2nd District GOP hopefuls see end to Iraq, Afghanistan wars

Republicans candidates in Iowa's 2

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District refused to set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan, but agreed it's time to prepare for a departure.Despite a recent surge of violence there, Mariannette Miller-Meeks told a Young Americans for Liberty forum April 29 Iraq “seems to be on the course of being self-governing” even if it's unlikely to become a Jeffersonian democracy.

The Republicans and Libertarian Gary Sicard spoke to about 50 people at the University of Iowa forum sponsored by YAL, the continuation of Students for Ron Paul, the Texas congressman who sought the GOP presidential nomination in 2008.

The U.S. needs to pull its troops out in a “timely fashion,” but the former Army doctor said it would be unwise to announce that date prematurely.

Marion businessman Rob Gettemy believed invading Iraq was the “right decision at the time.”

Now, he said, “I think we need to look for earliest reasonable exit.”

“Given the level of stability that we appear to be achieving,” Gettemy said, “I think we need to look to wind down from that conflict.”

Steve Rathje doesn't see a clear-cut end date for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, even after exiting those countries, the war on terrorism won't be over.

“We can no longer allow the terror taking place in this world because it will come through southern borders,” the Cedar Rapids businessman said.

Whenever the nation commits troops, he said, “we commit to win, and then we come home. And when we come home, come home with honor pride and dignity.”

All four candidates agreed wars could be fought for less money.

The U.S. spends about $700 billion on defense while the entire European Union spends about $298 billion, Sicard said.

“There's no reason to be spending that kind of money,” much of which is spent on defending other countries, not the U.S., Sicard said. The U.S. should not be the world's policemen, he said.

The three Republicans, along with Christopher Reed of Marion, who did not participate in the debate, will be on the June 8 primary election ballot with the winner facing Mount Vernon Democrat Rep. Dave Loebsack.