By Will Richmond
Fall River Herald News Staff Reporter
Posted Jul 24, 2008

 
U.S. Sen. John Kerry likes what he hears from presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama when it comes to ending the war in Iraq.

Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, said he agrees with Obama's plan to reduce troop levels in Iraq and instead focus on fighting militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"He has a much better understanding of Afghanistan than John McCain, who's policy is to divert attention from the real center of terror," Kerry said during a conference call Thursday. "The fact is, Pakistan and Afghanistan is becoming more and more of a danger and more and more a threat by the day."

Kerry said the Illinois senator has a "very real grasp" of what is taking place in the Middle East.

During a visit to Afghanistan this week, which included a meeting with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Obama appealed to the Department of Defense to increase troop levels in that country.

The presidential candidate's trip to Afghanistan was followed by stops in Iraq before moving on to additional locations in the Middle East and Europe. Kerry said support for removing troops from Iraq is gaining popularity by the country's officials.

He said the support of Iraqi leaders for troop removal is a sign that Obama's expected Republican contender John McCain's stance for continuing the war in Iraq is wrong.

"John McCain's counter position is out of touch with reality," Kerry said. "Barack Obama has a much greater understanding of how the people in America feel."

Along with praising Obama's stance on the war, Kerry also commented on who could potentially serve as the Democratic running mate as November's election day comes.

Kerry said he has heard "the news bandied around" that Obama would make a decision within the next three weeks on a vice presidential candidate.

If Kerry was up for consideration, he didn't let on. "My thinking is he's going to find someone," Kerry said.