U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., discussed concerns with her constituents about the “war on terrorism” in a public listening session at the state Capitol on Monday.

Many citizens were vocal in their opposition to U.S. military action.

UW-Madison senior Sarah Kaiksow said she is afraid that America’s response to the terrorist attack risks too many lives.

“We need to look for a U.S. foreign policy to change in order for a lasting peace to happen,” Kaiksow said. “It is time for the U.S. to take a hard line humanitarian stance toward a more peaceful foreign policy.”

Mitch Miller, who was in Washington during the Sept. 11 incident, said Congress should not rush to increase funding agencies such as the CIA because of the terrorist attack.

“It is important not to allow changes to be pursued under the guise of emergency or unity,” Miller said. “Many of the problems we have today were created by overt and covert agencies that are now asking for more power.”

Elliot Stokes, a native of Sun Prairie, agreed that America’s interventionist foreign policy is the cause of last month’s terrorist attack.

“Wars don’t work, and never have,” Stokes said. “The U.S. should get out of the Middle East now.”

In an interview with The Badger Herald after the listening session, Baldwin said she believed the United States should use “any tool necessary” to prevent a future attack.

“I believe that holding the people that planned the attack, and bringing them to justice, is a very important thing,” Baldwin said. “And that may mean a forcible response.”

However, she said America should also work toward an internationally acceptable solution.

Rob Maberry, a research specialist at UW-Madison, warned that the United States must not act alone in defeating terrorism, or it will risk alienating the rest of the Middle East.

“If we kill bin Laden by acting unilaterally, we will be triggering massive retaliation from supporters of bin Laden and thousands of people in Arab countries and other countries who have a just gripe with the United States,” Maberry said.

Matt Nelson, who was in Washington for the peace protests last weekend, said he is concerned about the consequences the current events might have on American civil liberties.

“We need to stay on course and not let this emergency legitimize attacks on civil liberties and civil rights,” said Nelson.

Baldwin said she is working on anti-terrorist legislation and protecting vital civil liberties.

“[I] hope that we can do a better job in balancing national security and Constitutional liberties as we move forward with an anti-terrorism bill,” Baldwin said. “I am hopeful we can craft a package that I can actually support, but I won’t if I don’t believe we are adequately balancing those interests.”

Brad Phillips, a resident of Middleton, said he supports the government’s war on terrorism, and feels a non-aggressive foreign policy would invite future assaults.

“I’m unwilling to handcuff the government and wait for nuclear devices to be detonated in our city because we are afraid to shoot at somebody,” Phillips said.

Madison resident Larry Gleasman said although he opposed the Vietnam War, violence does occasionally have a place in the world, and now is an example. He also said U.S. legislators need to be careful about upsetting civil liberties.

“To say I would not mind giving up certain liberties to prevent what happened in New York is not correct,” Gleasman said.

He also praised Baldwin’s actions in supporting anti-terrorism.

“I am pleased you are representing us. You have demonstrated you did what you think is right, not on what is popular,” Gleasman said.