Congressman says in hindsight he wouldn't have supported current war
by Nancy Cook Lauer
Stephens Honolulu Bureau
Hawaii Tribute Herald

HONOLULU -- Congressman Ed Case is taking a second look at the United States' involvement in Iraq.

Case, who campaigned in 2002 saying he would have voted counter to Hawaii's other congressmen and approved President Bush's request for authorization to use military force, on Monday backpedaled from his earlier stance.

Case wasn't in Congress in October 2002 when the authorization was given, but he has said on the campaign trail he would have voted for it.

The issue has become one of the defining differences in the current race for the Senate between Case and fellow Democrat Sen. Daniel Akaka, the incumbent.

Akaka, as chairman of the International Security Subcommittee, held hearings on Iraq's purported use of weapons of mass destruction and concluded there was no immediate threat.

Akaka's vote at the time was unpopular, but as the war drags on, popular opinion seems to be shifting to Akaka's side. Apparently, so is Case.

"Hindsight is always 20-20. Would a lot of people who voted for that resolution would have voted for it today had they known what they know today? I think the answer is no," Case told reporters at a news conference. "I fall into that category. I would not have voted for that resolution had I known there was no weapons of mass destruction."

Case renewed his call for Akaka to debate, accusing his fellow Democrat of a "clear campaign strategy of avoidance," as the calendar flips closer to the Sept. 23 primary.

He said the Iraq issue is one of those that need to be debated face-to-face, rather than turn it into a "one-line statement or a 30-second TV commercial or into a fundamental sound bite," as he said, Akaka has.

"One has to conclude he doesn't want to stand there and consider issues jointly with me," Case said, "and I would state that that's exactly what a United States senator is responsible for doing, whether it's in a campaign or whether it's on the floor of the United States Senate."

Akaka is in Washington, D.C., and couldn't be reached for rebuttal. But his campaign staff, in meetings with reporters after the news conference, said Akaka has already agreed to a joint appearance Aug. 8 at the Hawaii Publishers Association luncheon. Other requests for joint appearances and debates are currently "under active consideration," said campaign spokeswoman Elisa Yadao.

"Congressman Case has been talking a lot about having a debate so we can discuss issues, while Sen. Akaka has gone right to the issues," Yadao said.

Akaka, for example, voted against the Patriot Act, which broadens police powers, while Case voted for it. Akaka voted against President Bush's tax-cut package; Case voted for it. Akaka voted for withdrawal of troops from Iraq; Case voted against it, she said.