parties than those who had not been exposed to the subliminal message. The researchers then called the participants after the elections, and found out that people who were exposed to the flag indeed voted in a more moderate way.
Why this exposure to a national symbol should have what appears to be a surprising moderating effect remains yet to be studied and analyzed.

"I think these results are interesting for two reasons," says Hassin. "First, they provide sound empirical evidence for the non-conscious ways in which national ideologies subtly affect our thoughts and behaviors. We are now extending this research to examine what other ideologies can do so and in what ways this is expressed. "

"Secondly," he continued, "these results significantly extend the empirical knowledge regarding the nature and influences of unconscious processes. We are now investigating the mental mechanisms that underlie this phenomenon, and I am confident that this journey will yield new insights to our understanding of the cognitive unconscious – and hence, of consciousness itself." ###

Contact: Jerry Barach jerryb@savion.huji.ac.il 972-258-82904 The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

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Saturday, December 29, 2007

Freedom Calendar 12/29/07 - 01/05/08

December 29, 1930, Death of Walter Cohen, African-American Republican from New Orleans; served in McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and Coolidge administrations.

December 30, 1842, Birth of Republican U.S. Rep. Josiah Walls, who in 1871 became Florida’s first African-American in Congress.

December 31, 1898, Republican Theodore Roosevelt becomes Governor of New York; in 1900, he outlawed racial segregation in New York public schools.

January 1, 1863, Emancipation Proclamation, implementing the Republicans’ Confiscation Act of 1862, takes effect.

January 2, 1895, Republicans Clara Cressingham, Carrie C. Holly, and Frances S. Klock of Colorado are sworn in as first women to serve in a state legislature in U.S. history.

January 3, 1933, Republican Minnie Davenport Craig (R-ND) elected as first woman to be Speaker of the House in a state legislature.

January 4, 1995, Speaker Newt Gingrich appoints Republican Cheryl Lau first Asian-American woman to serve as General Counsel of U.S. House; Republican Robin Carle becomes first woman elected Clerk of U.S. House.

January 5, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt nominates African-American physician William D. Crum as Collector of Customs, over racist objections from Senate Democrats.

"I joined for different reasons. I found a party that sees me as an individual, not as part of a group. I found a party that puts family first. I found a party that has love of liberty at its core. And I found a party that believes that peace begins with strength.”

“It’s that expression of the individual and a willingness to put the educational opportunities before me that led to who I am. Who you are is who you are as an individual.”


Condoleezza Rice Secretary of State

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Presidential Podcast 12/29/07

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Presidential Podcast 12/29/07 en Español. Subscribe to the Republican National Convention Blog Podcast Subscribe to Our Podcast feed or online Click here to Subscribe to Our Republican National Convention Blog Podcast Channel with Podnova podnova Podcast Channel and receive the weekly Presidential Radio Address in English and Spanish with select State Department Briefings. Featuring full audio and text transcripts, More content Sources added often so stay tuned. In Focus: Economy

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Bush radio address 12/29/07 full audio, text transcript

President George W. Bush calls troops from his ranch in Crawford, Texas, Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2005. White House photo by Eric Draper.bush radio address 12/29/07 full audio, text transcript. President's Radio Address en Español. In Focus: Economy
Subscribe to the Republican National Convention Blog Podcast Subscribe to Our Podcast feed or online Click here to Subscribe to Republican National Convention Blog's PODCAST with podnova podnova Podcast Channel and receive the weekly Presidential Radio Address in English and Spanish with select State Department Briefings. Featuring real audio and full text transcripts, More content Sources added often so stay tuned.

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. New Year's Day will soon be upon us, and with it will come New Year's resolutions. This weekend is a good time to give thanks for our blessings -- and to resolve to do better in the coming year.

One of our greatest blessings as Americans is that we live in a country with a growing economy -- where people can pursue their dreams, turn ideas into enterprises, and provide for their families. It is a measure of our economy's resilience that even with high oil prices and softness in the housing market, we're still growing. In November, our economy added jobs for the 51st straight month, making this the longest period of uninterrupted job growth on record. Unemployment is a low 4.7 percent. Exports are up. And the fundamentals of our economy are strong.

Economic statistics are important indicators. Yet it is more important to remember that behind all these numbers are real people. These people include the entrepreneurs who live their dreams by starting up new businesses. These people include small business owners who create most of the new jobs in our economy. And most of all, these people include the tens of millions of working moms and dads whose jobs provide for their families.

I know that even in this growing economy some of you have real concerns. Some of you worry about your ability to afford healthcare coverage for your families. Some of you are concerned about meeting your monthly mortgage payments. Some of you worry about the impact of rising energy costs on fueling your cars and heating your homes. You expect your elected leaders in Washington to address these pressures on our economy and give you more options to help you deal with them. And I have put forth several proposals to do so.

In the last month, Congress has responded to some of my initiatives. They passed a good energy bill, they passed a temporary patch to protect middle class families from the burden of the Alternative Minimum Tax, and they passed a law that will help protect families from higher taxes when their lenders reduce their mortgage debt. But this is only a start. Congress needs to do more to decrease America's dependence on oil. Congress needs to pass legislation that will help make health care coverage more affordable for small businesses and workers who buy their own policies. And Congress needs to act quickly on the rest of my proposals to help families struggling with rising mortgage payments keep their homes.

Most of all, we need to set a good example in Washington by being careful with your money. I'm disappointed that leaders in Congress sent me a massive spending bill that includes about 9,800 earmarks. Earmarks are special interest items that are slipped into big spending bills like this one -- often at the last hour, without discussion or debate. Among the earmarks Congress approved was one for a prison museum and another for a sailing school. In the last election, congressional leaders ran on a promise that they would reform earmarks. They made some progress, but not nearly enough. So my Administration is reviewing options to address wasteful earmark spending.

As we address earmarks, we also must restrain spending, keep taxes low, and continue on a path towards a balanced budget. And that is what the budget I submit in February will do. You work hard for your money and to live within your means. As you provide for your families, the last thing you need is wasteful spending that will lead to a tax hike. My resolution for the New Year is this: to work with Congress to keep our economy growing, to keep your tax burden low, and to ensure that the money you send to Washington is spent wisely -- or not at all.

