Obama May Visit Iraq, But Not With McCain

Democrat Says He Is Considering Trip This Summer, But Declines GOP Candidate's Offer For A Joint Trip

(AP)  Barack Obama is considering a visit to Iraq this summer, his first since becoming a presidential candidate.

The Democrat, who has been criticized by Republican rival John McCain for not visiting Iraq since 2006, revealed his plans to The New York Times. He also declined McCain's invitation for a joint trip.

"I just don't want to be involved in a political stunt," Obama said, according to a report on the newspaper's Web site Wednesday.

"I think that if I'm going to Iraq, then I'm there to talk to troops and talk to commanders," he said in the interview. "I'm not there to try to score political points or perform. The work they're doing there is too important."

McCain said he was pleased to hear that Obama was considering making the trip.

"It's long overdue," he told reporters in Los Angeles.

But that apparently welcome news gave the rivals another opportunity to engage each other on major campaign issues - the war in Iraq and who possesses the leadership and judgement to be the next commander in chief.

McCain supports continued U.S. military involvement in Iraq; Obama opposes the war and wants to bring home the troops.

McCain said Obama "was driven to his position by ideology and not by the facts on the ground. And he does not have the knowledge or the experience to make the judgments. Presidents have to listen and learn. Presidents have to make judgments no matter how popular or unpopular they may be."

Obama, who spoke to reporters on his airplane Wednesday night as he flew home to Chicago, said it's "not relevant" that he hasn't been to Iraq since 2006 and that McCain was using the argument as a diversion.

"I don't think John McCain or the Bush administration have a very strong argument to make about their foreign policy, so they're going to try to come up with diversions or distractions and not argue the substance," Obama said.

Obama's campaign has been considering an overseas trip since last year to beef up his foreign policy credentials, but the extended fight for the Democratic nomination with Hillary Rodham Clinton has delayed those plans.

"A trip is under consideration but no final plans have been made," spokesman Bill Burton said Wednesday.

The Illinois senator made his only trip to Iraq in January 2006 as part of a congressional delegation. McCain, a senator from Arizona, has been to Iraq eight times, most recently in March.

McCain has been criticizing Obama for his absence from Iraq, and the Republican Party joined the fray Wednesday by launching an online clock to count the days since last visited the war zone. By the GOP's count, it's been 871 days.

McCain seemed offended that Obama characterized the invitation for a joint trip as a political stunt, saying it showed Obama's "lack of appreciation of the importance of this issue."

"I don't think that people who serve there would believe that a visit to find out the facts by a person who wants to lead the country, would be a, quote, stunt," he said.

Obama also had harsh words for McCain's assertion that Obama is more willing to meet the heads of rogue states, such as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, than with Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq.

In Reno, Nev., McCain asked: "Why is it that Senator Obama wants to sit down with the president of Iran but hasn't yet sat down with General Petraeus, the leader of our troops in Iraq?"

Obama said that was "just a typical sarcastic comment that doesn't have anything to do with substance and is patently untrue, since I just saw General Petraeus when he was testifying in Washington."

[rowdywicca]

Obama said that was "just a typical sarcastic comment that doesn''t have anything to do with substance and is patently untrue, since I just saw General Petraeus when he was testifying in Washington."

Yeah, you SAW him all right, for what 30 minits, asked two questions!

[max0010]

Debate #4 from the transcripts: Question to OBAMA: %u201Cwould you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that divides our countries%u201D? Senator Obama?
OBAMA: %u201CI would. And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -- which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration -- is ridiculous%u201D.
OBAMA: May 29, 2008 New York Times, seeks to clarify his views on meeting with hostile foreign dictators. %u201CI didn%u2019t say that I would meet unconditionally%u201D
He doesn''t even know what he is saying!!

[max0010]

If the not yet nominee OBAMA goes to Iraq are we going to be held responsible for what comes out of his mouth?

[obama8years]

So Obama the great Uniter, the person too reach over party lines. What a bunch of Hooey. Why doesnt Obama and Mccain travel together. That would show unity. Obama is weak, wont even debate Hillary. Is he afraid of his own shadow too.

