US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Monday he plans to visit Iraq and Afghanistan before November's election and was encouraged by a reduction in violence in Iraq.
Obama, who later picked up the endorsement of former US vice president Al Gore at a Detroit rally on Monday night, spoke by telephone with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari and reiterated his support for a pullout of US troops.
“I told him that I looked forward to seeing him in Baghdad,” Obama said in Flint, Michigan.
“I emphasized to him how encouraged I was by the reductions in violence in Iraq but also insisted that it is important for us to begin the process of withdrawing US troops, making it clear that we have no interest in permanent bases in Iraq,” he said.
Obama aides did not give details of the visit. Republican John McCain, a staunch advocate of the war and frequent visitor to Iraq, has repeatedly criticized Obama for his failure to visit the country since 2006.
Obama spoke to Zebari one day after the Iraqi official met McCain in Washington. The Arizona senator has criticized Obama as too inexperienced to run the country.
GORE SUPPORT
At a Detroit rally, Gore threw his support behind Obama, declaring “the other party seems to think age and experience will work in their favor.”
Gore said it was time for a new direction.
“Even as we acknowledge his long experience we must, and we will, make our case that America simply can not afford to continue the policies of the last years,” he said.
“After eight years of incompetence, neglect and failure, we need change,” Gore said. “After eight years when our Constitution has been dishonored and disrespected, we need changes.”
MCCAIN'S CHALLENGE
McCain, who strongly backed the buildup of US troops ordered by US President George W. Bush in Iraq, on Monday questioned Obama’s judgment on Iraq.
“He was wrong when he said the surge would not succeed, he was wrong when he said that we were failing in Iraq as a result of it and he is wrong today,” McCain said at his campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.
McCain said he hoped Obama would meet the US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus.
“I ask him to request a meeting with General Petraeus and sit down and get his assessment of the military situation,” McCain said. “I don’t know how you can draw conclusions such as Senator Obama has without even sitting down and talking directly to our commander on the ground.”
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