Thank you for listening, and Happy New Year.

END For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary December 29, 2007

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Discurso Radial del Presidente a la Nación 12/29/07

Presidente George W. Bush llama a tropas de su rancho en Crawford, Tejas, día de Thanksgiving, jueves, de noviembre el 24 de 2005.  Foto blanca de la casa de Eric Draper.forre el audio de la dirección de radio 12/29/07 por completo, transcripción del texto. (nota de los redactores: ninguna lengua española mp3 lanzó esta semana, apesadumbrada) PODCAST
Chascar aquí para suscribir a nuestro canal republicano de Blog Podcast de la convención nacional con Odeo Suscribir a nuestro canal de Podcast de Odeo o del podnova Chascar aquí para suscribir a nuestro canal republicano de Blog Podcast de la convención nacional con Podnova y recibir la dirección de radio presidencial semanal en inglés y español con informes selectos del departamento del estado. Ofreciendo transcripciones audio y con texto completo verdaderas, más fuentes contentas agregaron a menudo así que la estancia templó.

Buenos Días.

El Día del Año Nuevo ya se acerca y con él vendrán resoluciones para el Nuevo Año. Este fin de semana es un buen momento para dar gracias por nuestras bendiciones – y para resolver hacer mejor en el año venidero.

Una de nuestras mayores bendiciones como estadounidenses es que vivimos en un país con una economía creciente – donde las personas pueden perseguir sus sueños, convertir ideas en empresas, y mantener a sus familias. Es una medida de la resistencia de nuestra economía que aún con precios de petróleo elevados y una debilidad en el mercado de la vivienda, seguimos creciendo. En Noviembre nuestra economía había añadido empleos por 51 meses consecutivos –el período más largo de crecimiento de empleos sin interrupción jamás registrado. El desempleo está bajo en 4.7 por ciento. Las exportaciones han aumentado. Y lo básico de nuestra economía está fuerte.

Las estadísticas económicas son indicadores importantes. Sin embargo es más importante recordar que detrás de todos esos números están personas verdaderas. Estas personas incluyen los empresarios que viven sus sueños al comenzar nuevos negocios. Estas personas incluyen dueños de pequeños negocios que crean la mayoría de los nuevos empleos en nuestra economía. Más que nada, estas personas incluyen las decenas de millones de mamás y papás que trabajan y cuyos empleos mantienen a sus familias.

Yo sé que aún en esta economía creciente algunos de ustedes tienen verdaderas preocupaciones. Algunos de ustedes están preocupados por su capacidad de pagar por cobertura de salud para sus familias. A algunos de ustedes les preocupa cumplir con sus pagos hipotecarios mensuales. Algunos se preocupan por el impacto de costos de energía crecientes sobre el poder pagar combustible para sus vehículos y para calentar sus hogares. Ustedes esperan que sus líderes electos en Washington enfrenten estas presiones sobre nuestra economía – y les den a ustedes más opciones para ayudar a lidiar con ellas. Y yo he presentado varias propuestas para hacerlo.

En el último mes el Congreso ha respondido a algunas de mis iniciativas. Aprobaron un buen proyecto de ley energético… aprobaron un parche provisional para proteger a las familias de la clase media de la carga del Impuesto Mínimo Alternativo… y aprobaron una ley que ayudará a proteger a familias contra impuestos más elevados cuando sus prestamistas reduzcan su deuda hipotecaria. Pero esto sólo es un comienzo. El Congreso necesita aprobar legislación que ayude a hacer más asequible la cobertura de atención de salud para los pequeños negocios y trabajadores que compran sus propias pólizas. Y el Congreso necesita actuar más de prisa sobre el resto de mis propuestas para ayudar a familias que están luchando con pagos hipotecarios crecientes a quedarse con sus hogares.

Más que nada, necesitamos poner un buen ejemplo en Washington tomando cuidado con su dinero. Estoy decepcionado que los líderes en el Congreso me enviaron un proyecto de ley masivo para gastos que incluye unos 9,800 fondos designados. Los fondos designados son partidas de interés especial que son incluidas en grandes proyectos de ley de gastos como éste – muchas veces a última hora, sin discusión ni debate. Entre los fondos designados que el Congreso aprobó está uno para un museo de prisiones y otro para una escuela de vela. En la última elección, los líderes del Congreso hicieron campaña en base a una promesa de que reformarían los fondos designados. Han logrado un cierto progreso, pero lejos de lo suficiente. De modo que mi Administración está revisando opciones para tratar con gastos de fondos designados que son poco económicos.

Al enfocar los fondos designados también debemos restringir los gastos, mantener impuestos bajos y continuar sobre un camino hacia un presupuesto equilibrado. Y eso es lo que hará el presupuesto que yo someta en Febrero. Ustedes trabajan duro por su dinero, y para vivir dentro de sus posibilidades. Al mantener a sus familias, lo que menos necesitan son gastos poco económicos que conduzcan a un aumento en los impuestos. Y mi resolución para el Año Nuevo es esto: trabajar con el Congreso para mantener creciendo a nuestra economía… mantener baja su carga en impuestos…y asegurar que el dinero que usted envíe a Washington se gaste sabiamente – o no se gaste en absoluto.

Gracias por escuchar.

Para su publicación inmediata Oficina del Secretario de Prensa 29 de diciembre de 2007

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Friday, December 28, 2007

Rudy Giuliani television ad, “Freedom.” VIDEO


From: JoinRudy2008 The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee today announced the launch of a new television ad, entitled “Freedom.” The ad will begin airing nationally on FOX News and in Florida and New Hampshire on Friday.

Transcript for “Freedom”:

MAYOR GIULIANI: “Right before September 11 and months before I had read this book about the greatest generation written by Tom Brokaw.

And the book explains how brave, and how persistent, and how courageous the people were in the generation that won the second world war.

And during the day of September 11 living through the things that I saw and observed.

Immediately, when I saw people helping each other.

I saw the picture of the firefighters putting the flag up at ground zero.

I said these are the children or grandchildren or great-grandchildren of the greatest generation.

They have the same resolve. The same understanding.