The question is if we want a man in the White House who will regularly give his ear to the likes of a Reverend Wright, his and Sabeel%u2019s replacement theologies, and pro-terrorist propagandists like Ali Abunimah on a regular basis? In one sense, Obama could be considered the ISM%u2019s Manchurian candidate given his wide connections to ISM activists and campaign movements such as the Wheels of Justice Tour, Joseph Carr a.k.a. Joseph Smith, Hannah Mermelstein, Anna Baltzer and others.

[jack3213]

What a hypocrit! Actions speak louder than words- He is coward and a phoney. He speaks of UNITING but cannot go with a Republican to share the burden of anaylzing the situation because he is afraid it is a pilitcal stunt?? Perhaps OBAMA is A POLITCIAL STUNT!! It makes me mad, not because I am a fan, as I prefer McCain, but because so many have fallen for the Democratics lines of BS.

[obamaslady]

What with Scott McClellan''s tell-all [or tell most] book out, it appears that McSame may have more problems than he originally thought with distancing himself from Bush since he was right beside Bush voting for the Iraq WAR and has NOT stopped pushing continuance of war! McSame''s war mentality overrides any rational decision he has or will make when foreign policy is at stake. He was indoctrinated [brainwashed] from childhood to believe only the military mindset of thinking about life in general and that does not bode well for him in a position to weild power and push the ''BOMB BUTTON'' especially with his KNOWN TEMPER and regarding Iran [as if Iraq and Afghanistan are not enough]. McSame can run, but no amount of hiding or running will be far enough to avoid his Bush relationship and Bush mindset. I think Americans have had enough of Bushs governance [in light of McClellan''s book] and the thought of another 4 years of MORE MISERABLE MISTAKES, MISSTATEMENTS, AND MISMANAGEMENT is just not going push McSame over the top in the GE. Another 4 years for McSame to place 3 more conservative [Bush choices] judges in the Supreme Court, overturning Roe v Wade, trillions more to the Iraq war while we fall further in the tank economically and lose more in domestic programs is just not going to give McSame an edge. WE MUST DEFEAT MCSAME IN THE GE!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cliff-schecter/the-real-mccain-goes-vira_b_102626.html

[obama8years]

Google - International Solidarity Movement

And then decide if Obama is worth it.


Somebody ask Obama about his involvement with the International Solidarity Movement? Let him answer that, is he going to dodge it , like Ayers and Rev Wright?

If Barack Obama didn%u2019t know about Abunimah%u2019s writings (and Abunimah says he did), the same as his claims of being unaware of Reverend Wright%u2019s remarks after 20 years, then Obama is not competent to be our President. Abunimah likes to lie and claim Al Awda has nothing to do with the ISM or Electronic Intifada, though plenty of evidence exists on the website the homepage at www.StoptheISM.com showing the contrary.

But Obama%u2019s association with the ISM through his church and lobbying in Chicago goes even deeper than just his past links to Al Awda and Ali Abunimah. His pastor, Jeremiah Wright, and the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, are both equally involved with the ISM.

[walt1944-2009]

It has been learned that potential Whimpo-cratic Emperor candidate Barack Obama may visit Iraq this summer, his first visit there since 2006, and that he will NOT be accompanied by that "expert" on Iraq, "Bagdad John McBush" McCain or McCain''s Iraq "advisor", Joe Lieberman.

Obama intends on talking to both soldiers and their commanders there and NOT bringing a shopping list for rugs and trinkets. He does, however, intend on bringing a plane load of donuts and coffee from Dunkin'' Donuts with him to hand out to the troops, thus showing that he DOES SUPPORT THE TROOPS, and is hoping to give them a "little taste of home"!

Upon learning of this, "Bagdad John" has denounced the trip calling it a Whimpo-cratic "gimmick" to encourage troops to shorten their enlistments and return home in time for the November elections!

"Bagdad John''s" position on this is the same as the Great Emperor Bush II''s which is, the longer our soldiers stay in uniform and are in harm''s way, the more "protected" we (and THEY) are!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, DEFINITELY MORE OF THE SAME, McCain!!!!

