COLUMBIA --- Republican Rep. Joe Wilson and Democratic challenger Rob Miller both have personal connections to the war on terrorism but offer starkly different critiques of the region and how to move forward.

Mr. Wilson, the incumbent running for re-election in South Carolina's 2nd Congressional District, sits on the House Armed Services Committee and has four sons who are in the military, including two who have served in Iraq.

Mr. Miller, the Democrat who wants his job, is a former Marine who was twice deployed to Iraq.

"My trust is in the generals," Mr. Wilson said. "It's been proved correct with (Gen.) David Petraeus. ... I respect his judgment as to troop strength and placement, and I'm confident with the reduction in violence of 80 percent or greater in Iraq."

An exit strategy, according to Mr. Wilson, must come after certain achievements: "With the development of a functioning government, the development of a growing economy, then we can indeed reduce our troop commitment as we train the Iraqi police and army to secure their own country."

He said the same principles apply in Afghanistan but said the allies need to offer more help.

Mr. Miller says the problem is not a military one.

"Militarily, we have won over and over numerous times," he said. "But the military shouldn't be doing political things."

He faults the Bush administration for failing to orchestrate a political win in the region.

"I don't know how many times I was in Iraq in a village ... and I kept thinking to myself, 'There should be an overarching political intent,' and it's never been there," he said.

The needs and challenges in Afghanistan are very different, Mr. Miller said. Afghanistan needs small, specialized forces hunting for the Taliban.