When you challenge Americans, there’s no country that stands up stronger and better than the United States of America.

When you try and take something away from us like freedom, my goodness, Americans are going to be one in resisting you.

So, the Islamic terrorists would make a terrible mistake if they confuse our democracy for weakness.

Our democracy means we disagree with each other, but when you come and try and take away from us our freedom.

When you try and come here and kill our people.

We’re one and we’re going to stand up to you and we’re going to prevail.

I’m Rudy Giuliani and I approved this message.”

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Ron Paul New TV Ad: ‘Defender of Freedom’ VIDEO


From: Ron Paul 2008 30-second spot highlights Congressman Paul’s unmatched conservative credentials

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – Republican presidential candidate and Texas Congressman Ron Paul has released a new television ad – titled “Defender of Freedom” – that will run in Iowa and New Hampshire.

"Congressman Paul has an unmatched record of defending the rights of Americans," said Ron Paul 2008 campaign chairman Kent Snyder. "This advertisement is about bringing Dr. Paul’s message of freedom, peace and prosperity to potential voters. The more people know about Dr. Paul, the more support he gains."

The following is a transcript of the 30 second advertisement:

Narrator: "He defends our freedom, and his record shows it… Ron Paul.

"Answering our country’s call, Ron Paul became a flight surgeon in the Air Force.

"As a doctor, Ron Paul delivered over 4,000 babies and is a leading defender of life.

"In Congress, Ron Paul never voted to raise taxes, never voted for an unbalanced budget, never voted to restrict gun rights or raise congressional pay.

"Protecting our God-given freedom… Ron Paul for President."

Congressman Paul: "I'm Ron Paul and I approve this message." ###

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Mitt Romney New Television Ad, "Ready" VIDEO

From Romney For President Boston, MA – Today, Romney for President launched its newest television ad, "Ready." The ad highlights the very important choice voters will have to make when it comes to electing a candidate ready to make tough decisions. In Arkansas, Governor Mike Huckabee increased state spending, backed in-state tuition benefits for illegal immigrants and granted over 1,000 pardons and commutations. Governor Huckabee's attacks on the Bush administration's foreign policy has been called "ludicrous." In Massachusetts, Governor Romney took a different course. He held spending down and granted zero pardons. There is a clear difference in leadership.

The ad will begin airing today as part of the campaign's rotation in Iowa. Transcript below.

Trancript For "Ready" (TV:30):

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "I'm Mitt Romney and I approved this message."

ANNOUNCER: "Two good men.

"But who is ready to make tough decisions?

"Mike Huckabee? Soft on government spending. He grew a $6 billion government into a $16 billion government.

"Backed in-state tuition benefits for illegals, and granted 1,033 pardons and commutations, including 12 murderers.

"His foreign policy? 'Ludicrous,' says Condoleezza Rice.

"Mitt Romney held spending down below inflation. Cut taxes. Zero pardons.

"The difference? Strong leadership."

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Mitt Romney New Television Ad, "Future" VIDEO


From Romney For President Boston, MA – Today, Romney for President launched its newest television ad, "Future." The ad highlights the choice Republicans will have to make when it comes to strengthening our country. Senator McCain opposed strengthening our economy through lower taxes. He has pushed legislation allowing every illegal immigrant to stay in the United States. Governor Romney took a different course. He cut taxes and spending in Massachusetts. He has consistently opposed amnesty for illegal immigrants. On election day, Republicans will have a choice between two very different records and visions for our future.

The ad will begin airing today as part of the campaign's rotation in New Hampshire. Transcript below.

Transcript For "Future" (TV:30):

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY: "I'm Mitt Romney and I approved this message."

ANNOUNCER: "John McCain, an honorable man. But is he the right Republican for the future?

"McCain opposes repeal of the death tax, and voted against the Bush tax cuts twice.

"McCain pushed to let every illegal immigrant stay here permanently.

"Even voted to allow illegals to collect Social Security.

"And Mitt Romney? Mitt Romney cut taxes and spending as Governor.

"He opposes amnesty for illegals.

"Mitt Romney. John McCain. There is a difference."

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Thursday, December 27, 2007

Benazir Bhutto Biography

Benazir BhuttoBenazir Bhutto (IPA: [beːnɜziːr bʰʊʈʈoː]; 21 June 1953 - 27 December 2007) was a Pakistan politician. Bhutto was the first woman elected to lead a Muslim state, having been twice elected Prime Minister of Pakistan. She was sworn in for the first time in 1988 but removed from office 20 months later under orders of then-president Ghulam Ishaq Khan on grounds of alleged corruption. In 1993 Bhutto was re-elected but was again removed in 1996 on similar charges, this time by President Farooq Leghari.

Bhutto went into self-imposed exile in Dubai in 1998, where she remained until she returned to Pakistan on October 18, 2007, after reaching an understanding with General Musharraf by which she was granted amnesty and all corruption charges were withdrawn.[1]
She was the eldest child of former premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, a Pakistani of Sindhi descent, and Begum Nusrat Bhutto, a Pakistani of Iranian-Kurdish descent. Her paternal grandfather was Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto who came to Larkana Sindh before partition from his native town of Bhatto Kalan which was situated in the Indian state of Haryana.

She was assassinated on December 27, 2007, in a combined suicide bomb attack and shooting during a political rally of the Pakistan Peoples Party in the town of Rawalpindi.[2] Ex-government spokesman Tariq Azim Khan said that, although it appeared that she had been shot, it was unclear whether her wounds had been caused by a shooting or shrapnel from the bomb.[3]

Education and personal life
Last images of Benazir Bhutto killed in blastBenazir Bhutto was born in Karachi, Dominion of Pakistan on June 21, 1953. She attended the Lady Jennings Nursery School and then the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Karachi.[4] After two years of schooling at the Rawalpindi Presentation Convent, she was sent to the Jesus and Mary Convent at Murree. She passed her O-level examination at the age of 15.[5] She then went on to complete her A-Levels at the Karachi Grammar School.
After completing her early education in Pakistan, she pursued her higher education in the United States. From 1969 to 1973 she attended Radcliffe College, and then Harvard University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in comparative government.[6] She was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa.[5]

The next phase of her education took place in the United Kingdom. Between 1973 and 1977 Bhutto studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She completed a course in International Law and Diplomacy while at Oxford.[7] In December 1976 she was elected president of the Oxford Union, becoming the first Asian woman to head the prestigious debating society.[5]

On 18 December 1987 she married Asif Ali Zardari in Karachi. The couple had three children: Bilawal, Bakhtwar, and Aseefa.

