"Overall, the image of this particular American Democrat in the Mideast, using tough language about terror but weaving it into a broader global vision that includes an emphasis on multilateralism and true energy reform -- even as Republicans are embracing some of his war-on-terror policies -- is an undeniably powerful one," writes Greg Sargent of Talking Points Memo, of Obama's Mideast trip and press conference in Jordan.
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/at_jordan_presser_obama_keeps.phpDuring the first press conference of his trip, Obama stated, "There is security progress, but now we need a political solution" in Iraq.
Obama further noted that Iraqi leaders want a clear date for withdrawal of U.S. troops.
"They do not want an open-ended presence of U.S. combat forces. The prime minister said that now is an appropriate time to start to plan for the reorganization of our troops in Iraq _ including their numbers and missions. He stated his hope that U.S. combat forces could be out of Iraq in 2010," Obama said.
The press conference in Jordan came after Obama toured war zones in Afghanistan and Iraq, where he met with U.S. Military leaders, Iraqi leaders and U.S. troops.