Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
(KSL News) The war in Iraq generated heated debate tonight between two Utah congressional candidates.
Democratic Congressman Jim Matheson and Republican challenger LaVar Christensen sat down at KSL for our third installment of "Decision 2006: A Conversation with the Candidates.
Christensen said despite the sacrifice, he believes progress has been made in Iraq.
LaVar Christensen/(R) Candidate for Congress: "I know that we are achieving our purpose, that we have a constitution there. Twelve million Iraqis, 80 percent turnout, risking their lives for free elections. Three hundred newspapers and new magazines and new businesses. So I'm proud of what we've accomplished."
Congressman Matheson believes lawmakers and military leaders must do more and offer a new, solid solution to win the war.
Rep. Jim Matheson/(D) Utah: "We owe that to our troops, and our troops have done everything we've asked them to do. Everything. But it's more than a military strategy that we need. We need a political strategy, a diplomatic strategy, an economic strategy. Those are the types of efforts that we need to move forward with if we want to make progress."
We will host one more "Conversation with the Candidates" Wednesday at 6:30.
That will be between candidates in the First District-- Republican Congressman Rob Bishop and Democratic challenger Steve Olsen.
