Hillary Clinton expressed her condolences to the family of the American citizen killed during a terrorist attack at a hotel in Mali on Friday.
In a statement released Saturday, the Democratic presidential candidate said aid worker Anita Datar was “a bright light who gave help and hope to people in need around the world, especially women and families.”
Clinton remarked that Datar “represented the best of America’s generous spirit,” citing her service in the Peace Corps as well as her career in international health and development working for a nongovernmental organization.
“I knew Anita as the loving mother of a wonderful 7-year-old boy and the former partner of David Garten, one of my senior policy advisors in the Senate,” Clinton continued. “My prayers are with the Datar and Garten families, especially Anita and David’s son. My heart breaks thinking of the burden he will now bear on his small shoulders and the courage he will have to show in the days ahead.”
“As I said this week,” Clinton said. “America must wage and win an immediate battle against [the Islamic State], al Qaeda, and other terrorist networks, as well as a generational struggle against radical jihadism. We face a choice between fear and resolve. Anita’s murder should deepen our resolve. American must lead the world to meet this threat.”
The attack at the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, Mali, left at least 19 dead. The gunmen reportedly yelled “Allahu akbar” as they stormed the hotel. French authorities said they suspect al Qaeda member Mokhtar Belmokhtar was behind the attacks.