Family
Last images of Benazir Bhutto before assassinated CNNBenazir Bhutto's father, former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was dismissed as Prime Minister in 1975, on charges similar to those Benazir Bhutto would later face. Later, in a 1977 trial on charges of conspiracy to murder the father of dissident politician Ahmed Raza Kasuri, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was sentenced to death.
Despite the accusation being "widely doubted by the public",[8] and despite many clemency appeals from foreign leaders, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged on 4 April 1979. Appeals for clemency were dismissed by acting President General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Benazir Bhutto and her mother were held in a "police camp" until the end of May, after the execution.[9]

In 1980, Benazir Bhutto's brother Shahnawaz was killed under suspicious circumstances, in France. The killing of another of her brothers, Mir Murtaza, in 1996, contributed to destabilizing her second term as Prime Minister.

Prime Minister

Bhutto, who had returned to Pakistan after completing her studies, found herself placed under house arrest in the wake of her father's imprisonment and subsequent execution. Having been allowed in 1984 to return to the United Kingdom, she became a leader in exile of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), her father's party, though she was unable to make her political presence felt in Pakistan until after the death of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. She had succeeded her mother as leader of the Pakistan People's Party and the pro-democracy opposition to the Zia-ul-Haq regime.

On 16 November 1988, in the first open election in more than a decade, Bhutto's PPP won the largest bloc of seats in the National Assembly. Bhutto was sworn in as Prime Minister of a coalition government on 2 December, becoming at age 35 the youngest person — and the first woman — to head the government of a Muslim-majority state in modern times. That same year, People Magazine included Ms. Bhutto in its list of The Fifty Most Beautiful People. In 1989, she was awarded the Prize For Freedom by the Liberal International.

Bhutto's government was dismissed in 1990 following charges of corruption, for which she never was tried. Zia's protégé Nawaz Sharif subsequently came to power. Bhutto was re-elected in 1993 but was dismissed three years later amid various corruption scandals by then president Farooq Leghari, who used the Eighth Amendment discretionary powers to dissolve the government. The Supreme Court affirmed President Leghari's dismissal in a 6-1 ruling.[10] In 2006, Interpol issued a request for arrest of Bhutto and he husband.[11]

The criticism against Bhutto came largely from the Punjabi elites and powerful landlord families who opposed Bhutto as she pushed Pakistan into nationalist reform, opposing feudals, whom she blamed for the destabilization of Pakistan.

Musharraf's disqualification

On 17 September 2007 Benazir Bhutto accused Pervez Musharraf's allies of pushing Pakistan into crisis by their refusal to permit democratic reforms and power-sharing. A nine-member panel of Supreme Court judges deliberated on six petitions (including one from Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan's largest Islamic group) asserting that Musharraf be disqualified from contending for the presidency of Pakistan. Bhutto stated that her party could join one of the opposition groups, potentially that of Nawaz Sharif. Attorney-general Malik Mohammed Qayyum stated that, pendente lite, the Election Commission was "reluctant" to announce the schedule for the presidential vote. Bhutto's party's Farhatullah Babar stated that the Constitution could bar Musharraf from being elected again because he was already chief of the army: "As Gen. Musharraf was disqualified from contesting for President, he has prevailed upon the Election Commission to arbitrarily and illegally tamper with the Constitution of Pakistan."[12]

Policies for women

During election campaigns the Bhutto government voiced its concern for women's social and health issues, including the issue of discrimination against women. Bhutto announced plans to establish women's police stations, courts, and women's development banks. Despite these promises, Bhutto did not propose any legislation to improve welfare services for women. During her election campaigns, Bhutto promised to repeal controversial laws (such as Hudood and Zina ordinances) that curtail the rights of women in Pakistan. Her party never did fulfil these promises during her tenures as Prime Minister, due to immense pressure from the opposition.

Only after her stints as Prime Minister did her party initiate legislation to repeal the Zina ordinance, during General Musharraf's regime. These efforts were defeated by the right-wing religious parties that dominated the legislatures at the time.

Policy on Taliban

The Taliban took power in Kabul in September 1996. It was during Bhutto's rule that the Taliban gained prominence in Afghanistan. She viewed the Taliban as a group that could stabilize Afghanistan and enable trade access to the Central Asian republics, according to author Stephen Coll.[13] He claims that her government provided military and financial support for the Taliban, even sending a small unit of the Pakistani army into Afghanistan.

More recently, she took an anti-Taliban stance, and condemned terrorist acts committed by the Taliban and their supporters.

Exile

After being dismissed by the then-president of Pakistan on charges of corruption her party lost the October elections. She served as leader of the opposition while Nawaz Sharif became Prime Minister for the next three years. Elections were held again in October 1993 and her PPP coalition was victorious, returning Bhutto to office. In 1996 her government was once again dismissed on corruption charges.

Charges of corruption

French, Polish, Spanish and Swiss documents have fueled the charges of corruption against Bhutto and her husband. Bhutto and her husband faced a number of legal proceedings, including a charge of laundering money through Swiss banks. Her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, spent eight years in prison on similar corruption charges. Zardari, released from jail in 2004, has suggested that his time in prison involved torture; human rights groups have supported his claim that his rights were violated.[14]

A 1998 New York Times investigative report[15] indicates that Pakistani investigators have documents that uncover a network of bank accounts, all linked to the family's lawyer in Switzerland, with Asif Zardari as the principal shareholder. According to the article, documents released by the French authorities indicated that Zardari offered exclusive rights to Dassault, a French aircraft manufacturer, to replace the air force's fighter jets in exchange for a 5% commission to be paid to a Swiss corporation controlled by Zardari. The article also said a Dubai company received an exclusive license to import gold into Pakistan for which Asif Zardari received payments of more than $10M into his Dubai-based Citibank accounts. The owner of the company denied that he had made payments to Zardari and claims the documents were forged.

