Statement of Senators Obama, Reed, and Hagel on Trip to Iraq

BAGHDAD, IRAQ - U.S. Senators Barack Obama, Jack Reed and Chuck Hagel traveled today to Iraq, first to Basra, then to Baghdad. In Basra, they met with U.S., British and Iraqi troops; Lt. Gen. Lloyd Austin, Commander Multinational Corps - Iraq; Major General Barney White-Spunner (UK), Commander, Multinational Division Southeast; and Major General Abdul Aziz, Commander, 14th Iraqi Army Division. In Baghdad, the Senators met with U.S. troops; Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki; President Jalal Talabani; Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi; and Vice President Adil Abdulmahdi. They received a detailed briefing from and consulted extensively with U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus, Commander, MNF Iraq. They visited with doctors, nurses and patients at the 86th Combat Support Hospital and took part in a helicopter over flight of Baghdad conducted by General Petraeus.

"We are in Iraq to thank our troops, diplomats and civilians for the remarkable job they are doing and to let them know that, back home, Americans are proud of them. We came to consult with our military leaders, embassy team and the Iraqi government about a way forward in Iraq that advances the interests of the United States, Iraq and the entire region.

"We found a strong, emerging consensus on a number of critical points:

"First, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our armed forces, more effective Iraqi security forces, the decision by the Sunni Awakening to fight 'Al Qaeda in Iraq' and the cease-fire by Shiite militia, violence in Iraq is down significantly. An overwhelming majority of Iraqis reject what remains of 'Al Qaeda in Iraq' and violent militias.

"Second, political progress, reconciliation and economic development continue to lag. There has been some forward movement, but not nearly enough to bring lasting stability to Iraq.

"Third, Iraqis want an aspirational timeline, with a clear date, for the redeployment of American combat forces. Prime Minister Maliki told us that while the Iraqi people deeply appreciate the sacrifices of American soldiers, they do not want an open-ended presence of U.S. combat forces. The Prime Minister said that now is an appropriate time to start to plan for the reorganization of our troops in Iraq -- including their numbers and missions. He stated his hope that U.S. combat forces could be out of Iraq in 2010.

"Fourth, Iraqis seek a long term partnership with the United States to promote political and economic progress and lasting stability. In particular, they want our continued help in training Iraqi security forces, helping conduct counter-terrorism operations, developing Iraq's economy and advancing political compromise. Vice President Abdulmahdi noted that "the quality of American engagement matters more than the quantity."

"We raised a number of other issues with the Iraqi leadership, including our deep concern about Iranian financial and material assistance to militia engaged in violent acts against American and Iraqi forces; the need to secure public support through our respective legislatures for any long term security agreements our countries negotiate; the importance of doing more to help the more than 4 million Iraqis who are refugees or internally displaced persons; and the need to give our troops immunity from Iraqi prosecution so long as they are in Iraq.

"America has a strategic opportunity to build a new kind of partnership with Iraq and to refocus our foreign policy on the many other pressing challenges around the world - starting with the resurgence of Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan."

Obama talks about immigration, border security

LAS CRUCES — Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama said Monday he backs continued funding for the state's military and research installations, including White Sands Missile Range.

Obama, in a phone interview with the Sun-News, also said he believes defense-related research facilities in New Mexico will play a role in the nation achieving energy independence by helping develop alternative energy technology.

The Democratic candidate campaigned in Albuquerque on Monday, speaking to supporters at Rio Grande High School and to a group of about 50 women at a city library.

Obama spoke to the Sun-News about his plan for immigration reform.

That plan includes boosting border security, cracking down on employers who hire undocumented immigrants, improving the immigration system and creating a legal pathway for undocumented immigrants already in the United States to gain citizenship.

Obama promotes his economic plan in Martinsville

(Barack Obama and Mark Warner greet baudience members after a Discussion on the Economy at the Motorsports Facility at Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville.)

MARTINSVILLE -- Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama opened up a campaign swing through Virginia today by visiting the state's most economially beleaguered city, Martinsville, to promote his economic agenda.

"We've got to recognize we can't do things the way we've been doing them over the last eight years," Obama told a hand-picked crowd of 300 people at Patrick Henry Community College.
Obama said the country needs to invest more money in roads, rail and broadband to help communities like Martinsville and surrounding Henry County.

"We can't always stop companies from moving but we sure as heck don't have to give them incentives to move," he said. "We don't have to give them tax breaks to move."

Martinsville is a poster child for how federal trade policies have real-life consequences in communities across the nation. Since the North American Free Trade Agreement of the early 1990s, Martinsville and Henry County have lost thousands of jobs in the textile, furniture and apparel industries.
In fact, Martinsville has the state's highest unemployment rate, 11.4 percent (Virginia's unemployment rate is 4.2 percent as of June 2008).

"I don't say every job is going to come back to Martinsville if I'm elected president, but I can say I'm going to wake up every day thinking about you."

