Obama begins firsthand look at Baghdad

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

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

His stops in Baghdad — and other areas of the country — marked 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 U.S. combat mission will sap military resources and focus — at a time when Iraq violence has dropped to its lowest level in four years.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080721/ap_on_el_pr/obama;_

[cal04]

1. Obama meets Iraqi PM in Baghdad

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7516624.stm

US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has met the Iraqi prime minister on his first visit to Baghdad as part of a major foreign tour.

Mr Obama has advocated pulling out US combat troops within 16 months if elected president in November.

(snip)
Mr Obama held talks with Prime Minister Nouri Maliki shortly after arriving as part of a US Congressional delegation.

He is also due to meet President Jalal Talabani as well as the top US military commander in Iraq, Gen David Petraeus, and others.

[bdamomma]

2. bring back the facts Obama.