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About 50 people attended a public forum at Winona State University.
The first-term Democrat who represents Minnesota’s 1st District said the forum was intended to collect feedback from his constituents to take back to Washington.
Walz was blunt with his opinion of the war, saying it has made the nation “less safe,” weakened the military and harmed the country’s credibility.
“Probably one of the most disappointing parts about this war is that it is sapping up our optimism and hope for the future,” Walz said.
Ongoing reconstruction in Iraq has been poorly planned and executed, he said.
Many at the forum worried that the nation is heading toward war with Iran and Turkey.
“Now would be a terrible blunder to get involved with Iran,” one man said.
Walz agreed, saying that many in Congress believe now is not the right time to get involved in Iran and upset other countries.
Some said they wanted U.S. troops brought home immediately.
That isn’t feasible, Walz said. It would take at least 18 months to withdraw troops properly and ensure that weapons don’t fall into the wrong hands.
A former Mankato school teacher, Walz defeated six-term incumbent Republican Gil Gutknecht in 2006 after campaigning as an opponent of the war and how the Bush administration has handled it.
Walz said he does not have a specific solution for getting out of Iraq but wants “a solution that will avoid military conflict and conserve human life.”
Walz proposed letting Iraqis vote on whether they want American troops in their country. Most in the crowd seemed to agree.
