McCain, Obama swap 'news' on al-Qaida

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said Democratic counterpart Barack Obama's plan to pull U.S. troops from Iraq would leave the country vulnerable.

During Tuesday's Democratic debate in Cleveland, Obama said if elected president he intended to withdraw troops from Iraq as quickly as possible, while reserving the right to send them back "if al-Qaida is forming a base in Iraq."

McCain, the GOP front-runner, seized on Obama's remark Wednesday while stumping in Texas, The New York Times said.

"I have some news," the Arizona Republican senator said. "Al-Qaida is in Iraq. It's called 'al-Qaida in Iraq.'"

If U.S. troops pulled out, al-Qaida would be "taking a country," not establishing a foothold since it already has a base in Iraq, he said.

Obama, campaigning in Columbus, Ohio, said he had some news of his own.

"There was no such thing as al-Qaida in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq," the Illinois senator told a rally at Ohio State University.