News release
“Though the killing of a fellow human being is not something generally to cheer, we should make an exception in this case,” said Brent Benedict on receiving the news of the death of al-Zarqawi. Benedict, running in the Democratic primary for the Third Congressional seat, continued, “The deaths we mourn are those of his victims, repeatedly non-involved civilians, frequently women and children.” Benedict noted Zarqawi’s suspected involvement in bombings and other atrocities, including at a wedding in Jordan and the UN headquarters in Baghdad. Muslims of factions Zarqawi disapproved were his repeated targets, Benedict emphasized, “supposedly his fellow Muslims; obviously, though, Zarqawi was less concerned about Muslims than about abject followers of his own brand of fanaticism.” Even then, Benedict added, he didn’t show much concern, if he could convince one of them to kill himself as a suicide bomber. “Zarqawi’s death,” Benedict added, “should be a wake-up to his fellow murderers and fanatics. It should be a warning and a reminder that the military might of the United States can be sharply focused. “It should demonstrate that no mass killer, that no enemy of the people of the United States can consider himself safe, consider himself out of range of the might and wrath of a free people who will not cease their efforts until those enemies are, totally and finally, eliminated.” Benedict concluded with congratulations to the men and women of the United States military. “They are the best people, with the best training, and with the highest motivation: to protect and serve the people of the United States. “I thank them, and I applaud them on their success.” Benedict, a technology professional and businessman, is married and has two children. He is multilingual and has lived and worked in Asia before returning to Tennessee. This is his first effort at federal office. The Democratic primary, with one other contender, will be held August 3.