Obama, McCain Camp Trade Jabs on Iraq

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(SAN DIEGO) Barack Obama and the McCain campaign traded jabs on Iraq today with some of the toughest rhetoric to date.

"There's nothing less than total confusion about where Senator Obama is on the issue of Iraq and where he's been over the course of the past several years," Randy Scheunemann, McCain senior foreign policy advisor, said today.

Scheunemann went on to suggest that Obama's upcoming overseas trip is politically motivated, stressing that Obama hasn't been to Iraq in over 900 days and has never visited Afghanistan.

Obama blasted back, dismissing McCain's trip to Iraq last year and questioning his knowledge of the region.

"Before we went into Iraq, I knew the difference between Shiia and Sunni," Obama said at a press conference, referring to a gaffe McCain made earlier this year. "I'll recall the visit he made last year in which he was surrounded by helicopters and swat teams and, came back and reported how safe everything was in Baghdad."

McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds quickly responded, "If Barack Obama believes that visiting Iraq and meeting with commanders will not give him any new perspective, than we can only assume he's going just to smile for the cameras."

Obama is expected to visit Iraq and Afghanistan later this summer, but said last night that he will not make any promises to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. "We have one president at a time so I'm not going to be traveling to negotiate anything or making promises. I am there to listen."

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by mattcat25 July 14, 2008 5:15 PM EDT: The Sunni-Shiite conflict has been in effect for generations, the issue is whether the grandson of Muhammad %u201CHussein%u201D was the anointed Imam. The United States doesn%u2019t need to be involved in an age old struggle that will never be settled. The War Loving and Fear Mongering Republicans in America are taking advantage of the Sunni-Shiite difference and only want to reap benefits, make a buck, and satisfy their sick obsession with war and violence.

The US has barrowed and spent over half a $Trillion Dollars on a wasted military campaign in Iraq. The American People need to put an end to the Republican War Mongering and Federal Treasury $pending.; Reply to this comment


by toldyouso12 July 14, 2008 2:06 AM EDT: "John McCain and George Bush both said that if Iraq, as a sovereign government, stated that it was time for us to start withdrawing our troops, then they would respect the wishes of that sovereign government," Obama said."

Yeah Bush and McCain might have said that--but they never, ever, ever meant it. Iraqis have wanted us to leave for years--and our answer remains: "Say what? We can''t hear you..now give us a 30 year oil lease"; Reply to this comment


by love234ameri July 13, 2008 11:57 PM EDT: I''m beginning to really think that the cocaine Obama used in his youth did something to his brain. He''s making no sense whatsoever anymore. One day he says this, next he changes his mind. He says he mourns the death of our servicemen. If that is so, he would have been supporting their efforts long ago. He''s saying this because he wants votes. He''s the biggest hypocrite and liar to have ever run for the office of president and commander in chief. He''s pathetic.; Reply to this comment


by Mr_Technical_Dude July 13, 2008 11:25 PM EDT: Barack Obama wants us to believe that if we pull all of our troops out the fighting will end, Middle East oil will not be under threat and Al-Qaeda and the Teliban will lay down their weapons and go back to growing Opium Poppy for its ornamental value.; Reply to this comment