Fourth District Democratic Congressman Jim Himes and Republican challenger Dan Debicella met to debate foreign policy and international security on Monday night. The event was held at the World Affairs Forum on UConn’s Stamford campus.
Himes of Greenwich is vying for his fourth term in Congress. Debicella of Shelton is challenging Himes a second time after losing in 2010.
The candidates agreed on some issues. Both said it was important to engage with China while continuing to press the nation on its human rights record. They also agreed on closing the detention camp in Guantanamo, and continuing air strikes against Islamic militants in the Middle East.
But Debicella was critical of American troop withdrawal in Iraq, and tried to paint Himes as a Washington insider whose policies led to the rise of the self-described Islamic State or ISIS.
"If they like what’s going on, they should vote for you," Debicella said. "And if they don’t, they should not."
"Just to be clear," Himes asked, "it’s your position that it was the Congress of the United States, and in particular my decisions, that led to no troops being kept in Iraq?"
"I think that you’re one of 535 members of Congress, Jim," Debicella responded, "and you actually have to say I have a voice."
Himes, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee, said troop withdrawal from Iraq was necessary, or U.S. soldiers would have faced prosecution by local courts. He blamed the rise of ISIS on weak Iraqi leadership by former President Nouri Al-Maliki and others.
"When a monstrous and evil group of people," Himes said, "can go into Anbar and say we’re going to behead, and bring back slavery, and force women into the house, and people say that’s a good idea? That is evidence of how profoundly perverted the government of Maliki was."
Himes and Debicella meet again in Norwalk for another debate later this month.
