Both candidates want troops out of Iraq

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky and her challenger in the Feb. 5 primary both want to see troops in Iraq come home as soon as possible.

Schakowsky, an Evanston resident who has held the 9th Congressional District seat since 1999, opposed the Iraq war resolution. She wants to immediately end U.S. involvement and bring troops home in an orderly way.

John Nocita, a Chicago lawyer seeking his first public office, also wants to end the war. He supports a plan that would take at least 18 months to return the troops -- a time frame he says will allow for the safe removal of troops.

Schakowsky visited Iraq and Afghanistan over the summer, a trip she said reaffirmed her views. She presents figures showing the war in Iraq is costing Americans $13 million an hour -- money she said could be better spent on issues closer to home, such as health care.

The two Democrats also agree on keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

"I think we need to beef up our efforts in Afghanistan," Schakowsky said. "That was our problem in the first place. We took our eyes off the ball and went into Iraq when we should have stayed -- and instead allowed the Taliban to come back and have this area between Pakistan, Afghanistan be a safe haven for al-Qaida."

Nocita also supports military action in Afghanistan.

"As long as our enemies are there, the Taliban, I think we belong there until we resolve the situation," Nocita said.

Schakowsky has proposed the Stop Outsourcing Security Act, a plan to phase out an estimated 800 private diplomatic security guards within six months. The act also would ban other private security guards in Iraq and Afghanistan by 2009.

The 9th Congressional District includes parts of Des Plaines and Rosemont.