Sen. Marco Rubio, Florida Republican, said in the wake of recent attacks in Canada that America is with its neighbor to the north, a country that has been with the U.S. in its own struggle against “violent jihadists.”
“Since 9/11, Canadian servicemen and women have shed blood in the fight against Islamic extremism, and we stand with them during this difficult period and pledge our unwavering support as we join them in mourning the fallen,” Mr. Rubio said.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has labeled a gunman who killed a soldier guarding a war memorial in Ottawa Wednesday a terrorist. The attack by Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, reportedly a convert to Islam, was the second in three days in Canada. A hit-and-run that left one soldier dead and another injured Monday has also been deemed a terrorist attack by Canadian officials.
Canada’s Parliament re-opened Thursday morning with a touching tribute to fallen soldier, Nathan Cirillo, and the Sargeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers who felled Zahaf-Bibeau.
Mr. Rubio, a potential contender for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, continued by declaring that the attacks in Canada and a hit-and-run in Jerusalem on Wednesday that officials have labeled a terrorist attack, which claimed the life of a small child, “are yet another painful reminder that declaring wars to be over does not end them.”
“Radical jihadists remain committed to waging war against anyone who does not share their warped ideology, which is why we must defeat them wherever they reside and work to reduce the risk of self-radicalization of individuals in our societies,” Mr. Rubio said.
SEE ALSO: Ottawa shootings: Soldier slain as gunman storms Parliament
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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