[obama8years]

Is Obama only giving lip service to the Jews.

However, without losing a beat, an article has appeared on the ISM affiliated website Electronic Intifada (EI) by one of its co-founders, Ali Abunimah, in which Abumimah recounts his close past working relationship with Obama prior to the presidential campaign and how Abunimah believes Obama is merely giving lip service to the Jewish community to get elected, and that once in office he will work for the Palestinian cause. Abunimah lists himself and is mentioned in subsequent Obama articles in the mainstream press merely as a %u201CPalestinian activist.%u201D Abunimah insists that Obama will %u201Ccome around%u201D once elected.

But Ali Abunimah is more than just some %u201CPalestinian activist%u201D based in Chicago, the same location as Reverend Wright and the Trinity United Church of Christ. He is, in fact, one of the founders of the fiercely anti-Semitic ISM Arab group Al Awda, the Palestine Right of Return Coalition. Abunimah is a high level international leader of the ISM for the Arabs who travels extensively between Chicago, Europe and Ramallah.

[obama8years]

Obama and Rev Wrights Involvement with the International Solidarity Movement.

Find out what the Liberal Media is Keeping from Us.

In working with the Saudi funded Muslim Students Association in campuses across the US, the ISM has managed to cloud the image among American youth through disinformation and propaganda campaigns against Jews and Israel in order to try and make American students believe Israel is an apartheid state like South Africa was in the 1980s. At the same time, these same Palestinian groups like Al Awda insist the West Bank and Gaza must be Jew-free. Since this campaign has been largely successful in organizing anti-Israel attitudes on campuses all over America, and since Jewish organizations in America have been slow to react, the ISM moved on to another program to do the same thing only this time alienating US churches, particularly evangelical churches that have a long-term sense of Biblical support for the Jewish state. Thus was born the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theological Society created as part of the ISM to do in US churches what various ISM groups succeeded to do in American colleges.

At the same time, a foothold already existed to a small degree in the American black religious community such as is led by Louis Farrakhan.

[bluestardad]

REPIGS MAKING MONEY OFF IRAQ!

By Aram Roston
Investigative producer
NBC News
updated 6:32 a.m. ET, Wed., May. 28, 2008


Aram Roston
Investigative producer


A little-noticed civil lawsuit in Florida is shining a light on an unusual but hugely profitable Pentagon contract to ship millions of gallons of aviation fuel to U.S. bases in Iraq through the kingdom of Jordan.

The deal involves a cast of influential characters, including the king of Jordan%u2019s brother-in-law, who is suing Harry Sargeant III, a top Florida-based fundraiser for Sen. John McCain''''s presidential bid.

Sargeant is a Florida businessman and former Marine Corps pilot hailed by the McCain campaign as a "Trailblazer" for raising $100,000 or more in political donations. Through a company called International Oil Trading Co., or IOTC, Sargeant and a partner have a lucrative contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars per year to supply American military forces in Iraq with fuel, especially aviation fuel. The firm ships the fuel to Jordan and then trucks it across the border, where U.S. forces escort the convoys to air bases.

[obama8years]

Breaking NEWS....new Polls out

Rasmussen Tracking 05/25 - 05/28 1600 LV 42 47 McCain +5.0
Gallup Tracking 05/22 - 05/27 4411 RV 45 46 McCain 1.0


From the Start Mccain was a long shot, and very far Behind Hillary and Obama. But now that Obama Radicalism are being Shown. And the real Obama is being discovered. America is disgusted with Obama. And it shows. It is not even the General Election yet, but Mccain is already starting to take the lead.

Rasmussen Tracking 05/25 - 05/28 1600 LV 42 47 McCain 5.0
Gallup Tracking 05/22 - 05/27 4411 RV 45 46 McCain 1.0

[briannorwood]

Does anyone remember McCains''s visit to the Iraqi marketplace last summer? Surrounded by 150 or so marines with snipers on the rooftops and blackhawks overhead.

Then, he announced how secure the place had become because of the "surge".

Or McCain mixing up Sunni and Shiite?

Yeah McCain sure could "educate" Obama, alright!

