Iraq front and center in 14th District

Opposition to the Iraq war has energized Democrats even as the details of ending U.S. involvement has divided them.

Such is the case in Illinois' 14th Congressional District, where four Democrats are seeking their party's nomination in the Feb. 5 primary for the chance to succeed Republican Dennis Hastert, who resigned in November.

Three of the four -- business owner and physicist Bill Foster, carpenter John Laesch and attorney Jotham Stein -- want to start withdrawing U.S. troops as soon as that can be done safely. The fourth, Joe Serra, defers to veterans and soldiers who have told him that U.S. troops should remain.

While Foster, Laesch and Stein all oppose any long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq and give blistering critiques of the White House war policy, they differ in proposed approaches for winding down U.S. involvement.

Laesch, the only veteran in the field and a former military intelligence analyst, says categorically that he would vote against any additional funds for the war.

Foster, of Geneva, says he would not vote in favor of any blank checks for the war. He said he would vote for additional money only if an appropriation bill included "very strong conditions that effectively mandate withdrawal of the troops."

Stein said he would not vote against appropriation bills while U.S. troops remain in Iraq. To cut funding, he said, would risk soldiers' lives.

Laesch said stopping the money flow is the only way to force President Bush to alter course and the Iraqis to govern themselves. He said fear has prevented congressional Democrats from turning off the cash spigot.

"Fear is going to keep us in this war," Laesch said. "That's why I'm being clear and articulate. I'm saying unequivocally that Congress needs to defund this mistake and this unchecked war."

Laesch, of Newark, said a reasonable timetable for removing all troops could be as little as three or four months.

Foster said he relies on the estimates of experts who tell him that the United States will need eight to 12 months to safely withdraw soldiers.

Stein, of St. Charles, agrees that military commanders, not legislators, should determine the timetable for pulling troops out with minimal risk. He said generals should be instructed to begin that process immediately.

But, in contrast to Foster and Laesch, Stein said Democrats are obligated to vote for funding until the withdrawal is complete.

"If you cut off funding," Stein said, "and troops are stuck in Iraq for a year, they can't defend themselves."

Foster, Laesch and Stein all express skepticism that the U.S. troop surge widely credited with reducing insurgent violence in Iraq will have any lasting effect.

All three acknowledge that Iraqis face an uncertain and likely violent future once U.S. troops leave. But they say a longer-term U.S. military presence would not alter that.

Laesch said the United States can smooth the transition by persuading the United Nations and Arab League to assume peacekeeping operations. Stein said increased training of Iraqi troops should accompany the withdrawal of U.S. forces, but he added that prolonging U.S. involvement will not bring democracy to Iraq.

"They have no democratic institutions and no democratic history," Stein said.

Foster said that even after removing its troops, the United States could intervene with special forces and air power in the region if necessary to strike at al-Qaida inside of Iraq. He emphasized the need to improve U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, even if that means sending additional troops.

"We have to go after al-Qaida wherever they are," Foster said. "Right now they are in Afghanistan."

The 14th District includes all of Kane County, a portion of DuPage and stretches far west, nearly reaching the Mississippi River.

State Sen. Chris Lauzen of Aurora, businessman Jim Oberweis of Sugar Grove and Michael Dilger of Evanston are seeking the Republican nomination.