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Kerry, McCain spar over Iraq

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., knocked heads Sunday on the best way to extricate the United States from Iraq.

Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," McCain said U.S. strategy for the coming year "should be to defeat al-Qaida, to do everything we can to reverse the increasing influence of Iran in Iraq and to achieve or move toward the goal of military security and a functioning government."

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McCain said the surge strategy is working, and to set a pullout date would mean "genocide, chaos in the region and far worse than the situation we have today."

Kerry countered that there are not enough troops to secure all of Iraq and the situation "is making us weaker in the war on terror."

"It's emboldening Iran, empowering Iran, empowering Hamas, empowering Hezbollah," Kerry said.

Kerry said it would be better to make it clear to the Iraqis that U.S. military forces will leave during the coming year.

McCain said setting a date for withdrawal "will have severe national security implications not only Iraq but the region."

Kerry said he's "not talking about abandoning Iraq" but changing the mission to provide "backstop support" for the Iraqis.

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