Iraqi leaders offer Obama withdrawal support but no timetable

By: Brian Murphy And Qassim Abdul-Zahra, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BAGHDAD - Face to face with Iraq's leaders, Barack Obama gained fresh support Monday for the idea of pulling all U.S. combat forces out of the war zone by 2010. But the Iraqis stopped short of actual timetables or endorsement of Obama's pledge to withdraw American troops within 16 months if he wins the presidency. The Democratic presidential contender also got a military briefing - and a helicopter tour - from the top U.S. commander in the region, Gen. David Petraeus, and he met with a few of the nearly 150,000 U.S. troops now well into the war's sixth year. Back in the United States, Republican rival John McCain said he hoped Obama's visit would open his eyes to the danger of withdrawal timetables. Said the Arizona senator, who was meeting with President George W.... [read full story]