2016 IL Senate race: on War & Peace

Mark Kirk: Ground troops against ISIS only with long-term exit strategy

Duckworth: Yes

Kirk: No

Q: On Iraq: Should the US recommit significant additional ground troops to Iraq to combat the success of ISIS?

Duckworth: Only as part of long-term plan and exit strategy drawing on all facets of U.S. power.[5]

Kirk: Supports Obama request to fight ISIS for limited engagement of three years.

Andrea Zopp: Supports the Iran nuclear deal

The GOP-led House is expected to pass a resolution of disapproval, but the deal has enough overall congressional support to prevent opponents from blocking the pact's implementation.

Senator Mark Kirk has long championed efforts to ratchet up sanctions against the Islamic Republic and condemned its financial support of terrorist groups in the region.

Democrat Andrea Zopp, who supports the Iran deal, also is running for Kirk's seat.

Tammy Duckworth: Iran is our enemy, but nuclear deal prevents Iranian nukes

Duckworth wrote an op-ed explaining her support for the deal. Duckworth said she reviewed the agreement, attended briefings with national security experts and heard from "hundreds" of constituents before reaching a decision. "I have no illusions about the authoritarian Iranian regime," she said in a statement. "Iran is our enemy, it is Israel's enemy and it is the enemy of all nations that seek peace and stability. But Iran's destabilizing role in the region would be much greater if it could obtain nuclear weapons. Therefore preventing a nuclear armed Iran must be our primary goal. While not perfect, I believe the nuclear agreement provides the US and our allies with the most realistic and effective course of action currently available to stop Iran's nuclear weapons program.