Obama acknowledges military concerns on Iraq pullout, wins Iraqi government agreement on 2010

Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama leaves Iraq Tuesday having found its leaders in general agreement with his plans for withdrawing American combat troops while acknowledging that the U.S. military has "deep concerns" about an arbitrary pullout date that ignores possible security reversals in the oil-rich country. Back in the U.S., Republican candidate John McCain was battling to stay in the campaign spotlight as Obama's travels drew huge media attention at home and abroad. The four-term Arizona senator, appearing wrong-footed by the Iraq developments, hotly disagreed on troop withdrawals saying any pullout "must be based on conditions on the ground," not artificial timelines. After leaving Iraq, Obama traveled to Amman, Jordan where he's expected to meet with King Abdullah before going later in the day to Israel.... [read full story]