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Obama says Iraq war 'distracting' Obama vows to end US role in Iraq
(19 minutes later)
Barack Obama, the Democratic contender for the US presidency, has said the US focus on Iraq is distracting the country from challenging other threats. Barack Obama, the Democratic contender for the US presidency, has said his main priority as US president will be to end the US involvement in Iraq.
In a speech, Senator Obama argued that the open-ended war was diminishing US security and damaging the US economy. In a foreign policy speech, Senator Obama said "our single-minded and open-ended focus on Iraq is not a sound strategy for keeping America safe".
Mr Obama said his top priority would be to end the war in Iraq and the second to take the war to al-Qaeda and the Taleban in Afghanistan and Pakistan. His second priority would be to take the war to al-Qaeda and the Taleban in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
His criticised the policies of his Republican rival in November's poll.His criticised the policies of his Republican rival in November's poll.
John McCain says events on the ground must govern any Iraq pullout.John McCain says events on the ground must govern any Iraq pullout.
Earlier, President George W Bush rejected any "artificial" timetable for withdrawing US troops, saying a decision must be made "as conditions permit".Earlier, President George W Bush rejected any "artificial" timetable for withdrawing US troops, saying a decision must be made "as conditions permit".
Mr Obama's speech comes ahead of a tour that will include Iraq and Afghanistan.Mr Obama's speech comes ahead of a tour that will include Iraq and Afghanistan.
The dates of the trip have not been disclosed for security reasons.The dates of the trip have not been disclosed for security reasons.
'Unacceptable''Unacceptable'
In the speech at the International Trade Center in Washington, Mr Obama said: "Our single-minded and open-ended focus on Iraq is not a sound strategy for keeping America safe. In the speech at the International Trade Center in Washington, Mr Obama said: "This war diminishes our security, our standing in the world, our military, our economy, and the resources that we need to confront the challenges of the 21st Century."
Al-Qaeda has an expanding base in Pakistan that is probably no farther from their old Afghan sanctuary than a train ride from Washington to Philadelphia Excerpt from Barack Obama speechAl-Qaeda has an expanding base in Pakistan that is probably no farther from their old Afghan sanctuary than a train ride from Washington to Philadelphia Excerpt from Barack Obama speech
"This war diminishes our security, our standing in the world, our military, our economy, and the resources that we need to confront the challenges of the 21st Century," he said. He said the conflict in Iraq must be brought to an end as "the central front in the war on terror is not Iraq, and it never was".
Mr Obama said that his priorities in the White House would be to concentrate on finishing the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taleban. Mr Obama said that as president he would take the US in a new direction, and his priority would be to finish the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taleban.
Mr Obama set out in more detail his plans for a withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, a process he said would allow much needed reinforcements to be sent to Afghanistan. He said that the situation in Afghanistan had deteriorated to such an extent that the Taleban were able to launch a brazen attack on one of America's own bases there.
Mr Obama said a withdrawal of US forces from Iraq would allow much needed reinforcements to be sent to Afghanistan.
He said sustained co-operation was needed between Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nato to root out al-Qaeda and the Taleban.
"It is unacceptable that almost seven years after nearly 3,000 Americans were killed on our soil, the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 are still at large," he said."It is unacceptable that almost seven years after nearly 3,000 Americans were killed on our soil, the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 are still at large," he said.
"Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahari are recording messages to their followers and plotting more terror. The Taliban controls parts of Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda has an expanding base in Pakistan that is probably no farther from their old Afghan sanctuary than a train ride from Washington to Philadelphia.""Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahari are recording messages to their followers and plotting more terror. The Taliban controls parts of Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda has an expanding base in Pakistan that is probably no farther from their old Afghan sanctuary than a train ride from Washington to Philadelphia."
"And yet today, we have five times more troops in Iraq than Afghanistan.""And yet today, we have five times more troops in Iraq than Afghanistan."
On other issues he said he would use all tools not to allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon, and would invest $150bn over the next 10 years to end America's dependence on foreign oil.On other issues he said he would use all tools not to allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon, and would invest $150bn over the next 10 years to end America's dependence on foreign oil.
Timetable for withdrawalTimetable for withdrawal
BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the war over the war in Iraq is moving into high gear.BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the war over the war in Iraq is moving into high gear.
The essential difference between Mr Obama and his Republican rival, John McCain, is that the Illinois senator wants to set a clear timetable for a withdrawal from Iraq - some 16 months - while Mr McCain insists that the situation on the ground, not timetables, must govern the pace of any withdrawal, our correspondent says.The essential difference between Mr Obama and his Republican rival, John McCain, is that the Illinois senator wants to set a clear timetable for a withdrawal from Iraq - some 16 months - while Mr McCain insists that the situation on the ground, not timetables, must govern the pace of any withdrawal, our correspondent says.
It is not just a political argument, he adds - it has a huge bearing on the signals that the next US president will send to the Middle East and at root it is a test of their capacity to be Commander-in-Chief.It is not just a political argument, he adds - it has a huge bearing on the signals that the next US president will send to the Middle East and at root it is a test of their capacity to be Commander-in-Chief.
Opinion polls suggest that Americans remain deeply divided on the best strategy in Iraq, with almost equal proportions opting for a clear timetable or for no timetable for a withdrawal.Opinion polls suggest that Americans remain deeply divided on the best strategy in Iraq, with almost equal proportions opting for a clear timetable or for no timetable for a withdrawal.
Mr Obama may not necessarily need to win this argument outright, our correspondent says, but in setting out his foreign policy stall he needs to show that he has credible, concrete positions that make sense of a complex world.Mr Obama may not necessarily need to win this argument outright, our correspondent says, but in setting out his foreign policy stall he needs to show that he has credible, concrete positions that make sense of a complex world.