The Trail

'FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP' ON IRAQ

McCain Hits Democrats' Pullout Plans

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- John McCain said his Democratic rivals' promises to withdraw from Iraq amount to "the height of irresponsibility" and "a failure of leadership."

Before about 200 people at the National World War I Museum here, McCain argued Monday that the United States must stay for now in order to capitalize on the military gains it has made over the past year.

"The job of bringing security to Iraq is not finished," McCain said at the Veterans of Foreign Wars event. "But there is no doubt about the basic reality in Iraq: We are no longer staring into the abyss of defeat, and we can now look ahead to the genuine prospect of success."

The speech highlighted the extent to which McCain still sees his political fortunes tied to the war, despite plans to focus on the economy.

He argued that his Democratic opponents are pushing for "a hasty withdrawal from Iraq" that could destabilize the Middle East.

The United States, McCain said, is "within reach" of its ultimate goal: "the establishment of a generally peaceful, stable, prosperous, democratic state that poses no threat to its neighbors and contributes to the defeat of terrorists."

-- Juliet Eilperin

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