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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| McCain makes upbeat Iraq speech | McCain makes upbeat Iraq speech |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| John McCain, the Republicans' choice for president, has said the US can succeed in Iraq, but warned against any hasty withdrawal of US troops. | John McCain, the Republicans' choice for president, has said 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 Gen David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq. | His address came ahead of a report to Congress this week from Gen David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq. |
| Mr McCain said: "We are no longer staring into the abyss of defeat." | 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. | 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, the Arizona senator 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. | Speaking to veterans at the National World War I Museum, the Arizona senator 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. |
| Promises | Promises |
| From June 2007 until Mr McCain's most recent visit to Iraq last month, violence in the country fell by 90%, and deaths of civilians and coalition forces fell by 70%, he said. | From June 2007 until Mr McCain's most recent visit to Iraq last month, violence in the country fell by 90%, and deaths of civilians and coalition forces fell by 70%, he said. |
| I don't want to keep our troops in Iraq a minute longer than necessary to secure our interests there John McCain class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7335547.stm">Clinton urges Bush Olympic action | |
| "The dramatic reduction in violence has opened the way for a return to something approaching normal political and economic life for the average Iraqi," he said. | "The dramatic reduction in violence has opened the way for a return to something approaching normal political and economic life for the average Iraqi," he said. |
| The senator, who was one of the most prominent proponents of the "surge" strategy, said he did not want to keep US troops in Iraq any longer than necessary. | The senator, who was one of the most prominent proponents of the "surge" strategy, said he did not want to keep US troops in Iraq any longer than necessary. |
| "Our goal is an Iraq that no longer needs American troops," he said. "And I believe we can achieve that goal, perhaps sooner than many imagine." | "Our goal is an Iraq that no longer needs American troops," he said. "And I believe we can achieve that goal, perhaps sooner than many imagine." |
| "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." |
| On Tuesday, all three leading presidential hopefuls will be in Washington to question Gen Petraeus on US strategy in Iraq. | On Tuesday, all three leading presidential hopefuls will be in Washington to question Gen Petraeus on US strategy in Iraq. |
| Gen Petraeus is due to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee, of which Mrs Clinton and Mr McCain are members, and the Foreign Affairs panel, on which Mr Obama has a seat. | Gen Petraeus is due to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee, of which Mrs Clinton and Mr McCain are members, and the Foreign Affairs panel, on which Mr Obama has a seat. |
| Gen Petraeus will also report directly to Mr Bush. | Gen Petraeus will also report directly to Mr Bush. |