Obama Arrives in Iraq

Candidate to meet with commanders and troops on third leg of world tour
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 21, 2008 4:49 AM CDT
Obama Arrives in Iraq
Barack Obama greets Sgt. Anthony R. Lewis of Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan during a visit to Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, July 20, 2008.    (AP Photo/ U.S. Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan)

Barack Obama landed in Basra today and headed to Baghdad for the latest leg of his world tour, the Washington Post reports. The candidate, who made a brief stop in Kuwait last night after 2 days in Afghanistan, will meet with US commanders and Iraqi officials and speak with US troops and civilian employees. He is accompanied by Democratic Sen. Jack Reed from the Senate Armed Services Committee, CNN reports, and Republican war critic Chuck Hagel.

Obama's pledge to withdraw all US combat troops within 16 months of taking office is expected to be the focus of his meetings with Gen. David Petraeus and Iraqi PM Nouri al-Maliki. The candidate's visit to Iraq, his second ever and first since 2006, will be followed by stops in Jordan, Israel, Germany, France, and Britain. (More Barack Obama stories.)

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