Sen. Carper’s Statement on the Assassination of Benazir Bhutto

“In one word, this is a tragedy,” said Carper.  “Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was a courageous woman and a brave leader.  My prayers are with her family, the people of Pakistan and with the families of those who also lost their lives today.

“Bhutto served her nation twice as prime minister.  She returned to Pakistan after her exile in Dubai to explicitly rekindle her political base in an attempt to bring different political voices to a population under President Pervez Musharraf’s rule.  She held true to her firm commitment to build a secular, sustainable democracy in Pakistan.

“Benazir Bhutto was an ally of the United States in the fight against terrorism, and was viewed as a real democratic leader in a country where democracy doesn’t exist.  It is my hope that Bhutto’s death will not have been in vain – that those who supported her and her beliefs will continue to work towards peace and stability and that her vision of democracy will prevail.