fmaceachern@wiltonvillager.com

WILTON – Energy independence and the war in Iraq dominated a community meeting hosted by U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4, at the Wilton Library Saturday, April 5.

It was one of a series of meetings Shays has held or will hold throughout his district.

"He basically said if we leave there will be more problems," said Ball who was at the meeting with her mother Carol. "It was an OK answer," said the Middlebrook School student who said she wants an exit strategy put in place for American forces to leave Iraq.

That's not going to happen anytime soon, said Shays, who warned there would be violence if U.S. forces left too soon. He said he has consistently backed the U.S. intervention in Iraq and said progress is being made on the ground.

"I believe in what we're doing in Iraq. I think it's a noble cause," said Shay in comments after the meeting.

He said the Maliki government is working on laws to bringing former Ba'ath Party supporters of Saddam Hussein back into the government and working on a law to share oil revenue equitably among the different groups in Iraq.

Shays praised the Al-Maliki government for its recent assault against Shi'ite militias in the vital southern port city of Basra. Although it was a standoff, Shays said the mere fact Al-Maliki had taken the initiative was encouraging.

After several difficult years, the tide has turned in Iraq and Shays said changes in American policy from earlier missteps has changed the facts on the ground.

Two of the biggest errors were disbanding the Iraqi Army after the invasion and the torture of Iraqi prisoners by American guards at the Abu Ghraib prison.

"We owned the place, we absolutely owned it. It was the worst decision we could make," said Shays, about disbanding the army.

He maintained Abu Ghraib stiffened Iraqi resistance to the American occupation and led to the deaths of "thousands of American soldiers and marines," said Shays.

Currently slightly more than 4,000 U.S. armed forces personnel have died since the March 2003 invasion.

Other than the Iraq War, energy independence is the most significant issue facing Americans today, said Shays.

President George Bush missed the opportunity in rallying the country behind the cause of energy independence after the September 11 terrorist strikes, he said.

America relies on oil from countries or regions that are either unstable or hostile to the United States.

"We are in the grips of Russia, the Persian Gulf, Nigeria and Venezuela," said Shays.

It's going to be up to the next President to lead Americans to energy independence, but neither of the Democratic Senators Barack Obama (D-Ill) or Hillary Clinton (D-NY) vying to be their party's choice for President or presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) have seized the initiative, said Shays.

"I just think Barack or Hillary or John McCain are all close here and they need to go one step further. I think the one who does will capture the imagination of the American people," said Shays.

There was little partisan back and forth comments although the room the room was sprinkled with local Republican and Democratic officials.

The only time the meeting broke along party lines was when local Democratic activist Kathleen Warner pressed Shays on why he wasn't on the house transportation commission even though transportation is a major issue in the county.

"This is a job you work morning, noon and night," said Shays in defending himself. He said he couldn't be on every committee in Washington and chose the finance committee which he said is also important to his constituents.

"If you want to cheap shot you can do that," said Shays.

Wilton selectmen and local Democrat Richard Creeth said more has to be done to get medical insurance for the approximately 200,000 Connecticut residents who have no insurance.

Creeth pointed to Canada as an example where there is universal health care.

"Thank goodness for Canada. They come here for an on-time operation," said Shays with a smile about Canadians who travel to the United States for medical procedures instead of waiting in line.

"Let's not take cheap shots here," replied Creeth.

Shays agreed there has to be universal coverage, but rejected the idea of a Canadian government-run system. He said health care in the United States is too expensive as it is now and pointed to himself as an example.

Recently he needed three stitches after getting a cut and the bill for that was $1,300.

"There are just crazy things in the system," said Shays.