We asked the Republican incumbent in the 6th Congressional District, Tom Petri, how he would assess the war in Iraq and where we should go from here



We asked the Republican incumbent in the 6th Congressional District, Tom Petri, how he would assess the war in Iraq and where we should go from here

6th Congressional District Candidates on Iraq

WBAY is committed to improving the political process by addressing issues ahead of the 2004 election. To do that, we are giving Republican and Democratic candidates for area congressional seats unedited airtime to address two key issues.

We asked the Republican incumbent in the 6th Congressional District, Tom Petri, and his Democratic challenger, Jef Hall, how they would assess the war in Iraq and where we should go from here.

Tom Petri

"We need to finish the job in Iraq and then get out. Our troops have performed heroically and they're making America and the world safer, but I don't want to leave them in harm's way and away from their families one second longer than necessary.

"The stakes are high. Now that Saddam Hussein is in prison, we need to be certain we leave behind a secure government which will not provide a haven of support for terrorists. We need to speed the training of Iraqi forces so they can secure their own country. We need to support the moderate sectors of Iraqi society as they try to build a stable and peaceful democracy. We need to help them establish enough security so that reconstruction can proceed, strengthening Iraq's economy and providing jobs for those who might otherwise join the insurgency.

"All of this is being done, but as hard as it is, faster would be better."

When this story was posted in October 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference. RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls. Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate. Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.

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Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview PCOL sits down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before. Plus the debate continues over Safety and Security.

Schwarzenegger praises PC at Convention Governor Schwarzenegger praised the Peace Corps at the Republican National Convention: "We're the America that sends out Peace Corps volunteers to teach village children." Schwarzenegger has previously acknowledged his debt to his father-in-law, Peace Corps Founding Director Sargent Shriver, for teaching him "the joy of public service" and Arnold is encouraging volunteerism by creating California Service Corps and tapping his wife, Maria Shriver, to lead it. Leave your comments and who can come up with the best Current Events Funny?

Peace Corps: One of the Best Faces of America Teresa Heinz Kerry celebrates the Peace Corps Volunteer as one of the best faces America has ever projected in a speech to the Democratic Convention. The National Review disagreed and said that Heinz's celebration of the PCV was "truly offensive." What's your opinion and can you come up with a Political Funny?

Read the stories and leave your comments.