Last Sunday night, a powerful bomb here came within seconds of killing the military ruler of Pakistan, an impoverished, nuclear-armed country that sits near the epicenter of the American-led campaign against terrorism. Who would have succeeded the president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, and taken control of the country's dozens of nuclear bombs is unclear. Analysts contend the use of C-4, along with the sophistication of the attack, suggests involvement by Al Qaeda. "[The army is] the most powerful political force. It has really overwhelmed the state and society." Whatever happened, it is widely agreed here that the security breach was alarming. Pakistan Bombing Aimed at Military Ruler Highlights His Role |