Barack Obama begins first-hand inspection of Iraq

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-21 20:13

BAGHDAD - Barack Obama began Monday his first on-the-ground inspection of Iraq since launching his bid for the White House, with US commanders ready to brief him on progress in a war he has long opposed and Iraqi leaders wanting more details of his proposals for troop withdrawals.

The undated file photo shows the official stops during Barack Obama's international tour. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is in Iraq for talks with local leaders and US commanders, after pledging to pull out US troops in 16 months if he takes over the White House next year. [Agencies]

His stop in Baghdad is the second major leg of a war zone tour that opened in Afghanistan. The contrasts in tone and message were distinct.

Obama sees the battle against the resurgent Taliban and al-Qaida in Afghanistan as America's most crucial fight and supports expanding troop strength to counter a sharp rise in attacks.

But Obama had stood against the Iraq invasion and now worries that an open-ended US combat mission will sap military resources and focus — at a time when Iraq violence has dropped to its lowest level in four years.

The Illinois senator — traveling in a congressional delegation with Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Chuck Hagel, R-Neb. — arrived early Monday in a dusty haze kicked by Baghdad's summer winds. The airport is located near the vast Camp Victory, a nerve center for the US military in the palaces and gardens that were once part of Saddam Hussein's presidential compound.

The lawmakers made no public statements and moved directly into talks.

The meetings were expected to include the top US commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, and other military chiefs outlining the significant gains in recent months against both Shiite militia and Sunni insurgents including al-Qaida in Iraq.

The White House and military leaders — and many residents of Baghdad — trace the momentum back to last year's buildup of more than 30,000 troops in areas around Iraq's capital. Obama's challenger, Sen. John McCain, has tried to hammer Obama on his critical remarks before the so-called "surge."

All five surge brigades have left Iraq, but there are still about 150,000 US soldiers in Iraq, more than in early 2007.

Obama has endorsed removing US combat forces over a 16-month period, but has been less precise on the size and type of US military role needed in Iraq after an exit from the battlefield.

Iraqi leaders are expected to press Obama for more clarity on his long-term vision. Such discussions have added importance since Iraq and US negotiators appear stalled in efforts to reach a long-range pact to define future US military presence and obligations.

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