It is good for Obama to visit Iraq and Afganistan not only to tell the American veterans in both of those two countries that as soon as he gets the presidency he will begin bringing them back to their homes and to their wives and children, but also to bring to a complete end to McCain distractions - that Obama has not been to Iraq or Afganistan for the last 900 days.

What is also good for Obama to do is to visit France, Germany, Japan, China, indonesia etc where I am sure he will welcomed like we have never seen before. That huge welcome will be a witness that America is set to claim back its; stature in the world. It will have an immediate impact in the minds of the American voter. It will raise Obama's lead in the polls.

Who in the heck is McCain to keep tabs on Obama ??? Obama had stated before that he would go to Iraq and Afghanistan. He will go when it is the right time. Not just because McCain so ! And…McCain going to Mexico and Columbia ?????? What the heck for ? He needs to take care of Americans before he trys to take care of other countries. SORRY…he is not Presidential material !!!!!

I know its redundant to keep mentioning this but…………………………………HE WOULDNT HAVE TO VISIT IF WE WERNT THERE!!!

"McCain regularly reminds voters that it’s been almost 900 days since Obama last visited Iraq, and the Republican National Committee helps out with a running clock on its Web site."

fear monger

You cant ever get Republicans like Annie to use facts. It makes them melt like the witch in the wizard of OZ.

McCain in '08; once a Hillary Supporter.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING FOR McBUSH AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WITH THEIR ONE ITEM AGENDA - WAR, WAR AND MORE WAR - WHICH GETS MORE DESPERATE EVERY HOUR.

THEY WOULD BE SMART TO HARP ON SOMETHING ELSE, EVEN IF THEY DO NOT HAVE A CLUE.

you go Oboom Boom….

OBAMA/WRIGHT 08… GO BLACK POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We, Hispanics, were fooled by the Republicans in two consecutive Presidential elections. We won't be fooled the Third time.

The "George W. Bush and Karl Rove" campaign tactics and slogans are getting old. First John Kerry was "the most liberal senator in the senate." "He didn't have enough experience to handle terrorism." "He's an elitist who is out of touch with the American people." Now they're using the same catch phrases for Obama.

Republicans we won't be fooled again.

You know… I haven't been to Iraq in 33 years (ever).. and I'll bet out of every 100 people that blog here… I'll bet 99 out of 100 people have never been there either. But you are all quick to blast Obama for not going in a few years. For what? Why should he have gone in the last 3 years when he has nothing to do with Iraq, or the war, and was opposed to the whole thing anyway?

I'll bet out of all the senetors and congressmen… a very small percentage have been to iraq either… once again because there's no reason to be there.

McCain is pounding Obama over a total non-issue. Only now would it make sense for him to go there… because only now will he be in a position to make any kind of decisions when it comes to Iraq.

But while McCain cries over Iraq… Obama has been concentrating on something more important… us!

No matter how many meeting this guy goes to he still has no Idea what we face and how to keep us safe. It was Obama that said regardless of what the generals say he will withdraw the troops.
Obama is meeting with the pentagon because John McCain called him on it.
Obama is nothing but an ambitious opportunist.

hope the repubs are not dug in too deep with the pentagon.they may feed him false imformation.

Why isn't CNN reporting the news that Obama told the Black Women's Caucus that women should "get over it" -referring to Clinton's loss and jump on his inflated bandwagon? Guess what - Obama won't be getting my vote nor millions of other women who will write in Hillary Clinton's name on the November ballot. It's Clinton who should be having the Pentegon briefing not Mr. Ego. Obama has been so inflated by the media and Blacks that he could be a float in the Thanksgiving day parade.

If he sees what's going on then maybe he'll know what hes talking about. He should take Michelle with him so she can see they really dont have it that bad with only making 4 million last year.

Clear Thinking Independent. Your facts are wrong. McCain opposed a previous sole source contract to Boeing to force competition. The original contract was done illegally and 2 people from Boeing went to jail. McCain has not expressed an opinion on the current competition.

McCain hoping for something?

Obama is probably hoping that if he waits long enough something will happen to go in his favor. You know like things turning for the worse and for an increase in american deaths. But I guess when you are running for president and don't have no experience you really don't want a briefing you wouldn't understand anyway.

Bill, Covington
WoW… You're either a fool or a foolish Republican.

You guys keep saying he's just an empty suit, but last I checked there's a person in that suit and his name is Barack Obama, future President of the United States of America. Get used to it cause it's written in stone.

