McCain calls Obama's stance on Iraq political
 WASHINGTON — Republican presidential contender John McCain said that his challenger, Barack Obama, decided on a timeline for withdrawal from Iraq based on political expediency.
McCain, the likely GOP nominee, said in an interview broadcast Sunday that he is not questioning Obama's patriotism when criticizing the Democrat's policies for the war. Obama has called for a withdrawal over 16 months.
"I am saying that he made the decision, which was political, in order to help him get the nomination of his party," McCain said in an interview broadcast Sunday on ABC's "This Week."
McCain criticized Obama's timeline for withdrawal even though he acknowledged Friday that that 16 months is "a pretty good timetable." Withdrawal, he said, should be based on conditions on the ground.
Obama, just returning from his trip to the Middle East and Europe, said recently that he was told by Iraqi leaders that nation does not want an open-ended presence of U.S. combat forces and that now is an appropriate time to start planning for a reorganization of troops in Iraq. He also noted that the war costs about $10 billion a month, which could be used to shore up the U.S. economy.
The interview was taped Saturday in London, the last stop on Obama's trip abroad.
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