Obama is scheduled to appear in Lynchburg later today. His appearances come amid rising anticipation that he will name a vice presidential running mate sometime this week.

Obama taps Biden to be running mate

Barack Obama named Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware as his vice presidential running mate early Saturday, balancing his ticket with a seasoned congressional veteran well-versed in foreign policy and defense issues. Obama announced the pick on his Web site with a photo of the two men and an appeal for donations. A text message went out shortly afterward that said, "Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee." Across more than 30 years in the Senate, he has served at various times not only as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee but also as head of the Judiciary Committee, with its jurisdiction over anti-crime legislation, Supreme Court nominees and Constitutional issues.

Obama turns focus on plight of middle class

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama touched on nearly all the key issues in the upcoming presidential election - the economy, energy, education, health care, national security and Iraq - during his stop in Eau Claire Sunday, but he focused most of his 30-minute speech on the troubles faced by the working class.

Times are tough, he said, to about 300 people who were invited to the "BBQ with Barack Obama" at Eau Claire's Rod and Gun Park.

"I don't need to tell you that, 'cause you're living it," the Illinois senator said, adding that the average family income has decreased $1,000 under President Bush and families have been pushed to their limits financially.

"It becomes hard to cut back when you've got to drive 50 miles to your job. ... It becomes hard to cut back when you're already short when it comes to paying for home heating oil in the middle of the winter," Obama said.

If the economy continues as it's been, "we may be passing off an America to the next generation that's a little poorer, a little meaner than the America we inherited from our parents and our grandparents. That is un-American."

Obama also responded to recent comments by his Republican rival, Arizona Sen. John McCain, about the economy. He criticized the Republican presidential candidate for not knowing how many homes he has and for defining wealthy as someone who has $5 million. According to that logic, Obama said someone with $1 million must then qualify for food stamps.

He used McCain's comments as a chance to highlight how each candidate related to the middle class.

Obama said he's had to worry about student loans, child care and saving for his children's college tuition. People should say, "He's like us," Obama said of himself.

"John McCain has a compelling bio," Obama said, including "brave and distinguished service for this country, and (he) deserves enormous respect for that. And I have respect for John McCain's service, but I don't have respect for his policies."

Electing McCain would mean choosing the same attitude and "same out-of-touch policies" as President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, Obama said.

In the 19 months of campaigning, Obama said he has learned the country is "big and beautiful" and called Americans "decent, generous, hardworking and self-reliant."

"For all the differences you hear about ... and all the conflict, it turns out people have common values," he said, listing honesty and the dignity of work.

Obama also outlined an energy plan that proposes domestic production of oil and expanding alternative forms of energy, including solar, wind and biodiesel.

"We can't drill our way out of this problem," he said.

A plan to decrease oil consumption in 10 years should be established, he said.

Obama used the war in Iraq as another talking point for the economy - but ended up apologizing for his language in front of the Sunday crowd.

"If we can spend $10 billion to $12 billion a month in Iraq, we sure as hell can pay $10 billion to $12 billion right here in the United States of America putting people back to work," he said, then briefly paused. "I apologize. I usually say 'heck,' especially after church. That sort of slipped out. Sorry, kids."

National security efforts should be focused on terrorists in Afghanistan instead of Iraq, he said.

He also said he would provide tax cuts to 95 percent of the population; lower premiums on health insurance, offer health insurance at the same price as that paid by government employees and subsidize it for people who couldn't afford that; change No Child Left Behind "so teachers aren't teaching to tests" and make college affordable.

Eau Claire was Obama's first solo stop after announcing his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware; it's among a tour of states planned as Obama heads to the Democratic National Convention in Denver this week, where Biden will rejoin the campaign. This was Obama's second visit to Eau Claire in six months. Gov. Jim Doyle and U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold spoke in support of Obama at Sunday's event.

Steve Rasmus, 63, a retired real estate broker from Chippewa Falls, said he found Obama very reassuring and liked that he would pull the troops out of Iraq, focusing more on terrorist leaders in Afghanistan.

"I think he has good economic plans," Rasmus said. "Obviously, we are in far worse shape internationally than we were eight years ago, and McCain isn't going to change that."

But McCain supporters said Obama still lacks the experience to lead the country.

Regional McCain spokesperson Leah Yoon said even Biden has said Obama isn't ready to be president.

Obama's tax plan and his refusal to acknowledge the success of the troop surge in Iraq are examples of why he's not ready to lead, Yoon said.

Three McCain supporters, including former state Sen. Dave Zien, stood Sunday near the entrance to Rod and Gun Park holding signs in support of the Republican presidential candidate. Yoon said the group gathered to "let folks know they feel the Obama-Biden ticket is proof Obama's not ready to lead."

McCain also has campaigned in Wisconsin multiple times, including a July stop in Racine.

"His commitment to winning the state of Wisconsin is solid," Yoon said.

McCain will be in St. Paul next week for the Republican National Convention.