Eleven of the 13 candidates vying for the seat being vacated by Rep. Ed Case attended the forum that drew more than 100 West Hawai'i residents. Democrat Nestor Garcia had a previous engagement on another island. Robert Wilcox, an independent, also wasn't present.

The question about U.S. involvement in Iraq was submitted by a Kealakehe High School student and drew the sharpest response from Clayton Hee.

The Democrat and former Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee said President Bush lied to the American people about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Hee said nothing has been accomplished in Iraq and the current civil unrest are tribal wars that are not America's problem.

Fellow Democrat Matt Matsunaga called for a Congress that will hold the Bush administration accountable for its failed policies. He also said the federal government must commit to caring for its military veterans.

Republican Bob Hogue took a much different stand, saying U.S. troops are doing what is necessary to protect the United States during the war against terrorism.

"The war has essentially moved to the Mideast and the insurgents would be emboldened if we left," he said.

Brian Schatz, a Democrat who has served eight years in the state House, disagreed, saying the situation in Iraq is a distraction from the war on terror.

"Less than 5 percent of the violence (in Iraq) is al Qaeda," he said. The rest is the result of tribal hatred that has spanned centuries and cannot be settled by U.S. military intervention, Schatz said.

Quentin Kawananakoa, the only other Republican candidate, said Iraq is a budding democracy and its people are fighting for their freedom and liberty.

For that reason, he said, the leader of the free world needs to be committed to helping them.

Joe Zuiker, a Democrat who said he is taking no campaign funds from special interest groups, said it was a "war of choice" and the U.S. must withdraw its military.

Peace will only come when the U.S. withholds help in rebuilding the country until the three groups — Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds — stop fighting among each other, he said.

Former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono said the country was misled into war and needs a quick resolution, with its $200 million per day being spent on education and health care issues at home.

The U.S. needs to redefine its role as a peacemaker, not a war maker, she said.

Hanalei Aipoalani, the youngest candidate at 27, said the U.S. has occupied Iraq, but cannot afford to keep up the fight and must set a timetable for withdrawal.

Gary Hooser, a Kauai resident and former Kauai County Council member, agreed that it was an occupation. He said the only people benefiting from the war were "the terrorists, Halliburton Co. and the defense contractors."

State Sen. Ron Menor, a Big Island native, said he supports a timetable for redeployment, but does not advocate a "cut and run" strategy.

He said spending taxpayer money to rebuild Iraq is a waste and called for a congressional investigation into excessive charges by contractors.

State Sen. Colleen Hanabusa said the path to war in Iraq was the "worst of government," and called for withdrawal of U.S. troops within a year.