[perceptions5]

Looks like the "elites" pick, Obama is losing ground.

Seems like his "fictional stories" accounts of past history, 57 US States, "sweetie",.......etc...etc. are taking it toll on this guy that most Americans STILL don''t know.

And I doubt it if this "creation by our liberal elite wolfpack press" will make it come November. Just not qualified, but a great "talker".

"Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows that John McCain attracting 47% of the vote nationwide while Barack Obama earns 42%.

McCain is viewed favorably by 52% of voters nationwide and unfavorably by 45%. Obama%u2019s numbers are 48% favorable and 49% unfavorable ."

Obama, Vote NO to a Jimmy Carter second term..........

[tonyd_31]

This guy is showing tremendous good judgement already by refusing to align himself up with McSame and taking him up on his offer for a joint visit to Iraq with McSame. I remember one of McSame''s previous trips when he had a full combat brigade guarding him as he was at a market that had been cleared for his visit talking about how safe it was - the whole time he was in full body armor and had 5000 soldiers surrounding him. What a joke!

[omaar-101]

McCain Needs to Listen to the Top Naval Commander, who Agrees with (Diplomacy over War with Iran)

U.S. Commander: Iran War Would Be ''Disastrous''

U.S. Navy''s Persian Gulf Commander Says War With Iran Would Cause ''Aftershocks'' in the Region


www.abcnews.com


RSS The top U.S. Navy official in the Persian Gulf warned in an interview with ABC News that war with Iran would be "pretty disastrous," with "echoes and aftershocks" reverberating throughout the region.

Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, the top U.S. Navy official in the Persian Gulf, told ABC News that war with Iran would be "disastrous," and that the ideal way to interact with the country is through diplomatic methods.

Nobody I''ve spoken to suggests that going to war with Iran is a good thing," Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff told ABC News.

"The preferred path by far is the (Diplomatic Path), keep working with the international community to bring the right sort of pressure to bear on the Islamic Republic of Iran."

For years, there has been a swirl of speculation about the prospects of war, as the United States has accused Iran of arming militias in Iraq, trying to develop nuclear weapons and supporting terrorism.

President Bush and other top U.S. officials have repeatedly stressed diplomacy when it comes to Iran, but say "all options are on the table," including the military option.

[tonyd_31]

McCain is viewed favorably by 52% of voters nationwide and unfavorably by 45%. Obama%u2019s numbers are 48% favorable and 49% unfavorable ."

Obama, Vote NO to a Jimmy Carter second term..........


Posted by perceptions5


Well, I would prefer 10 more Jimmy Carter second terms than just one-day of a Bush third term. Vote Obama! ''preceptions'' you are more than just a little confused. Thanks for giving me an opportunity to get that little blurb off my chest.

[tonyd_31]

It makes me mad, not because I am a fan, as I prefer McCain, but because so many have fallen for the Democratics lines of BS.


Posted by jack3213

Speaking of lines of BS - The DEMs didn''t involve us in an illegal war based off of lies and BS. Sounds as if you have a problem with the wrong people. The right folks would be the GOP and McSame. It would be nice to see you channel your anger in the right direction.

[msgtsteve]

DEMAND WAR CRIMES for all democommies. Put them all up against the wall for cowardice!

%u201CContemplate the mangled bodies of your countrymen, and then say ''''what should be the reward of such sacrifices?'''' Bid us and our posterity bow the knee, supplicate the friendship and plough, and sow, and reap, to glut the avarice of the men who have let loose on us the dogs of war to riot in our blood and hunt us from the face of the earth? If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!%u201D - Samuel Adams

nough said deomcommies
Seig hillary

[notblue]

Obama''s refusal to say for Sure whether he will go over and assess progress in iraq or lack there of it is an example of the purposeful ignorance which is neccesary to continue the mantra of failure in Iraq. The worste thing that could happen to the Dems in the 08 election is for Iraq to experience real, tangible, progress. They have screamed failure for so long now that any success would be detrimental to their lose for the sake of political adavantage agenda. The American people want SUCCESS in Iraq, it''s time for those who may be in charge of America in 08, such as Obama, to see FIRST hand if there has been real successes in Iraq, he hasn''t been there since 06, and we will never hear the truth from the leftwing anti-war, pro democrat anti- republican media. If a conservative author had published and anti-Democrat book not only would it not have made CBS, it probably wouldn''t have even been published.

