US News

McCain heads to Mexico, Colombia; Obama to Europe, Mideast

Jun 30, 2008, 14:47 GMT

Washington - With an eye to the Latino vote at home, the apparent Republican presidential nominee John McCain, 71, heads to Latin America this week with stops in Colombia on Tuesday and Mexico on Thursday. Democratic presumptive candidate Barack Obama plans to visit Israel, Jordan, France, Germany and Britain, but no dates have been announced. Media reports say he will also visit Iraq and Afghanistan. Both candidates are seeking to establish their foreign policy credentials ahead of the November 4 general elections, and plan to meet with the leaders of the countries they intend to visit. In remarks over the weekend to a national association of Latino elected and appointed officials, McCain emphasized the role the two countries have played in stemming the flow of drugs into the US. He said congressional approval of Colombia's free trade agreement would be a way of reward Colombia. 'They've fought hard to help prevent the flow of drugs into the United States of America,' McCain said.. He said Mexico's 'struggle against the drug cartels in Mexico is a titanic one,' noting the assassination of a top national police official jsut last week. The Obama campaign said the Democratic candidate would meet with country leaders during his trip, which aimed to 'assess the situation in countries that are critical to American national security, and to consult with close friends and allies.' Israel is a strong and close friend of the United States, and is confronting grave threats from Gaza to Tehran. Jordan has been a close partner in the peace process and a host of other issues of common concern,' Obama said in a statement. He called France, Germany, and Britain 'key anchors of the trans- Atlantic alliance' for the contributions to the NATO mission in Afghanistan. Obama said he would discuss Afghanistan in addition to 'other issues that are critical to American national security - and global security - in the 21st century.'

View blog reactions

Latest Headlines in US

Talkback

Add your comment (no registration required)

page: 1 2

danJun 30th, 2008 - 15:07:49

well of course he does thats where he gets his illegal drugs.

Report this comment

danJun 30th, 2008 - 15:09:23

and thats why mccain acts like another mad man .like his hero bush.
piss on mccain and piss on america .

Report this comment

ChaseJun 30th, 2008 - 15:18:56

Sounds like Dan's the mad man! It makes sense for the candidates to try to familiarize themselves with problems outside the U.S. before they go blindly into office, but 'charity' begins at home, so hope they don't put that on the back burner! The U.S. is hurting, and the pain won't go away anytime soon with the economy heading south bigtime!!

Report this comment

SP4: Better take a look kidsJun 30th, 2008 - 16:11:26

That bad old economy GREW 1% last quarter! With all the bad news on mortgages (not Bush's fault) and high fuel prices (he warned you 7 years ago) I consider this a pretty damn good sign. Europe is crying over the euro/dollar exchange rate and now China is reeling from cancelled orders due to currency exchange rates.

Time to wake up: we are in the global economy both the dems and the republicans advocated for the last 30 years. America went head-over-heels for this and now we have it. The dems will tell you it was the damn republicans and hope you do not remember that the Clintons greenlighted NAFTA, GATT, WTO and MFN for China in the 1990's.

They also do not want you to remember that the republicans recommended that we drill domestically for oil for the last 30 years..

How's that working out, so far?

If we had taken Bush's advice, ALL of it would be coming on line in the next 12 to 36 months. NOW where are we?...mouthing 'conservation' while our SUV's are gulping.

Dan, if you do not like America..kiss our asses.

Report this comment

danJun 30th, 2008 - 16:16:23

oh i like america .been here for 65 yr.s.
it's bush i can't stand .you remember bush the guy who destroyed this country all by his lonesome..the guy who's grandfather helped fund hitlers war ..bush .geo w. bush..

Report this comment

SP4: God...Jun 30th, 2008 - 16:20:56

...not that old chestnut again....Destroyed America????

Hell, we're in the first recession in history that has the economy GROWING!

Bush just got war funding without timetables! Iraq has real wins racking up. The N. Koreans are blowing up their nuclear facilities. Europe is playing ball on Iran's banking! Bush the multilateralist!

Destroyed??? Look around...do you see a sudden drop in X-Box sales??? Were it not for the mortgage mess, this economy would be HOT! Even now, it's resiliance is dumbfounding.

Report this comment

PperfectJun 30th, 2008 - 16:50:24

The key word in SP4's rants is 'dumbfounded'. His dribble is so wrong he needs to be put away. Just ask the average american if they are better off now or 7 1/2 years ago---that is the correct answer.

Wrong on every point as usual SP4. I am beginning to believe the guy that tells all of us you are stoned all the time?

Report this comment

bevJun 30th, 2008 - 17:29:32

doesn't matter who we vote into office as president.
their all lying c--k suckers anyway so whats the big deal here...

Report this comment

CaseyJun 30th, 2008 - 19:33:45

Bev talks like a man?? Yes, ask the ordinary citizen how they are coping with the falling economy at the grocery store, gas station, medical care, and for all other goods that HAVE to be purchased - not just luxuries, and find out the real truth. It's a very precarious situation, not counting the housing market. The 1% doesn't mean a tinker's damn to them!!

Report this comment

SoJul 1st, 2008 - 02:19:21

He will be closer to where he was born.

Report this comment

page: 1 2

Add your comment (no registration required)