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McCain makes upbeat Iraq speech | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
John McCain, the Republicans' choice to run for president, has said that the US can succeed in Iraq, but warned against any hasty withdrawal of US troops. | |
His address came ahead of a report to Congress this week from General David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq. | |
Mr McCain said: "We are no longer staring into the abyss of defeat." | |
He is at odds with Democratic rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, who have said they would start withdrawing troops soon after taking office. | |
They are competing to be the Democratic Party's nominee to run for president in November's general election. | They are competing to be the Democratic Party's nominee to run for president in November's general election. |
Speaking to veterans at the National World War I Museum, Mr McCain highlighted a sharp drop in violence in the months since President George W Bush's surge strategy of pouring extra troops into Iraq came into effect last year. | |
"Our goal is an Iraq that no longer needs American troops. And I believe we can achieve that goal, perhaps sooner than many imagine," he said. | |
"But I do not believe that anyone should make promises as a candidate for president that they cannot keep if elected." | "But I do not believe that anyone should make promises as a candidate for president that they cannot keep if elected." |