Bhutto maintained that the charges leveled against her and her husband were purely political.[16][17] "Most of those documents are fabricated," she said, "and the stories that have been spun around them are absolutely wrong." An Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) report supports Bhutto's claim. It presents information suggesting that Benazir Bhutto was ousted from power in 1990 as a result of a witch hunt approved by then-president Ghulam Ishaq Khan. The AGP report says Khan illegally paid legal advisers 28 million Rupees to file 19 corruption cases against Bhutto and her husband in 1990-92.[18]

The assets held by Bhutto and her husband have been scrutinized. The prosecutors have alleged that their Swiss bank accounts contain £740 million.[19] Zardari also bought a neo-Tudor mansion and estate worth over £4 million in Surrey, England, UK.[20][21] The Pakistani investigations have tied other overseas properties to Zardari's family. These include a $2.5 million manor in Normandy owned by Zardari's parents, who had modest assets at the time of his marriage.[15] Bhutto denied holding substantive overseas assets.

Bhutto and her husband until recently continued to face wide-ranging charges of official corruption in connection with hundreds of millions of dollars of "commissions" on government contracts and tenders. But because of a power-sharing deal brokered in October 2007 between Bhutto and Musharraf, she and her husband had been granted amnesty.[19] If it stands, this development could trigger a number of Swiss banks to 'unlock' accounts that were frozen in the late 1990s.[15][19] The executive order could in principle be challenged by the judiciary, although the judiciary's future was uncertain due to the same recent developments.

Switzerland

On 23 July 1998, the Swiss Government handed over documents to the government of Pakistan which relate to corruption allegations against Benazir Bhutto and her husband.[22] The documents included a formal charge of money laundering by Swiss authorities against Zardari. The Pakistani government had been conducting a wide-ranging inquiry to account for more than $13.7 million frozen by Swiss authorities in 1997 that was allegedly stashed in banks by Bhutto and her husband. The Pakistani government recently filed criminal charges against Bhutto in an effort to track down an estimated $1.5 billion she and her husband are alleged to have received in a variety of criminal enterprises.[23] The documents suggest that the money Zardari was alleged to have laundered was accessible to Benazir Bhutto and had been used to buy a diamond necklace for over $175,000.[24]

The PPP has responded by flatly denying the charges, suggesting that Swiss authorities have been misled by false evidence provided by Islamabad.

On 6 August 2003, Swiss magistrates found Bhutto and her husband guilty of money laundering.[25] They were given six-month suspended jail terms, fined $50,000 each and were ordered to pay $11 million to the Pakistani government. The six-year trial concluded that Bhutto and Zardari deposited in Swiss accounts $10 million given to them by a Swiss company in exchange for a contract in Pakistan. The couple said they would appeal. The Pakistani investigators say Zardari opened a Citibank account in Geneva in 1995 through which they say he passed some $40 million of the $100 million he received in payoffs from foreign companies doing business in Pakistan.[26]

In October 2007, Daniel Zappelli, chief prosecutor of the canton of Geneva, said he received the conclusions of a money laundering investigation against former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on Monday, but it was unclear whether there would be any further legal action against her in Switzerland. [27]

Poland

The Polish Government has given Pakistan 500 pages of documentation relating to corruption allegations against Benazir Bhutto and her husband. These charges are in regard to the purchase of 8,000 tractors in a 1997 deal.[28][29] According to Pakistani officials, the Polish papers contain details of illegal commissions paid by the tractor company in return for agreeing to their contract.[30] It was alleged that the arrangement "skimmed" Rs 103 mn rupees ($2 million) in kickbacks.[31] "The documentary evidence received from Poland confirms the scheme of kickbacks laid out by Asif Zardari and Benazir Bhutto in the name of (the) launching of Awami tractor scheme," APP said. Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari allegedly received a 7.15 percent commission on the purchase through their front men, Jens Schlegelmilch and Didier Plantin of Dargal S.A., who received about $1.969 million for supplying 5,900 Ursus Tractors.[32]

France

Potentially the most lucrative deal alleged in the documents involved the effort by Dassault Aviation, a French military contractor. French authorities indicated in 1998 that Bhutto's husband, Zardari, offered exclusive rights to Dassault to replace the air force’s fighter jets in exchange for a five percent commission to be paid to a corporation in Switzerland controlled by Zardari.[33]

At the time, French corruption laws forbade bribery of French officials but permitted payoffs to foreign officials, and even made the payoffs tax-deductible in France. However, France changed this law in 2000. [34]

Western Asia

In the largest single payment investigators have discovered, a gold bullion dealer in the Western Asia was alleged to have deposited at least $10 million into one of Zardari's accounts after the Bhutto government gave him a monopoly on gold imports that sustained Pakistan's jewellery industry. The money was allegedly deposited into Zardari's Citibank account in Dubai.

Pakistan's Arabian Sea coast, stretching from Karachi to the border with Iran, has long been a gold smugglers' haven. Until the beginning of Bhutto's second term, the trade, running into hundreds of millions of dollars a year, was unregulated, with slivers of gold called biscuits, and larger weights in bullion, carried on planes and boats that travel between the Persian Gulf and the largely unguarded Pakistani coast.

Shortly after Bhutto returned as prime minister in 1993, a Pakistani bullion trader in Dubai, Abdul Razzak Yaqub, proposed a deal: in return for the exclusive right to import gold, Razzak would help the government regularize the trade. In November 1994, Pakistan's Commerce Ministry wrote to Razzak informing him that he had been granted a license that made him, for at least the next two years, Pakistan's sole authorized gold importer. In an interview in his office in Dubai, Razzak acknowledged that he had used the license to import more than $500 million in gold into Pakistan, and that he had travelled to Islamabad several times to meet with Bhutto and Zardari. But he denied that there had been any corruption or secret deals. "I have not paid a single cent to Zardari," he said.

Razzak claims that someone in Pakistan who wished to destroy his reputation had contrived to have his company wrongly identified as the depositor. "Somebody in the bank has cooperated with my enemies to make false documents," he said.

