KABUL, Afghanistan – Barack Obama met with U.S. troops and received a military briefing on conditions in Afghanistan on Saturday during the opening leg of an overseas trip designed to showcase his appeal in major foreign cities and reassure American voters that he would make a reliable commander-in-chief.

Mr. Obama's trip is scheduled to include a visit to Iraq, and his foreign policy judgment got an unexpected boost from that country's leader, Nouri al-Maliki, who praised the Democratic presidential candidate's plan for withdrawing U.S. troops over a 16-month period.

In an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel, Mr. al-Maliki embraced Mr. Obama's plan, saying: "That, we think, would be the right time frame for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes." Mr. al-Maliki emphasized that he was not making an endorsement in the presidential race.

The presumed Republican nominee, John McCain, has said conditions in Iraq could worsen if troops were removed at the pace his rival has advised.

Mr. Obama's high-profile trip caps a week on the campaign trail during which he focused on national security and U.S. commitments abroad – areas that are considered special strengths of Mr. McCain.

Seizing on Mr. al-Maliki's favorable comments, the Obama campaign put out a statement from his foreign policy adviser, Susan Rice: "Senator Obama welcomes Prime Minister Maliki's support for a 16 month timeline for the redeployment of U.S. combat brigades. This presents an important opportunity to transition to Iraqi responsibility, while restoring our military and increasing our commitment to finish the fight in Afghanistan."

Mr. McCain's senior foreign policy adviser, Randy Scheunemann, said in a statement Saturday that "the difference between John McCain and Barack Obama is that Barack Obama advocates an unconditional withdrawal that ignores the facts on the ground and the advice of our top military commanders. John McCain believes withdrawal must be based on conditions on the ground."

In a speech last week, Mr. Obama said troops should be drawn down in Iraq and two additional combat brigades deployed in Afghanistan, a war he said the U.S. can't afford to lose.

The presumptive Democratic nominee and senator from Illinois is part of an official congressional delegation that includes Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Chuck Hagel, R-Neb. The lawmakers made a brief visit to Jalalabad airfield, greeting American troops from their respective home states.

Mr. Obama played basketball with some troops and joked to those watching, "You came out here because you wanted to see me get beat by your fellow soldiers."

Los Angeles Times,

The Associated Press