Good for Barack to get further details as to where things stand as of now. Will help further figure out how to pull the troops out when he's President. Hate to say this, but being a POW doesn't make you experienced at war, was makes you experienced about war is continiously being in one. Oh, another thing, like the Vietnamese don't under estimate the Arabs, because they fight dirty which is way it will be a loosing battle for us. They raise young kids to fight, is America doing that for their young Generation. They willing to kill themselves for their God and whatever other reasons, I don't see Americans making that kind of sacrifice. We try to hold a moral high ground when it comes to fighting but they don't . Last but least, they been fighting everyday of their lives, period! True, you may keep it down for a period of time, must during that time, you better believe they gathering up their forces and will come back full force.

Clinton National News………not worthy..

please stop reporting on your king and queen
they are hisotry,
they are liars
they are old
they are cheaters
they are so rich

can you highlight the last part THEY ARE SO RICH.. yet billary is aksing the poor people of this country to pay for her debts,……hahahhahaa

anyway, if she keeps it up, we will win McBush again and agaisnt ALL and I mean ALL ODDS, including the mayan calendar which predicted the end of the world as we know it.. bush.. and hillayr, and mcbush,
and the begining of great a great era by a great leader..which starts in 2008 results to be seen by 2012.. the new era and begining of our world as we know it

down with McBush, McClinton, billary and hillarious

Bill, Covington June 24th, 2008 8:53 pm ET

God bless the pentagon, God save the nation. Everything of any value told to the obama will probably end up in the hands of the enemy. Obama the Talaban, Al quida all one and the same.
Wake up America!
_________________________________________________

Bill, you are a hate filled moron. Please go back to FOX news where you belong and leave this post to serious folks. And take toot, annie, seah, that should be a hoot, aware, to hrc supporters, and park more,New Orleans with you. You aren't wanted here.

Michael, Annie needs to be saved from herself because her issues are not in tack with mainstream America. The only thing we can hope is that Annie one day becomes intelligently informed.

This is one Hip Hop artist that is backing McCain. I can't relate to BHO the I can with Johnnie Mac. BHO is just frontin.

McCain can remember it has been 900 days since Obama visited Iraq, but he can't remember who the enemy is in Iraq, nor who is fighting there.

Pathetic.

Obama will listen to what people tell him and weigh all sides. I will take that any day over the Republican agenda of lies, distortions, and embezzling money for their own fortunes.

How come Obama changed his mind about debating McCain. Before he kept saying, " I'll debate McCain anytime, anywhere". Obama the flip-flopper.
Obama second term of Carter

At least with McCain, I know he has the experience necessary to protect the country. Frankly, I can't believe how many people are willing to support Obama without really knowing anything about him. This isn't American Idol, people! There is more at stake than your right to murder your unborn baby.

Obama does not want to punish his daughters with a baby. We know that much.

Mccain war hero
Obama a zero

mccain experience
Obama preacher

mccain Honest
obama nobody knows

Is Obama joking? He's been the chair of the subcommittee with jurisdiction over NATO and Afghanistan since the beginning of 2007, but he's never bother to think that the fight against Osama was significant enough to convene the subcommittee even once. Now he is saying that he HOPES to visit Iraq and Afghanistan sometimes before November… maybe. Well, maybe a Pentagon briefing will be a good education for this neophyte wanna be of a presidential candidate. Hope they get on rescheduling that briefing…

Everyone who hasn't just fallen in love with the image of Obama Almighty: haven't you noticed all the promises he made BEFORE he sleazed off with the Democratic Party's nomination that he's quick enough to reverse AFTER he sleazed off with the Democratic Party's nomination? Anything he promises between now and November will surely be blown off by him after November 4, when sticking with those promises will no longer be expedient for him because HE LOST THE ELECTION.

ISN'T THIS WHAT OBAMA DOES BEST RESCHEDULE OR PUT OFF UNTIL HE FINALLY CANCELS PERIOD. SOMETIMES OBAMA YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WAKE UP AND REALIZE THAT JUST SAYING PRESENT WON'T CUT IT. IF YOU GAIN THE OVAL OFFICE, "YES," SOMETIMES AT THREE IN THE MORNING YOU WILL BE CALLED ON TO MAKE A DECISION THAT WILL AFFECT MILLIONS OF LIVES. CAN YOU DO IT? I DOUBT NOT, BECAUSE YOU WON'T HAVE TIME TO CALL REV. WRIGHT. BESIDE HE WON'T BE IN FOR YOU NOW THAT YOU HAVE DENOUNCED HIM OR DID YOU LIE ABOUT THAT ALSO?

Folks,

please google……tran trong duyet……You really need to learn the TRUTH ABOUT JOHN McCAIN'S 5 YEARS IN CAPTIVITY, by his FRIEND, TRAN TRONG DUYET!

