WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Jack Reed made the following remarks in response to the death of four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, during the attacks on the U.S. consulate in Libya:

“First we have to salute the courage and service of Ambassador Christopher Stevens, and of course to his family and all his colleagues in the State Department all of our heartfelt sympathies.  And, also I think it recognizes and underscores the sacrifice and service of diplomats across the globe everyday which is sometimes overlooked.

“But this is an example of the instability in the region, the fact that we have a lot of work to do. Now, it doesn’t require a military presence, but it requires a continued diplomatic presence.  I think we also have to understand that the instability in Libya is something we can and must deal with, but we’ve come a long way from a dictatorship and a country that was hostile to its own people.  Now we have to help the Libyan people to build a strong, secure and peaceful society.  It’s their challenge, but we can render assistance and Ambassador Stevens was doing that when he gave his life for the country.”