Obama in Fayetteville: US less safe because of Iraq war

FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has told a group in Fayetteville the Iraq war has left the United States less safe.

The Illinois senator says the war has encouraged al-Qaida, the Taliban, Iran and North Korea.

Obama told military families and local officials in the city near Fort Bragg the war must end.

He criticized Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and likely Republican nominee John McCain. Obama says they talk tough on national security but make decisions that leave the country less
secure.

He says Clinton’s opposition started when she launched her campaign. He says he opposed the war from the start, speaking against it when he was a state lawmaker.

Today is the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war.

Obama campaigns in Charlotte this afternoon.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)