Ten candidates seeking the 10th Congressional seat voiced their views on a number of hot topics such as Iraq, illegal immigration and health care during a forum Wednesday at Augusta State University.

In response to whether the U.S. should be in Iraq and how it can get out, Republican candidate Dr. Paul Broun said that was a moot point.

"We are there," he said.

And, he added, when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid goes to the floor and says the war is already lost, he should probably be tried for treason.

"We're fighting Islamic factions," Dr. Broun. "We're fighting folks that want to cut your throat and your childrens' throats."

Democrat Denise Freeman said citizens must trust the military and let them do the jobs for which they were trained without media and political intervention.

Republican Bill Greene said, "How do we get out? It's called victory."

Democrat James Marlow cited a need to support the troops and take care of them when they come home, but he recommended diplomacy and setting "critical milestones the Iraqis have to follow" to pave the way for withdrawal.

Republican Mark Myers said amid many uncertainties, one certainty is that the country doesn't need to be sending mixed messages with President Bush saying one thing and Congress another.

Democrat Evita Paschal called for a gradual reduction of troops after September.

Republican Nate Pulliam, a retired lieutenant colonel who recently spent a year in Iraq warned that radical Islam is out to take over the world and that it would be catastrophic to pull out now.

Libertarian Dr. Jim Sendelbach said those who are saying "put up the white flag" are causing demoralization.

"To say to the Iraq people, 'We're pulling out' is the most disgraceful thing we could do," he said.

Republican Erik Underwood's plan would to be to divide Iraq into three regions with shared power.

And Republican Jim Whitehead cited a need to have a strategy to move U.S. troops out of Iraq as soon as possible but only when the Iraqi government is capable of defending itself.

Most of the candidates agreed that the remedy to illegal immigration is to seal the U.S.-Mexican border now and take away the incentives for coming into this country illegally.

Dr. Broun said he is opposed to giving amnesty to the estimated 12 million illegals already here.

Ms. Freeman said illegal immigrants are being enticed to come to this country by businesses that make money off them.

Mr. Greene called illegal immigration one of the greatest threats to U.S. security, and said President Bush isn't doing anything about stopping the "tsunami" of illegals flowing across the border.

Mr. Marlow said, "Seal the borders. Enforce the laws on the books."

Mr. Marlow also said he was against amnesty but after sealing the borders he would consider the possibility of some type of documented worker program.

Ms. Paschal called for more border patrol now.

Mr. Pulliam called for cutting off benefits to illegals and going after the businesses who hire them.

Dr. Sandelbach said to consider the contrast of security when boarding a plane with the lack of security on the borders.

Mr. Underwood said he would create an act to use the military to seal the border immediately.

Mr. Whitehead said mass deportation is not the answer.