Presidential candidate Fred Thompson worked the recent assassination of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto into his stump speech at an event in Washington, Iowa on Saturday. He said  the tragic event should remind the U.S. of “the nature of the conflict we’re engaged in,” and that, “Iraq and Afghanistan are a part of that same global picture where the forces of radical Islam are designing our demise and the demise of Western civilization …”

He also talked about “the mindset of our global enemy.”

Another clip from Thompson’s speech is below the fold.Congressman Steve King introduced the former Tennessee senator who took the stage from behind a curtain.

Thompson’s campaign slogan is “The Clear Conservative Choice,” to drive home this theme the film and television actor leaned heavily on a stage prop, his podium, that was made of clear lucite panels.

Thompson finished his speech with a sketch of his “sound conservative principles.”

Thompson’s tour bus crossed paths with John Edwards’ tour bus on Main Street in Washington, Iowa after the event. Thompson acknowledged Edwards who was visiting the public library, “I hope he learns something while he’s over there.”