So Obama is going to get a briefing from the Pentagon; the same people who keep telling Bush that the war is going well. What does he expect to learn from this briefing? Maybe his time would be better spent talking to soliders who have been there and get their opinions; they know more about what the conditions and the feelings of the people in Iraq are better than a bunch of generals who are sitting behind a desk, far away from the danger that our men and women who are fighting over there see day in and day out. Is he going to tell the people in the Pentagon that they better have an exit strategy ready if he is elected, he said in one of the debates that he would have our people out of Iraq in less than 18 months.

Wow - McWarmonger sure is obsessed about Obama and his foreign country visits.

It seems to me Obama is more interested in the U.S.

Notice McWarmonger thinks he is running for president of the world; Canada, So. America, wherever a photo op is available. He may regret wasting his campaign money going places where their votes don't count.

Oh well - one last fling before McWarmonger is out of politics for good. No more taxpayer dollars paying for his foreign trips. Maybe Cindy will take him back to Nam to visit his buddies there as "Old Songbird".

I'll take a leader who believes that war is the last option over one who believes that it's the first option.

Go Obama !

Obama is a politican at it's best.

We HRC supporters need to stop voicing our intent for NOV.

Time to pretend to back Obama.

Support HRC in the difficult position she is in. Having to back the man who stabbed her in the back by labeling her a racist.

We need to answer "Obama " as our choice when polled. And we need to support HRC publically for her endorsement of Obama. Lie and fool them.

In NOV we vote in private. Vote for ANYONE but Obama- just don't stay home. Let the newbies learn the lesson of what happens when you insult and demean and denigrate other democrats. YOU LOSE the election. Otherwise, this will be the ugly new way of running democratic primaries: hate, vulgar and filthy insults, race card playing and name calling. Put a stop to it by voting AGAINST OBAMA IN NOV.

Then in the exit polls, smile and say you voted for Obama.

DO NOT TIP YOUR HAND NOW. Or they will try to blame HRC for HIS loss.

why he does not go? McCain went, and now is going to Mexico, Colombia…..Obama sits at home….if you do not go to the countries, you cannot see the whole picture. I guess.

By the way to the poster who criticized McCain for the Boeing debacle. You have no clue.

McCain uncovered the fraud behind the original deal that sent a Boeing rep and a member of the Air Force heading the negotiations to prison. The deal would have cost taxpayers, including you "CLEAR THINKING INDEPENDENT" billions of dollars in overpayment for a weaker plane.

Northrup, the company teaming with ADS on this new deal, is an AMERICAN company and is going to build a plant in ALABAMA that will add THOUSANDS of NEW JOBS.

Get a clue INDEPENDENT lemming.

Ivy Leaguers and other top law students were rejected for plum Justice Department jobs two years ago because of their liberal leanings or objections to Bush administration politics, a government report concluded Tuesday.

Actions that PUMA's must agree with!

How convenient

The only reason Obama is saying he's going to Iraq and Afghanistan is because he has been criticized for not going. Just like wearing the flag pin on his lapel, leaving his church, dumping his VP search committee chair, etc, etc. Obama only reacts when the heat rises on him. His initial judgement is always wrong and then he has to change his tune to say what his handlers tell him to.

Why won't Obama agree to the town hall style debates McCain suggested? You know, the debates where actual people, not the press, get to ask the candidates honest questions. This is the ultimate test of a candidate's ability to honestly answer questions without benefit of "talking points" from a prepared script. Obama says "No" to these meetings and would rather go back to the same old debates hosted by a moderator who asks questions. So much for "Change we can believe in."

This guy is the ultimate fraud and it is so unfortunate that so many mindless lemmings are idolizing him as if he is the messiah.

Can you say "Jimmy Carter?"

McCain '08!

The only thing he wants to hear is how the Islamic terrorist are doing. That's his army. Wake up Obamanites this guy is a Muslim pure and simple.
He can be your President never mine. He's done nothing for America.

This fool is NOT the president. Why does he get a Pentagon briefing?

The briefing cancelled because of Tim Russert's death? I am not sure I understand the connection.

What did Obarter cancel when George Carlin died?

Roe vs Wade? No threat at all. We are older women and glad to turn that battle over to the youngsters who installed Obama.

Vote against Obama. Stop the hateful new direction of the new democratic party.

Obama - not Hillary- will suffer the consequences of that loss. He has no reputation. Hers is already legendary for its achievements.

Don't let the Obama people scare you on that. Hillary is endorsing Obama. That is what counts. We can still vote against him. That way we can damage him without any harm to her.

