WASHINGTON (AFP) — Republican White House candidate John McCain on Wednesday denied he was questioning Barack Obama's patriotism, and accused his Democratic foe of getting "testy" over his attacks on Iraq.
McCain told supporters in New Mexico that Obama had been wrong to oppose the US troop surge strategy in Iraq which Republicans credit with quelling raging violence.
"Yesterday, Senator Obama got a little testy on this issue, he said I am questioning his patriotism," McCain said at a town hall meeting.
"Let me be very clear, I am not questioning his patriotism, I am questioning his judgement. Senator Obama has made it clear he values withdrawal from Iraq above victory in Iraq.
"He has made these decisions not because he doesn't love America but because he doesn't thinks it matters whether American wins or loses."
McCain, a vocal supporter of the surge strategy introduced last year, opposes what he calls artificial timetables for troop withdrawals from Iraq, which he says would squander recent US security gains.
Obama argues McCain wants to keep US troops bogged down indefinitely in Iraq, and has vowed to begin troop withdrawals with a goal of getting most US combat soldiers out of the country within 16 months.
On Tuesday, Obama complained at what he said were negative attacks on his patriotism, after McCain said the day before that the Democrat had put his personal political ambition before US national interests on Iraq policy.
"Let me be clear: I will let no one question my love of this country," Obama said in North Carolina.
Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
