John McCain Visits Iraq

Sen. John McCain is seen at Baghdad’s International Airport to visit the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday, March 16, 2008. McCain, the likely Republican presidential nominee who has linked his political future to U.S. success in Iraq, was in Baghdad on Sunday for meetings with Iraqi and U.S. diplomatic and military officials, a U.S. government official said.

Senator and GOP Presidential nominee John McCain is in Iraq.

McCain, a strong supporter of the U.S. military mission in Iraq, is believed to be staying in the country for about 24 hours.

“Senator McCain is in Iraq and will be meeting with Iraqi and U.S. officials,” said Mirembe Nantongo, spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

This is the senator’s eighth visit to Iraq. He’s accompanied by Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Before leaving, McCain said the trip to the Middle East and Europe was a fact-finding venture, not a campaign photo opportunity.

The senator last met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during the Thanksgiving holiday.

“We were informed that John McCain landed in Iraq Sunday morning. A meeting will take place with the Iraqi government,” said Ali al-Moussawi, an official in the prime minister’s office.

McCain was to meet Sunday with Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh. Later in the day, he and Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, were to talk. It also was thought McCain would meet with al-Maliki.

McCain’s weeklong trip also includes stops in Israel, Jordan, Britain and France.

McCain IS the “BIG DOG” outside of President Bush regarding United States foreign policy. Flap cannot believe he actually supports something Mitt Romney has said. But, it is true.

By the way, how many times has Barack Obama been to Iraq and met with the Iraqi government officials?