Obama thinking about trip to Iraq

WASHINGTON, May 29 (UPI) -- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., says if he visits U.S. forces in Iraq, it's to talk to the troops, not to participate in a Republican publicity gimmick.

Obama, seeking the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, has been criticized by presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain for his lack of national security experience. To emphasize that point, the Republican National Committee lists on its Web site the number of days since Obama visited Iraq -- 872 as of Thursday.

Obama visited Iraq in January 2006 as part of a congressional delegation.

While considering visiting U.S. troops in Iraq this summer, Obama declined McCain's invitation to take a joint trip to the Middle Eastern country, a blog on The New York Times Web site reported.

"I just don't want to be involved in a political stunt. ... I think that if I'm going to Iraq, then I'm there to talk to troops and talk to commanders," Obama said. "I'm not there to try to score political points or perform."

McCain said he was confident Obama would change his position about ending the war and withdrawing U.S. troops after his visit "because he will see the success that has been achieved on the ground.''