JUST LIE WHEN POLLED AND IN THE EXIT POLLS. Your vote is private… no one needs to know. Fool them by PRETENDING TO NOW SUPPORT OBAMA. Yes Yes I'm now 100% behind Obama- that is what I have been saying.

Then in the voting booth, I regain my voice with my one vote.

yOU'RE ONLY GIVING OUT SECRETS TO A TRAITOR HERE.

The Obama supporters Destroyed Hillary's chances by their hatred.

Hillary will not get the blame if Obama loses- Obama and his race baiting hateful supporters will. The DNC will also get the blame for trashing their base. And Obama's career will be ruined.

Hillary is already in the history books. They can do no further damage to her than the death blow they dealt her with their sabotage.

So don't let the Obama people scare you with the…"if you don't vote for Obama in Nov., we won't vote for Hillary in 2012″ line. Hillary won't run again. And if she DID… imagine how eager for democratic rule we will be by THEN. She couldn't lose.

So Feel free to ruin it for Obama by voting against him in Nov. He ran a dirty hateful campaign and deserves to lose. Your vote is yours. Just don't waste it by staying home. Vote anything but Obama.

Some of you are deplorable, it would be nice to have a little respect for the dead. Tim Russert was very much respected by everyone, I find nothing wrong with Obama or anyone else with attending his funeral verse an briefing by the Pentagon. As far as going to Iraq, I do not really see the point, what is he going to see, the Secret Service and the Military are not going to give him the grand tour. His tour will be based on security concerns just like McCain. He was taken to some market that they knew was a safe bet. To me it is nothing more than a waste of money and time, just like the war itself.

Annie your comment is factually baseless and insulting, if you are going to make such accusations you need make sure you have the irrefutable facts to back it up. Otherwise stop spreading the lies because that is what they are absent facts to back them up.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Michelle and Obama. McCain this time and Hillary on 2012.

Don't let the Obama robots scare you out of voting AGAINST Obama in Nov.

1. Hillary has no realistic chance of making a 2nd run for president.

2. Obama's not yet establishe career will be damaged forever if he blows this election.

3. Hillary is already a legend.

4. The blame will go to Obama for race baiting, his hateful supporters for alienating the HRC supporters, the DNC and Pelosi and Dean for betting on the wrong horse and blowing off the democratic lifelong base.

He will probably flip his position after the briefing. But, its all about winning the presidency, not the war, for Obama, and the press is in his pocket.

Wise up America!

This former Democrat will never vote for Obama.

McCain 08!

I'm sorry but if Candy Crowley is a reporter then I'm Barack Obama. Watch who you're calling a journalist CNN!

God bless the pentagon, God save the nation. Everything of any value told to the obama will probably end up in the hands of the enemy. Obama the Talaban, Al quida all one and the same.
Wake up America!

The New War with Iran:

All Iran has to do is stop exporting oil for one month the futures market would trade oil at 300.00 a barrel it would bring America in the rest of the world to it''s knees. Trust me this is there best attack is to shut off the supply of oil.

Iran is OPEC’s second-largest exporter after Saudi Arabia, and is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil globally after Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Norway. Natural gas accounts for half of Iran’s total domestic energy consumption, while the remaining half is predominately oil consumption. The continued exploration and production of the offshore South Pars natural gas field in the Persian Gulf is a key part of in Iran’s energy sector development plan.

You haven't even convened your Afghanistan Committee yet, Obama. FLAKE!

Uh Huh, McBush goes to Iraq and relives his military past in his fantasies. Yet he votes against the GI Bill that would allow our young military heroes to go to college after they have served in war. Shame on you McBush. The GOP keeps playing up his service as a fighter pilot. Well Bush W was a fighter pilot too and where has that gotten us. Being brave in combat is commendable but millions have served bravely and it does not qualify you as Presidential.

What's the bloody point of visiting Iraq? What will he see from the green zone, surrounded by armoured guards etc. He'll never see what the soldiers encounter every day, for that matter neither did McCain.
I would rather Obama visit with each and every one of the returning soldiers, who've put in tour after tour of duty there, and see what a toll this war has actually taken on our brave men and women, especially mentally.
I would like McCain to do that as well. His memory has probably faded a little on the horrors of war and he's forgetting why it's incomprehensible to have our soldiers there for "100 years".

Report some real news please. What's up with this:

The source adds that Obama had a similar meeting “a couple of months ago.”

Why even use quotations?

I'm sure he will take someone from his campaign that can explain it all to him and retain all of it for him, to keep briefing obama or making a script for him to use.

Mr Obama is more interested in his new image, his new line of clothing and suit (no matter how empty that suit is)

He is still Just a Jr Senator so I hope they do not give out any secrets Obama list of friends are a who's who on CIA and FBI list.