During exile

The Bhutto-led Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured the highest number of votes (28.42%) and eighty seats (23.16%) in the national assembly in the October 2002 general elections [35]. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) managed to win eighteen seats only. Some of the elected candidates of Pakistan Peoples Party formed a faction of their own, calling it PPP-Patriots which was being led by Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat, the former leader of Bhutto led PPP. They later formed a coalition government with Musharraf's party, PML-Q.

Early 2000s

In 2002, Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf amended Pakistan's constitution to ban prime ministers from serving more than two terms. This disqualifies Bhutto from ever holding the office again. This move was widely considered to be a direct attack on former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. On 3 August 2003, Bhutto became a member of Minhaj ul Quran International (An international Muslim educational and welfare organization).[36]

Since September 2004, Bhutto lived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where she cared for her children and her mother, who was suffering from Alzheimer's disease, travelling to give lectures and keeping in touch with the Pakistan Peoples Party's supporters. She and her three children were reunited with her husband and their father in December 2004 after more than five years.

On 27 January 2007 she was invited by the United States to speak to President Bush and congressional and State Department officials.[37]

Bhutto appeared as a panellist on the BBC TV programme Question Time in the UK in March 2007. She has also appeared on BBC current affairs programme Newsnight on several occasions. She rebuffed comments made by Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq in May 2007 regarding the knighthood of Salman Rushdie, citing that he was calling for the assassination of foreign citizens.

Bhutto had declared her intention to return to Pakistan within 2007, which she did, in spite of Musharraf's statements of May 2007 about not allowing her to return ahead of the country's general election, due late 2007 or early 2008. It was speculated that she may be offered the office of Prime Minister again.[38][39][40]

Arthur Herman, a U.S. historian, in a controversial letter published in The Wall Street Journal on 14 June 2007, in response to an article by Bhutto highly critical of the president and his policies, has described her as "One of the most incompetent leaders in the history of South Asia", and asserted that she and other elites in Pakistan hate Musharraf because he was a muhajir, the son of one of millions of Indian Muslims who fled to Pakistan during partition in 1947. Herman has claimed, "Although it was muhajirs who agitated for the creation of Pakistan in the first place, many native Pakistanis view them with contempt and treat them as third-class citizens."[41][42][43]

Nonetheless, as of mid-2007, the US appeared to be pushing for a deal in which Musharraf would remain as president but step down as military head, and either Bhutto or one of her nominees would become prime minister.[44]

On 11 July 2007, the Associated Press, in an article about the possible aftermath of the Red Mosque incident, wrote:

Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister and opposition leader expected by many to return from exile and join Musharraf in a power-sharing deal after year-end general elections, praised him for taking a tough line on the Red Mosque. I'm glad there was no cease-fire with the militants in the mosque because cease-fires simply embolden the militants," she told Britain's Sky TV on Tuesday. "There will be a backlash, but at some time we have to stop appeasing the militants."[45]

This remark about the Red Mosque was seen with dismay in Pakistan as reportedly hundreds of young students were burned to death and remains are untraceable and cases are being heard in Pakistani supreme court as a missing persons issue. This and subsequent support for Musharaf led Elder Bhutto's comrades like Khar to criticize her publicly.[citations needed]

Bhutto however advised Musharraf in an early phase of the latter's quarrel with the Chief Justice, to restore him. Her PPP did not capitalize on its CEC member, Aitzaz, the chief Barrister for the Chief Justice, in successful restoration. Rather he was seen as a rival and was isolated.

Possible deal with the Musharraf Government

In July 2007, some of Bhutto's frozen funds were released.[46]. Bhutto still faces significant charges of corruption. In an 8 August 2007 interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Bhutto revealed the meeting focused on her desire to return to Pakistan for the 2008 elections, and of Musharraf retaining the Presidency with Bhutto as Prime Minister. On 29 August 2007, Bhutto announced that Musharraf would step down as chief of the army.[47][48] On 1 September Bhutto vowed to return to Pakistan "very soon", regardless of whether or not she reached a power-sharing deal with Musharraf before then. [49]

Many observers[attribution needed] consider such a deal improbable. In summer 2002 Musharraf implemented a two-term limit on Prime Ministers. Both Bhutto and Musharraf's other chief rival, Nawaz Sharif, have already served two terms as Prime Minister.[50] Musharraf's allies in parliament, especially the PMLQ, are unlikely to reverse the changes to allow Prime Ministers to seek third terms, nor to make particular exceptions for either Bhutto or Sharif.

On 2 October 2007, Gen. Pervez Musharraf named Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, as vice chief of the army starting 8 October with the intent that if Musharraf won the presidency and resigned his military post, Kayani would become chief of the army. Meanwhile, Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed stated that officials agreed to grant Benazir Bhutto amnesty versus pending corruption charges. She has emphasized the smooth transition and return to civilian rule and has asked Pervez Musharaf to shed uniform.[51]

On 5 October 2007 Musharraf signed the National Reconciliation Ordinance, giving amnesty to Bhutto and other political leaders—except exiled former premier Nawaz Sharif—in all court cases against them, including all corruption charges. The Ordinance came a day before Musharraf faced the crucial presidential poll. Both Bhutto's oppsition party, the PPP, and the ruling PMLQ, were involved in negotiations beforehand about the deal.[52] In return, Bhutto and the PPP agreed not to boycott the Presidential election.[53]

On 6 October 2007, Pervez Musharraf won a parliamentary election for President. However, the Supreme Court ruled that no winner can be officially proclaimed until it finishes deciding on whether it was legal for Musharraf to run for President while remaining Army General. Bhutto's PPP party did not join the other opposition parties' boycott of the election, but did abstain from voting.[54] Later Bhutto demanded security coverage on-par with the President's. Bhutto also contracted foreign security firms for her protection.