[j-whitman]

MsgtSteve,,,, Watch out for Dunkin Donuts delivery trucks - They are actually mobile chemical weapons labs & threir donuts are made from a Yellow Cake mix.

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,, Don''t you ever get embarrased about your GOP & McBush calling you stupid ???

1... Very little info is gleamed from a politictians tour in Iraq, they are kept in a security bubble & seldom shown the dangers.

2... More straight up facts come from the generals & civiilians testifying in Congressional comittees

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,, It''s not like we keep battalions of troops on standby to escort politicians -- If anything, they distract from the mission

[j-whitman]

perceptions5,,,, That''s kinda like counting your chickens before they hatch isn''t it ?? -

-- You don''t take into consideration most Americans have a memory longer than a TV add & remember the devistation this GOP has done to the world & America.

[j-whitman]

fedupwithit1,,,, A little ??? $1.08 a GALLON

McCain''s people charged America for aviation fuel far above & beyound the cost of a barrel wich included the dangers, security & shipping

[notblue]

J-whitman, most Americans in 08 will also remember the "devestation done to America" by the Islamic extremists and extremist supporters like you who deflect responsibilty from their attrocities in the name of politics.

[j-whitman]

fedupwithit1,,,, What did you think of McCain''s lobbyist people that started the Mortgage Collapse across our country ??? He was McBush''s economic chief

[taus007-2009]

I%u2019m surprised that John McCain wants to remind the world of his %u201Cstupid stunt%u201D trip to Iraq, parading around in a Baghdad plaza, shopping for rugs, wearing a flak jacket, escorted by a Marine platoon in full combat gear. No Senator needs to make a trip to Iraq to know that our troops are there for all the wrong reasons; to know that the mission has been bungled from the get-go; to know that our troops are caught in the crossfire of an Iraqi cival war; to know that the Surge has failed to produce any semblance of a Political solution; to know that we''ve wasted nearly a TRILLION dollars in taxpayer money; and to know that skyrocketing Iraqi Oil Revenues haven''t yet begun to pay for the country''s reconstruction.

[realpatriot1]

notblue,

I rspectfully disagree. The worst thing that could happen to the democrats would be for the economy to turn around and the budget to magically balance itself.

The best way to measure success in Iraq is by examing the degree to which the government in Iraq is taking charge of its own country and reducing the burden on Americans. The worst thing in that regard that could happen to Democrats would be for the government to reach an agreement on sharing oil revenue among the 3 major ethnic communities, for the militias to let the government control the oil shipments moving through the south to Basra, for the Shiites to cut ties with Iran, to recognize Sunni minority rights and allow greater Sunni participation in decision-making. and for the government to schedule new elections.

That would show progress towards Iraq becoming the type of free and Democratic society being invisioned by some. Whether or not that''s realistic is debatable but what''s clear is that only Iraqis ccan make it happen.

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,, "Deflect responsibilty from their attrocities in the name of politics" ---- Start watching the news

CIA Agents & their covert missions where outed to butress their lies FOR POLITICS ---- We where lied into war FOR POLITICS

[j-whitman]

realpatriot1,,,, Think someone has a majic wand that turns a pumpkin into a coach with white horses ?? -- I don''t.

[notblue]

realpatriot, I agree with you in regards to the economy but Iraq is certainly part of the "big three".

J-whitman, as usual you make it up as you go, just keep drinknig the media kool-aid, from your perspective CBS tells the "facts". LOL!

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,, The GOP coundn''t turn a pumkin into a pumkin pie without killing half the kitchen staff/

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,, Seems like you only come on CBS to counter the facts.

[j-whitman]

notblue notblue notblue --- Just when has your prespective been right on anything in the last 8 years ???

