WASHINGTON (AFP) — Republican candidate John McCain laid out for the first time Thursday a timeline to end the Iraq war, arguing he would get most US troops home by 2013 if elected president.
The Arizona senator said also that Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden would be captured or killed, and that the threat from the Taliban in Afghanistan would be greatly reduced by the end of his first term in the White House.
"By January 2013, America has welcomed home most of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed terribly so that America might be secure in her freedom," McCain said in a speech in Columbus, Ohio.
"The Iraq war has been won. Iraq is a functioning democracy, although still suffering from the lingering effects of decades of tyranny and centuries of sectarian tension," he said in his crystal ball speech.
McCain's comments appeared to be an effort to neutralize an attack by Democrats who argue he is ready to fight a 100-year war in Iraq, as he limbers up his campaign for November's general election.
The Republican has said he would be happy to see US troops stay for that long in Iraq, but in a non-combat role similar to the US military presence in Germany and South Korea.
By 2013 the US troops still in Iraq would not play a direct combat role, said McCain, who was a staunch supporter of President George W. Bush's "surge" strategy.
Looking ahead to the end of his putative first term, McCain also said he would have improved intelligence and counter-insurgency cooperation with Pakistan.
"The increase in actionable intelligence that the counterinsurgency produced led to the capture or death of Osama bin Laden, and his chief lieutenants," he said.
"There is no longer any place in the world Al-Qaeda can consider a safe haven," McCain said, anticipating a "concerted use of military, diplomatic and economic power" by the United States and its allies to roll back the group.
"There still has not been a major terrorist attack in the United States since September 11, 2001."
Both Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have pledged to start bringing combat troops back from Iraq as soon as they are elected.
But McCain, a Vietnam War hero and foreign policy veteran, is framing his election strategy in terms of national security as he targets the relative inexperience of his likely Democratic foe, Obama.
The Arizona senator said that by the end of his first term, the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea would be negated with the diplomatic help of a "reluctant" Russia and China.
Under strong pressure from a McCain administration and a new "League of Democracies," Sudan's government has been forced to accept a multinational peacekeeping force in Darfur backed by logistical and air support from NATO.
The Republican's speech came as Obama reacted angrily to Bush's implication, in a speech to the Israeli parliament, that Democrats want to appease terrorists -- a clear dig at Obama's willingness to talk to foreign foes.
Candidates bidding to succeed Bush must define their objectives "not with vague language, but with clarity," McCain said.
As polls show eight in 10 voters believe the United States is heading in the wrong direction, the Republican also said it was time to drain Washington's fierce partisanship.
"I am well aware I cannot make any of these changes alone," McCain said.
"For too long now, Washington has been consumed by a hyper-partisanship that treats every serious challenge facing us as an opportunity to trade insults, disparage each other's motives, and fight about the next election.
"Americans are sick of it, and they have every right to be. They are sick of the politics of selfishness, stalemate and delay."
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