Obama in Afghanistan; meets today with Karzai
Obama's trip is scheduled to include a visit to Iraq, and his foreign policy judgment got what appeared to be an unexpected boost from that country's leader, Nouri al-Maliki, who praised the Democratic presidential candidate's plan for withdrawing U.S. troops over a 16-month period.
In an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel, al-Maliki embraced Obama's plan, saying: "That, we think, would be the right time frame for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes." Al-Maliki emphasized he was not making an endorsement in the presidential race.
And in Baghdad today, the chief spokesman for al-Maliki issued a statement saying the prime minister's comments were "not conveyed accurately" by Der Spiegel.
Spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said al-Maliki did not endorse a specific timetable but instead discussed a "an Iraqi vision" of U.S. troop withdrawals based on negotiations with Washington and "and in the light of the continuing positive developments on the ground."
Obama's high-profile trip caps a week on the campaign trail during which he focused on national security and U.S. commitments abroad — areas that are considered special strengths of McCain.
Seizing on al-Maliki's favorable comments, the Obama campaign put out a statement from his foreign policy adviser, Susan Rice: "Senator Obama welcomes Prime Minister Maliki's support for a 16 month timeline for the redeployment of U.S. combat brigades. This presents an important opportunity to transition to Iraqi responsibility, while restoring our military and increasing our commitment to finish the fight in Afghanistan."
In a speech last week, Obama said that troops should be drawn down in Iraq and two additional combat brigades deployed in Afghanistan, a war he said the U.S. can't afford to lose.
His visit to Afghanistan comes at a time of sharply deteriorating security across the country. Suicide bombings are an everyday occurrence, and the number of foreign troops killed last month was the highest since the start of the war.
The presumptive Democratic nominee and senator from Illinois is part of an official congressional delegation that includes Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Chuck Hagel, R-Neb. The lawmakers made a brief visit to Jalalabad airfield in eastern Afghanistan, greeting American troops from their respective home states.
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