War Zones on the Itinerary
New York Times, The (NY) - June 17, 2008
Author: JEFF ZELENY
It’s not just battleground states on the itinerary for the presidential
candidates. Senator Barack Obama said Monday that he also intended to visit Iraq
and Afghanistan before the November election.
One day after Senator John McCain met with Iraq’s foreign minister, Hoshyar
Zebari , Mr. Obama spoke to Mr. Zebari by telephone. Mr. Obama said he was
“encouraged” by reductions in violence in Iraq, but added that the United States
should withdraw troops at a pace of one to two brigades a month, with a goal of
removing most combat troops in 16 months.
“We have no interest in permanent bases in Iraq,” Mr. Obama said.
Among the issues being discussed between Mr. Zebari and the presidential
candidates is a long-term security accord between Iraq and the United States.
While the Bush administration would like to see an agreement reached by
midsummer, Mr. Obama said he opposed such a swift timetable.
“My concern is that the Bush administration, in a weakened state politically,
ends up trying to rush an agreement that in some ways might be binding to the
next administration,” Mr. Obama said, “whether it’s my administration or Senator
McCain’s administration.”
Mr. Obama , who has not been to Iraq for more than two years, said last month
that he would like to visit. After speaking to Mr. Zebari , he sounded more
definitive, saying, “I told him that I look forward to seeing him in Baghdad.”
Mr. McCain has invited Mr. Obama to take a joint trip to Iraq, a gesture that
Mr. Obama dismissed as a political stunt. Alex Conant, a Republican Party
spokesman, said it had been nearly 900 days since Mr. Obama visited, in January
2006.
Mr. Obama did not say Monday when he would be going, but said it would be
“before the election.”
JEFF ZELENY
Edition: Late Edition - Final
Section: National Desk
Page: 19
Page Column: 0
Page Subsection: A
Column: TRAVEL PLANS
Record Number: 2008-06-17-320854
He’s a traitor.
You know, Obama didn’t want to do a joint trip w/McCain to Iraq. Maybe this incident/conversation is why. BO couldn’t sell out our military with McCain tagging along. He did take one RINO and a dem w/him though: Chuck Hagel and?????
As long as he’s going any way, how about sending Barack Obama spelunking in the caves by the Afghan-Pakistan border?