Return to Pakistan and assassination attempts

After eight years in exile in Dubai and London, Bhutto returned to Karachi on 18 October 2007 to prepare for the 2008 national elections.[55][56]

En route to a rally in Karachi on 18 October 2007, two explosions occurred shortly after Bhutto had landed and left Jinnah International Airport. She was not injured but the explosions, later found to be a suicide-bomb attack, killed 136 people and injured at least 450. The dead included at least 50 of the security guards from her Pakistan Peoples Party who had formed a human chain around her truck to keep potential bombers away, as well as 6 police officers. A number of senior officials were injured. Bhutto was escorted unharmed from the scene.[57]

Bhutto later claimed that she had warned the Pakistani government that suicide bomb squads would target her upon her return to Pakistan and that the government had failed to act. She was careful not to blame Pervez Musharraf for the attacks, accusing instead "certain individuals [within the government] who abuse their positions, who abuse their powers" to advance the cause of Islamic militants. Shortly after the attempt on her life, Bhutto wrote a letter Musharraf naming four persons whom she suspected of carrying out the attack. Those named included Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, a rival PML-Q politician and chief minister of Pakistan's Punjab province, Hamid Gul, former director of the Inter-Services Intelligence, and Ijaz Shah, the director general of the Intelligence Bureau, another of the country’s intelligence agencies. All those named are close associates of General Musharraf. Bhutto has a long history of accusing parts of the government, particularly Pakistan’s premier military intelligence agencies, of working against her and her party because they oppose her liberal, secular agenda. Bhutto claimed that the ISI has for decades backed militant Islamic groups in Kashmir and in Afghanistan.[58]

There are discrepancies between the accounts published in western newspapers, Pakistani tabloids, and eye witness accounts of the assassination attempt. Bhutto's husband categorically refused to accept that the suicide bombing was an attack by Al Qaeda or the Taliban. Correspondingly, Pakistani Taliban leader Mehsud denied responsibility and Jamaat Islami, an opponent of Bhutto, announced a three days mourning period for the dead, thus lending credibility to Bhutto's claims that the attack was engineered by close associates in the government of General Musharraf.[citation needed]

Bhutto's associates describe an initial small grenade attack, followed twenty seconds later by larger explosives, one right and and one left of the truck carrying Bhutto; this was followed by a brief burst of gun fire directed at vehicle's roof. The PPP sources claim that yet another non-exploded bomb was fixed on a bridge which the vehicle had already crossed[citation needed].

Some witnesses report there was a sizzling sound, apparently an underground wire signal for the explosive devices. Bhutto escaped, as she was protected by a 30-inch tall bullet-proof lining on the top of truck and was reportedly descending into the vehicle's interior at the time; hence neither shrapnel nor bullets killed her. She was also protected by a "human cordon" of supporters who had anticipated suicide attacks and formed a chain around her to prevent potential bombers from getting near her. The total number of injured, according to PPP sources, stood at 1000, with at least 160 dead (The New York Times claims 134 dead and about 450 injured). The PPP lodged a complaint and FIR in protest, but was cautious in laying blame.[citation needed]

A few days later, Bhutto's lawyer Senator Farooq H. Naik said he received a letter threatening to kill his client. The letter also claims to have links with al-Qaeda and followers of Usama bin Laden.

Response to 2007 State of Emergency

On November 3, 2007 President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency, citing actions by the Supreme Court of Pakistan and religious extremism in the nation. Bhutto returned to the country, interrupting a visit to family in Dubai. The AP reports that she was greeted by supporters chanting slogans at the airport.[59] After staying in her plane for several hours she was driven to her home in Lahore, accompanied by hundreds of supporters.[60] She made the following comments critical of Musharraf's declaration of emergency:

"Unless General Musharraf reverses the course it will be very difficult to have fair elections." In other telephone comments to Sky News television she said, "I agree with him that we are facing a political crisis, but I believe the problem was dictatorship, I don't believe the solution was dictatorship. She still probably has chances of becoming PME

"The extremists need a dictatorship, and dictatorship needs extremists." [61].

House arrest

On November 8, 2007, Bhutto was placed under house arrest just a few hours before she was due to lead and address a rally against the state of emergency. She made some attempts to come out of house arrest but police stopped her. All roads to her house were closed. The following day, the Pakistani government announced that Bhutto's arrest warrant had been withdrawn and that she would be free to travel and to appear at public rallies. However, leaders of other opposition political parties remained prohibited from speaking in public.[62]

Assassination

On December 27, 2007, Benazir Bhutto was killed whilst entering a vehicle upon leaving a political rally for the Pakistan People's Party in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.[63] A suicidal assassin reportedly fired shots in Bhutto's direction just prior to simultaneously detonating an explosive pellet-ridden vest, killing approximately 15 people and wounding many more.[64][65][66]

The attack occurred just after Ms. Bhutto left the rally, where she had given a campaign address to party supporters in the run-up to the January 2008 parliamentary elections.[67] She died at 6:16 pm local time at Rawalpindi General Hospital.[68].

Conflicting news stories led to a confusion regarding whether she suffered from gunshot wounds or received her wounds due to shrapnel. Javed Cheema, was quoted as saying by AFP that she may have been killed by pellets packed into the suicide bomber's vest. However, the AP quoted a PPP security adviser as saying she was shot in the neck and chest as she got into her vehicle, before the explosion. [69].

Initial reports from personal security, state police, and hospital personnel support the claim of a gunman's bullet wounds, but no official announcement has yet been made. No claims of responsibility were initially reported.

Some news reports include video purported to be Bhutto's departure from the rally[70], already secured in her bulletproof Toyota[73].

Video[71] shows the last moments of the former Prime Minister of Pakistan. Video from the scene also shows several people being loaded into ambulances. There were quite a few cameras rolling, but as of yet, no video has been shown of the actual shooting.

White House spokesman Scott Stanzel reports that the White House "condems the acts of violence".[72] In a televised speech at 11am Eastern Time the day of the assassination, US President George W. Bush referred to the assassination as a "cowardly act by murderous extremists" and stated that the "criminals" responsible "must be brought to justice".

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article, Benazir Bhutto Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".

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Wednesday, December 26, 2007

President Bush Signs H.R. 2764 into Law

President Bush Signs H.R. 2764 into Law

President George W. Bush signs into law H.R. 2764, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2008, also known at the omnibus, making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes, after boarding Air Force One Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007. White House photo by Chris Greenberg
Today, I signed into law H.R. 2764, legislation that will fund the Federal Government within the reasonable and responsible spending levels I proposed -- without raising taxes and without the most objectionable policy changes considered by the Congress. This law provides a down payment for the resources our troops need, without arbitrary timelines for withdrawal. The Congress should quickly take action next year to provide the remainder of the funding needed by our troops.

