Clinton, McCain respond to Obama criticism on Iraq war

FAYETTEVILLE (AP) -- The campaigns of Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain are responding to Barack Obama's criticism of the candidates' Iraq policies. At a stop in North Carolina, Obama took a jab at his Democratic rival. He suggested Clinton couldn't be trusted to end the war because she only started opposing it when she began her run for president. A Clinton campaign spokesman says Obama "took practically no action" to end the war before he started running. As for McCain, Obama poked fun at a gaffe the Republican made yesterday. On a tour of the Middle East, McCain made a number of references to Iran training al-Qaida in Iraq. Iran is predominantly Shiite Muslim and has taken steps to close its borders to al-Qaida fighters of the rival Sunni sect. An adviser says McCain wants U.S. troops to come home when al-Qaida is defeated and Iran's influence is contained. (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)