WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., says he is guardedly optimistic Iraqi leaders can pull together to unify the country and develop a democratic government.
"Look, there's no Thomas Jeffersons in Iraq. Saddam Hussein killed them all," the Republican presidential hopeful said Sunday on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."
McCain said the slow pace of reconciliation in Iraq is frustrating, but "the more secure environment you have, the more political progress you're going to see."
McCain said al-Qaida has not been defeated in Iraq, and while he sees signs Iran and Syria have reduced their interference in Iraq he's not ready to say they have pulled back entirely.
Meanwhile, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democratic contender for president, said the carnage continues in Iraq and he sees no political progress.
"Until we withdraw all our forces, the political reconciliation that we all want -- a multinational peacekeeping force, a donor conference, the three groups in Iraq, the Sunni, the (Shiites) and the Kurds coming together, a unification of the country -- is not going to happen," Richardson said.
Richardson stuck by his position that he would get all U.S. troops out of Iraq within one year.