I am disappointed in the way the Congress compiled this legislation, including abandoning the goal I set early this year to reduce the number and cost of earmarks by half. Instead, the Congress dropped into the bill nearly 9,800 earmarks that total more than $10 billion.
These projects are not funded through a merit-based process and provide a vehicle for wasteful Government spending.

There is still more to be done to rein in Government spending. In February I will submit my budget proposal for fiscal year 2009, which will once again restrain spending, keep taxes low, and continue us on a path towards a balanced budget. I look forward to working with the Congress in the coming year to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

Finally, this legislation contains certain provisions similar to those found in prior appropriations bills passed by the Congress that might be construed to be inconsistent with my Constitutional responsibilities. To avoid such potential infirmities, the executive branch will interpret and construe such provisions in the same manner as I have previously stated in regard to similar provisions.

GEORGE W. BUSH THE WHITE HOUSE, December 26, 2007. # # #

For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary December 26, 2007

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Tuesday, December 25, 2007

President Bush calls to members of the Armed Forces

President Bush calls to members of the Armed Forces President George W. Bush makes Christmas Eve telephone calls to members of the Armed Forces at Camp David, Monday, Dec. 24, 2007. White House photo by Eric Draper In Focus: Holiday in the National Parks
BACKGROUND

The President made telephone calls to members of the Armed Forces who are stationed overseas to wish them a Merry Christmas, and to thank them for their service to our Nation.

INFORMATION ON CALL RECIPIENTS

Staff Sergeant Anthony R. "Tony" Lewis, U.S. Army

Staff Sergeant Anthony R. "Tony" Lewis, deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, with the 428th Field Artillery Brigade, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm on his first tour of Afghanistan. Staff Sergeant Lewis has trained over 40 personnel on Defensive Driving Skills as the Assistant Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of Convoy Operations in Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A). He revised the Convoy Operations & Procedures for CSTC-A, which became the Standard Operating Procedure for the whole command.

Sergeant Cleveland W. "Cleve" Upton, U.S. Army

Sergeant Cleveland W. "Cleve" Upton, deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with the Attack Company, 1-28 Infantry, 4th Brigade, Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, is responsible for the training, health, welfare, and combat readiness of a four man fire team.

Specialist Joseph E. "Joe" Sizemore, U.S. Army

Specialist Joseph E. "Joe" Sizemore, deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, with Multi-National Corps, C-3 Tactical Operations, joined the Army at age 33 and was deployed immediately after Advance Individual Training. He provides security services for the Joint Operations Center in Baghdad. Specialist Sizemore's daughter and son reside in Snowshoe, West Virginia.

Sergeant Joseph K. "Joe" Jenkins, U.S. Marine Corps

Sergeant Joseph K. "Joe" Jenkins, deployed to Al Anbar, Iraq, with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 29, was meritoriously selected and promoted to Lance Corporal, Corporal, and Sergeant within a three-year period. Sergeant Jenkins was also selected as the Squadron Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter in October 2007. He is responsible for the repair of dynamic components for six type model tilt rotor aircraft, including the V22 Osprey. Sergeant Jenkins' wife, Melissa, resides in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Corporal Orlando P. Anaya, U.S. Marine Corps

Corporal Orlando P. Anaya, deployed to Al Asad Airbase, Iraq, with the Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Forward, was the recent winner of the Noncommissioned Officer of the Quarter Board for Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2. He is responsible for the receipt and processing of all signals intelligence for elements of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Forward. Corporal Anaya's wife, Carrie Martinez, resides in Roswell, New Mexico.

Personnel Specialist First Class Claudine A. "Toni" Gayle, U.S. Navy

Personnel Specialist First Class Claudine A. "Toni" Gayle, deployed aboard the USS Harry S. Truman in the Persian Gulf with Carrier Air Wing Three Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Petty Officer Gayle is the Air Wing's #1 First Class Petty Officer and Carrier Air Wing Three's Sailor of the Year. Her husband, Telly Spruill, and daughter reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Construction Electrician First Class Kelly Mumm, U.S. Navy

Petty Officer Kelly Mumm, deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Fifteen, Belton, Missouri, is on his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has been awarded the Navy Achievement Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Medal for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and he was instrumental in his Unit receiving the Presidential Unit Citation and the Battle Efficiency Award. Petty Officer Mumm's wife, daughter and son, reside in Neola, Iowa.

Senior Airman LaTishia B. "Tishia" Hall, U.S. Air Force

Senior Airman LaTishia B. "Tishia" Hall is currently deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq. Senior Airman Hall is a Certified Border Control Agent and is assigned to Operation Iraqi Freedom's sole aerovac hub to Germany, where she cares for and prepares wounded, injured, and ill U.S. and coalition forces, civilian contract employees, and foreign dignitaries for onward movement to higher levels of care. She performs customs and anti-hijack screenings of travelers and baggage, ensuring aircraft, aircrew, and passenger safety.

Airman First Class Rachael R. Whitlow, U.S. Air Force

Airman First Class Rachael R. Whitlow, deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, with 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, performs aviation and parachutist resource management functions; monitors flight physicals, physiological training, aircrew qualifications, and other aircrew and parachutist-related programs; schedules aircrew training and aircraft sorties and maintains mission information; and monitors individual flight requirements, unit flying hours, and aviation requirement changes. Her husband, AC1 Gregory Whitlow, is currently stationed at Kadena Air Force Base in Japan.

Boatswain Mate First Class Michael W. Tapp, U.S. Coast Guard

Boatswain Mate First Class Michael W. Tapp is currently deployed with the USCGC RUSH (WHEC-723) on patrol in the Bering Sea. Petty Officer Tapp reorganized deck division's chain of command to provide leadership opportunities for junior Petty Officers that enhanced accountability of non-rated personnel and improved communications through the division. In addition, Petty Officer Tapp recently received a Coast Guard Commendation Medal for his efforts while working with the TSA to improve airport security in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area. His wife, Anne, and daughters reside in Grand Haven, Michigan. # # #

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