Thune: Obama won't acknowledge Iraq wins

WASHINGTON, July 27 (UPI) -- Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said Sunday that presumptive Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Barack Obama has not acknowledged any successes in Iraq.

Thune said during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday" that while accounts of numerous successes have come out of the Middle Eastern country, the Illinois senator has refused to recognize the current administration's successes in Iraq.

"But I think if you look at the recent stories that have been out, it's been a remarkable success. Civilian casualties are down 80 percent," Thune said. "Senator Obama still refuses to acknowledge the basic fact of the success and result and progress and gains that have been made as a result of the surge."

Meanwhile, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., applauded Obama for his inspirational call for additional U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

"I mean, here you have him coming out and saying we've got to move more troops into Afghanistan. The threat is there. We took our eye off the ball. We must get 10,000 troops back in Afghanistan," she said on the Fox news program. "And watch what happens; he makes that pronouncement, and everyone begins to coalesce behind his judgment."