国际英语新闻：Obama calls for shifting focus from Iraq to Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, July 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Monday that he would set a goal of having all U.S. combat brigades out of Iraq by summer 2010 and shift more resources to fighting al-Qaida in Afghanistan.

    In an op-ed in The New York Times, the senator from Illinois criticized John McCain, his Republican opponent, and the Bush administration for "refusing to embrace" the idea that Iraqis should take over responsibility for military control of the country and the fight against terrorist and insurgent forces.

    He also dismissed the troop surge that McCain supported because he said it's been too costly and has not led to Iraqi political reconciliation.

U.S. Senator and Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama (D-IL), speaks at the National Council of La Raza convention at San Diego's Convention Center July 13, 2008.

    Obama said current U.S. strategy "is not a strategy for success-- it is a strategy for staying that runs contrary to the will of the Iraqi people, the American people and the security interests of the United States. That is why, on my first day in office, I would give the military a new mission: ending this war."

    He pointed to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's request for a U.S. timetable for withdrawal as an opportunity to "seize this moment to begin the phased redeployment of combat troops that I have long advocated, and that is needed for long-term success in Iraq and the security interests of the United States."

    Republican Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, responded to Obama's remarks on behalf of McCain.

    "If we had followed his (Obama's) advice, Iraq would have crumbled, al-Qaida would have won and Iran would gain influence," Graham said during a conference call.

    It was the second straight day of debate over Iraq policy between the campaigns.

    On July 3, Obama kicked off speculation over where his Iraq policy would go after he said he might "refine" his Iraq policy following an upcoming planned trip there.

    He quickly sought to put down that speculation.

    In Monday's op-ed piece, Obama said he would send at least two more combat brigades to Afghanistan while leaving "a residual force in Iraq."

    McCain's campaign said the Arizona senator would speak for his plan for Afghanistan on Thursday.

    His advisers declined to say whether he agreed with Obama's Afghanistan proposal before the speech.