McBush goes to Iraq often because he is obsessed with it. After the powerlessness of being a POW. McBush dreams of being Commander in Chief of a nation at war. McBush has plans for unending war in Iraq and a new war in Iran. After four more years of war and economic ruin under McBush. Maybe America will finally learn our lesson and quit voting for Corporate shills who go to war for profit at the peoples expense. I truly think McBush suffers from post traumatic stress disorder and is the most dangerous Presidential candidate in modern history.

he shouldn't be afraid of flying or going by ship if anything where to happen i'm sure obama would just part the ocean like moses and save everyone and walk everyone to safety. what a coward dodging his duties again. waiting for someone else to do your job huh Nobama. you are just a case of bad comedy.

annie wrote June 24th, 2008 8:14 pm ET

"Even Kid Rock went!!!! But the almighty obuma can't go?"

Annie, if The GOP warmongers did not invade Iraq, then there is no need to visit Iraq !!. The GOP military industrial complex( KBR, Haliburton) invaded Iraq in the pretext of WMD, but the real deal was the addiction to oil. Now 5 U.S oil companies are going to Iraq to take control over oil production. Did your favourite FOX news ( Favourite OXymoron) told you that, or are they still brainwashing you.

I hardly think that a junior senator would have the time or waste the money to travel to Iraq as many times as McCain has. McCain is always talking about wasteful spending. Why doesn't he save us some money and read the intelligence reports and the general's reports for free instead of wasting millions traveling to a country in a bulletproof vest?

Even before all of this Republican Hoopla, Senator Obama had stated that he would visit Iraq before the end of this year. He will go in his own time, and not because the Republicans insist that he go.

And the same goes for the townhouse debates.

The Republicans seem to think that he has to jump whenever they challenge him.

DEMOCRATS UNITE!!!!

"McCain regularly reminds voters that it’s been almost 900 days since Obama last visited Iraq, and the Republican National Committee helps out with a running clock on its Web site."

If The GOP warmongers did not invade Iraq, then there is no need to visit Iraq !!. Yeah, GOP should have a running clock on our casualties. !!

GOP is the party of shame, the party of the filthy rich and religious fanatics.

go obama fix this country. obama 08

McCON and the repugs are really scraping the bottom of the barrel! they are officially desperate and pathetic!

like some silly clock or the Crypt Keeper's monotone words could ever convince people that barack obama doesnt care about the wars and our troops. they cant run on their miserably failed policies, so as usual they will rise up from their filthy ooze to just make something up. it's just plain stupid to fall for this nonsense! this kind of silliness is directed at those waning few racist fools who believe obama's a muslim, but the other 75-80% of us are on to you, repugs. you have ZERO credibility, your words are meaningless. your rovian tactic "just say it a million times cuz these fools will believe it" aint gonna work no more.

buh-bye repugs! dont let the door hit you where Beelzebub split you!

He should visit them. They seem to be a vaction spots for Sen McCain

The Repubs and the neo con have a running clock

dubed, doom watch for Obama. The problem is

the clock or the watch is moving away from midnight

everytime they look at it.

Some of them will get behind him soon.

Go Obama go!!!

So it's a toss up? Funeral or Briefing…tough one…

Obama's campaign is brilliant. He is now trying to get input from the pentagon. Meanwhile Mcwar is going to Mexico and Columbia to praise NAFTA and strengthen it, yup. Wish I were lying but check for yourselves. Now, I think i will take Obama's judgment over mcwar's so called 'experience' any day. At least Obama is focusing on America.

Good, that sounds very good. He needs to keep up to speed on military affairs.

He will be a great president because he is working for the people.

Go Barack, we are with you. We are with you.

Obama 08

Why doesn't he go - the terrorist love him. He would certainly be safer there then McCain or Hillary or any of our other politicians that go. Even Kid Rock went!!!! But the almighty obuma can't go?

They will brief him, but he will forget what they said!!

One Presidential candidate has opposed a US-based company in it's pursuit of a $35 Billion dollar contract to provide the United States Air Force with a new generation of air-to-air refueling tankers.

Instead, after resistance from this candidate, a European company, (with an American company fronting for them) was awarded the contract, a move that would have sent tens of thousands of jobs out of the country.

The candidate's name ………. John McCain

Hey Clilnton News Network:

Maybe you can run the story of the D.N.C. Sueing McCain Over Campaign Loan.

Then, you can run the ethics behind McCain's flip flop.

Then you can factcheck it.

Then you can leave it on your political homepage for a week.

Perfect…..Obama you are always one step ahead of McWar. You will definitely be ready on Day One.