Hopefuls split over Iraq exit strategy

First in a series on the issues facing 13th Congressional District Republican candidates Judy Biggert and Sean O'Kane in the Feb. 5 primary.

Getting America out of Iraq and how the country ended up at war is the dividing line between Hinsdale Republicans Judy Biggert and Sean O'Kane.

The two are vying for the 13th Congressional District seat, now held by Biggert, an attorney.

O'Kane, a home builder, disagrees with the rationale for the war, noting that no weapons of mass destruction were found.

And he objects to statements by President Bush on the necessity of "taking the fight to the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home."

"That's nonsense," O'Kane said.

Biggert, who has supported the war in the past, contends "it doesn't help us to go back and say we were wrong."

"I think we're there and we have to fulfill the mission and create stability. There were mistakes made and there was misinformation but I think we went forward based on what we knew at the time," she said.

The winner of the Feb. 5 primary will face Democrat Scott Harper and the Green Party's Steve Alesch in the general election in November.

O'Kane praised U.S. Iraq commander Gen. David Petraeus for "doing a good job with the surge" that sent thousands more troops into Iraq in 2007.

But he contends America needs to develop plans for an orderly withdrawal and put them into action "as soon as feasible."

"Iraqis need to solve their own problems," O'Kane said.

Without the Iraq burden, America can improve its domestic security by hiring high quality people as airport screeners, for example, he said.

O'Kane did not provide his own timetable or benchmarks, saying that should be up to military leaders like Petraeus.

"I don't think politicians should set the timetable," he commented.

Biggert notes that withdrawal is already beginning with military strength down to 154,000 individuals in December from 165,000 earlier in 2007. Another 20,000 troops could leave early in the year, depending on what happens with the insurgency.

"The first part of 2007 was the most violent we've seen, the last part was the calmest," Biggert said. "If conditions stay as they are now, we could be down to 100,000 by the end of 2008."

But leaving Iraq isn't a matter of picking a date, she said.

"I don't want troops to be there one minute longer than have to be but there needs to be a stable government," Biggert said.

"If we pull out now, I think there would be a huge problem."

Both candidates said diplomacy is crucial with America's other headache in the region -- Iran -- with its problematic nuclear program and tempestuous leader President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Biggert, who has served in Congress since 1999, was not totally convinced by a recent National Intelligence Estimate, a consensus report by federal security agencies, which stated Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

"I am very skeptical of that," she said. "I would err on the side of caution."

O'Kane is "concerned about (Iran's) nuclear capability. We have to be cautious in dealing with them and monitor them."

The 13th District includes parts of southwest DuPage, northwest Will and southwest Cook counties.