Standing Strong for Victory in Iraq

The Washington Post is reporting that Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister says Sen. John McCain will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki while McCain is in Iraq:

Sen. John McCain visited Iraq on Sunday as part of a congressional delegation on an international tour, a chance for the likely Republican presidential nominee to emphasize his support of the U.S. military effort in Iraq and his foreign policy experience. . .

The visit included a briefing by senior U.S. military officials in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, according to a U.S. military official familiar with McCain's schedule. The city has emerged as one of the last major urban strongholds of the Sunni insurgency. McCain then flew to Haditha . . .He walked through a market.

McCain was scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, according to Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih. While Salih did not see McCain on Sunday, he said McCain's "message has been consistent in the past saying Iraqis have to take responsibility and deliver on political progress."

Salih said it was important for Iraqi politicians not to get involved in U.S. domestic politics but that his colleagues were "keenly aware of the debate in the United States." Most important, he said, was a "solid long-term partnership" with the United States and a commitment that the American government "continue to look at Iraq as an important mission that cannot be allowed to fail."

"Abandoning Iraq is not an option," he said.

McCain (R-Ariz.) is traveling with Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.). He was scheduled to meet other senior Iraqi leaders as well as U.S. diplomatic and military officials. The week-long trip will also take the delegation to Jordan, Israel, France and Britain.

In the early evening, McCain flew by helicopter from the U.S. military base near Baghdad's airport to the Green Zone, where he was whisked away by black SUVs for more meetings.