Obama's Iraq Tour Rekindles Pullout Debate

Polls of the Iraqi people show consistently that they believe the presence of U.S. troops has made the security situation worse in their country.

Positive talk on troop withdrawal comes as a setback for McCain and a gain for Obama. McCain's campaign must find a way to downplay al-Maliki's comments or lose one of his strongest arguing points in foreign affairs.

McCain finds himself facing a double-edged argument. He has long held that the "surge" has improved the security conditions in Iraq and should eventually lead to a stable democracy in the country -- possibly setting an example for the region as a whole.

What happens if the Iraqi people do hold elections and a new government decides the U.S. should withdraw, as seems a very strong possibility?

McCain has recognized the U.S. would have to leave if asked. He said as much during a speech in 2004 at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Obama argues that withdrawal would strongly benefit the U.S. and allow for greater investment at home. He has banked on the savings to support portions of his domestic agenda.

The Obama campaign released a memo Monday touting events on the ground support his foreign policy positions, including a refocus of the U.S. on Afghanistan to fight al Qaeda. Spokesman Bill Burton wrote:

"Since then, our overwhelming focus on Iraq has caused us to shortchange Afghanistan. The result is clear. Osama bin Laden is still at large. Al Qaeda has reconstituted a sanctuary along the Pakistani border. The Taliban is on the offensive. June was the highest casualty month of the war. And Obama's judgment was reaffirmed earlier this month, when Admiral Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, "I don't have troops I can reach for, brigades I can reach, to send into Afghanistan until I have a reduced requirement in Iraq."