18th District Congressional Candidates: The Military
By: Blake Long
Updated: October 5, 2012
In the race
for the 18th Congressional District seat, Republican incumbent Aaron Schock
is facing Democrat Steve Waterworth. Our question: Should the U.S. pull out of Afghanistan sooner than the planned exit in 2014?
Aaron Schock:
"Well I don't agree with the president announcing the exit date to our opposition. I think that only bolsters the opposition in Afghanistan. I think that if we're going to pull out, we might as well pull out immediately so that more young men and women don't die unnecessarily. If we're going to stay there to try to stabilize that country, then that should be our commitment and we shouldn't announce our timetable to our opposition. So, you know, I have supported President Obama with his requests for funding, requests for providing the necessary equipment and supplies to our troops because I think regardless of whether you support the military action, we should support our men and women in uniform. And my focus on veterans issues really has been on constituent services as these men and women come home. Making sure they have access to the healthcare that they need and the job training services that they need to come back and have a productive life."
Steve Waterworth:
"I was not in favor of going back into Afghanistan. The way we've gone into it is... it's a country of people that are a theocracy in nature and it's, they are a tough people. We're there, they don't want us there, they're going to do everything they can to make, to kill us while we are there and I'd really like for us to declare victory. We got Osama Bin Laden, so let's get out."
Aaron Schock:
"Well I don't agree with the president announcing the exit date to our opposition. I think that only bolsters the opposition in Afghanistan. I think that if we're going to pull out, we might as well pull out immediately so that more young men and women don't die unnecessarily. If we're going to stay there to try to stabilize that country, then that should be our commitment and we shouldn't announce our timetable to our opposition. So, you know, I have supported President Obama with his requests for funding, requests for providing the necessary equipment and supplies to our troops because I think regardless of whether you support the military action, we should support our men and women in uniform. And my focus on veterans issues really has been on constituent services as these men and women come home. Making sure they have access to the healthcare that they need and the job training services that they need to come back and have a productive life."
Steve Waterworth:
"I was not in favor of going back into Afghanistan. The way we've gone into it is... it's a country of people that are a theocracy in nature and it's, they are a tough people. We're there, they don't want us there, they're going to do everything they can to make, to kill us while we are there and I'd really like for us to declare victory. We got Osama Bin Laden, so let's get out."
