Obama says invading Iraq wrong decision

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama said on Wednesday that the U.S. had made a wrong decision going into Iraq when al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden remained at large. This came during a TV debate from Nashville, Tennessee, where he and Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain faced direct questions from voters. Asked whether the economic crisis would affect the ability of the U.S. to act as a “peacemaker” in the world, Mr Obama said no country could maintain the same military influence while its economy was in decline. He said the foreign policy approach of the Bush administration, supported by Mr McCain, had made it harder for the U.S. to address overseas conflicts like Darfur because it had lost the support of allies. The Illinois senator also said the U.S. had made a bad decision going into Iraq when al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden remained at large. Mr McCain said Mr Obama had been wrong to oppose the “surge” policy of sending extra troops to Iraq and accused him of lacking the knowledge and judgment to be commander-in-chief. SH (P) 203