US Republican presidential candidate John McCain slammed Democratic rival Barack Obama today for a failure in judgment over the Iraq war, laying out in sharp language his argument against the Illinois senator as commander in chief.
Mr McCain, an Arizona senator, has long criticised Obama's objection to last year's increase in US troops in Iraq and subsequent reluctance to acknowledge its success in bringing security to the country.
In a speech to a veterans group in the electoral battleground state of Colorado, Mr McCain said his support of the troop buildup and Obama's vote against it represented a key test over who would better lead the US military.
"Senator Obama and I ... faced a decision, which amounted to a real-time test for a future commander in chief," McCain said. "America passed that test. I believe my judgment passed that test. And I believe that Senator Obama's failed."
Mr McCain, a Vietnam war veteran, accused the Illinois senator of trying to prevent the United States from implementing its military strategy through his votes in Congress, and -- using politically loaded language -- said Obama had predicted US soldiers would fail.
"When his efforts failed, he continued to predict the failure of our troops," Mr McCain said.
"As our soldiers and Marines prepared to move into Baghdad neighborhoods and ... villages, Senator Obama predicted that their efforts would make the sectarian violence in Iraq worse - worse - not better."
US public opinion on the Iraq war varies, but those who oppose the conflict are generally very sensitive to suggestions they do not support the actual US troops fighting there.
A spokesman for Mr Obama rejected Mr McCain's comments.
"Barack Obama and John McCain may differ over our strategy in Iraq, but they are united in their support for our brave troops and their desire to protect this nation," Bill Burton said in a statement.
"Senator McCain's constant suggestion otherwise is not worthy of the campaign he claimed he would run or the magnitude of the challenges this nation faces."
Mr McCain had goaded Mr Obama to visit Iraq and Afghanistan, which the Illinois senator made part of a high-profile trip abroad this week.
But the Republican criticised his rival for saying, despite the visit, that he maintained his opposition to the troop increase.
"In retrospect, given the opportunity to choose between failure and success, he chose failure," Mr McCain said.
"I cannot conceive of a commander-in-chief making that choice."
Reuters