McCain Sees U.S. Troops Leaving Iraq by 2013

Karen Finney, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee, said she doubted McCain's sincerity on the issue.

"If John McCain is serious about dropping his willingness to keep our troops in Iraq for 100 years and embracing a timetable for bringing our troops home after criticizing everyone who offered similar ideas, he should outline a specific plan for bringing the war to a responsible end. If he fails to do so, the voters will see this for the political posturing and empty rhetoric it is."

In Iraq, political leaders were skeptical as well.

"2013?" said Adnan al-Dulaimi, the head of the largest Sunni bloc in parliament, who burst into laughter after a reporter described the speech. "I don't expect the United States will leave Iraq for another 50 years. They might withdraw their forces from the cities and streets, but they will not leave Iraq."

Some Iraqi lawmakers said they were disappointed that McCain, who is widely admired among the Iraqi political class, offered a quasi-deadline at all.

"I was surprised when I heard McCain's speech. I thought he was aware of Iraq's situation," said Mahmoud Othman, an independent Kurdish parliament member. "Unfortunately, it's only electoral propaganda. Nobody could guess what Iraq's situation will be five years from now."

Staff writer Amit R. Paley in Baghdad and special correspondents Zaid Sabah in Baghdad, Othman al-Mokhtar in Fallujah and Saad Sarhan in Najaf contributed to this report.