10th Dist. candidates debate Afghanistan action
Democratic candidates for the 10th Congressional District seat agree there is work to be done in Afghanistan, but differ on how that should be accomplished.
Among the three candidates, Julie Hamos, a state legislator from Wilmette, is the strongest supporter of President Barack Obama's recent decision to send 30,000 more troops.
She said the decision was determined after due diligence and met her criteria for moving forward, such as a timetable for withdrawal.
"I'm supporting his strategy to do that," Hamos told the Daily Herald editorial board. "I think it puts pressure on the Afghan government to take hold of its own country."
Dan Seals, a business consultant from Wilmette and Highland Park attorney Elliot Richardson disagreed.
Richardson said troops are logging four and five tours of duty there despite the fact al-Qaida "seems to have been dispersed."
"We need to get the troops home and stop sending them back," Richardson said. "We train Afghanistan forces and then we draw down our troops."
Seals said the U.S. should not pull out of Afghanistan but suggested focusing on special forces, drones and intelligence gathering to deal with terrorists. Situations that lead to terrorism, such as poverty, also need to be addressed.
"I don't think you do it with soldiers," he said.
Seals, supports a troop level to pursue and destroy terrorists, but not one designed to occupy and run the country.
He said U.S. troops can rout the Taliban but wonders if such a victory could be maintained.
"I lack confidence in the Afghan government's ability to maintain security and stability after we leave," he said.
No experts have said reducing troop strength or leaving the status quo would be successful, Hamos said.
"I trust that this president has asked these questions," she said. She emphasized Obama needs to be held accountable for the Afghanistan benchmarks, such as the beginning of troop withdrawal after 18 months.
"We should not be afraid to review those," she said.
Richardson was skeptical of the government's ability to adjust.
"Holding folks accountable has never been a strength or forte of people in Springfield or Washington," he said. "Where was the accountability when there were no weapons of mass destruction?"
He said he didn't want the U.S. to have an "open-ended commitment" in Afghanistan.
Seals said he disagrees to a degree with the president on the Afghanistan strategy.
"I don't believe that a nation-building exercise is warranted," Seals said.
In the long-term it was important to fight conditions that create terrorists, he said, and the U.S. needs to find and support leaders and organizations to encourage economic growth, public education and a responsive government in Afghanistan.