[notblue]

j-whitman, just cause you say it''s so doesn''t make it so. As usual your twisted perspective disregards the true facts. And once again your speculation, accussations and perspective are just that, yours! And wrong from my perspective, the only differrence is the real truth can be supported by facts unlike your self-perceived "truths".

[jack3213]

The blind walk endlessly behind the inexperianced leader promising them the sky will open, war will end, the economy will improve immediately, in the meanwhile they raise your taxes, keep the war going, provide no change in health care and smile.. I sure would like to be *kissed* first.

Vote McCain 2008.

ps Obama says he wants "unity" but can''t even travel with a fellow senator? What a hypocrit.

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,,, McBush''s people started the mortgage melt down & spread it to the financial market -- They engage in War Profiteering over charging our troops & our country on a major scale for avaition fuel - They made money from the dictatorship in Burma

YOUR DENIALS DOES NOT MAKE IT LESS TRUE

[j-whitman]

jack3213,,, *******, who do you think Obama traveled to Iraq the last time with ??? A troop of girl scouts ???

Politicians distract from the mission, at least 2 battalions as well as Iraqi forces & poiice are distracted from their own missions --- And they are kept out of dangerous areas.

More info can be gleamed from Congressional Comittees which your GOP violently detests.

[j-whitman]

jack3213,,,, You''ve never been in the military have you ???

[Torilin]

Traveling with any other senator to Iraq or anywhere is fine but with anoter presidential candidate is just drama and show. Too vain, too fake, too hollywood!!

[notblue]

j-whitman, you state every day the "mission" is a failure now your saying that a first hand evaluation distracts from the mission, which is it? Or arte you just making it up as you go AGAIN!

[obama8years]

Jimmy Carter Supports Hamas

Rev Wright Supports Hamas

Louis Farakahn Supports Hamas

Barack Huesainn Supports ....?????

In short, Obama saw no problem being lobbied in the past by someone who openly promotes terrorism and discrimination against Jewish-Americans.

Al Awda is commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Nakba (catastrophe of the creation of Israel) this coming May thanks to the willingness of the management of Hilton Hotels to overlook anti-Semitism in its facilities to make a buck. A new petition is in the works to get Hilton to stop this. Al Awda%u2019s scheduled guest of honor will be a PFLP terrorist member named Khalida Jarrar, and their website recently gave an homage to the late PFLP founder George Habash. Al Awda wants convicted Islamic Jihad financier/terrorist Sami al Arian released, a murderer of over 100 people abroad, some of them Americans, from terrorist attacks.

[j-whitman]

notblue,,,, In no way is a politician''s visit a 1st hand account of what''s going on..

Yes, it is a major distraction from not only the missions of our troops but for Iraq''s army & police. Critical missions are delayed untill they have the force necessary ---- It''s business as usual & a waste of time, they are only photo ops

I come on here to counter your no news opinion & lack of experiance

[j-whitman]

obama8years,,,, You ever get tired of your GOP calling you stupid & exploiting it ????

[Syndicate]

McCain says Jump and Obama asks how high. As a McCain supporter you got to love the way that Mccain is able to pull Obama''s strings. We know Obama had no intent of going to Iraq. Now he has to. And he will have to figure out how to spin it when he gets back. This should be good.

[j-whitman]

cbscrash07,,,, *******, Obama''s already been to Iraq & knows whats up

[j-whitman]

cbscrash07,,,, How many photo ops has McBush had in Iraq ?? -

- Several, & his own lobbyists still over charge our military & country on aviation fuel $1.08 per GALLON over & above the cost of a Barrel & over & above the cost of shipment & security.

[j-whitman]

cbscrash07,,,, How many photo ops has McBush had in Iraq ??

Several times & McBush still turns his back on our country & Troops to allow the continued crimes committed against Iraq & our Country''s Military by the GOP''s favorite contractors for War Profiteering

[myshiba]

Americans are finally waking up and seeing that obama is brainless, clueless, and incompetent; just like they did for bush and the iraq war, the msm (with the complicity and assitance of the DNC) is attempting to ram obama down our throats (unvetted and filled with lies and deception); IT WON''T WORK THIS TIME BECAUSE WE ARE HIP TO THE CON!