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U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, is welcomed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the chancellery in Berlin Thursday, July 24, 2008. In the background is the the Reichstag that houses the German parliament. (AP Photo/Herbert Knosowski)

Obama and German leader discuss war, other policy

30 minutes ago

BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman says the German leader had "very open" and wide-ranging talks with presidential candidate Barack Obama.

  • U.S. Democratic presidential contender Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., visits the stones of the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site,in Jerusalem's Old City, early Thursday, July 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Kevin Frayer)
    Obama tells Israel he's committed to its security Thu Jul 24, 2:18 AM ET

    SDEROT, Israel - From the solemnity of a Holocaust museum to a dusty village battered by Hamas rockets, Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama on Wednesday professed "an unshakable commitment to the security" of Israel, whether the threat comes from terrorists, Iran or elsewhere.

  • Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., point to the audience during a campaign stop at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
    McCain denies he misstated timing of Iraq surge Thu Jul 24, 2:23 AM ET

    BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Republican John McCain pushed back on Wednesday against Democratic criticism that he misstated when the troop buildup ordered by President Bush began, saying elements were put in place before Bush announced the strategy in early 2007.

  • Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., talks with supporters at his campaign headquarters in Bethlehem, Pa., Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
    Police call communication key to convention peace 1 hour, 15 minutes ago

    MINNEAPOLIS - Borrowing from a European model, Minneapolis and St. Paul police hope to quell any disruptions at this summer's Republican National Convention by exchanging cell phone numbers and offering other olive branches to demonstrators.

  • Gas prices are shown on Monday, July 7, 2008 in Altadena, Calif. Oil prices hovered near $145 a barrel Monday, July 14, swinging between gains and losses as traders weighed global supply concerns and a stronger dollar against worries about the health of the U.S. economy.(AP Photo/Kim Johnson Flodin)
    Poll: Economy top issue; energy worries grow most Wed Jul 23, 1:45 PM ET

    WASHINGTON - What's rising faster than gas prices this summer? Americans' worries about them.

  • Workers make the last preparations for the speech of Barack Obama at the victory column, in background, in Berlin Wednesday July 23, 2008. U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.,will deliver a speech here at the victory column in Berlin Thursday. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
    McCain has Berlin moment too — in little Berlins Wed Jul 23, 3:51 PM ET

    WASHINGTON - John McCain can be a Berliner, too.

  • In this Jan. 29, 2008 file photo, then Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., gives two thumbs up at his primary victory celebration in Miami. If the presidential election were decided by speeches alone, it would be over already. Barack Obama soars, John McCain struggles. Obama beams, McCain grins at the wrong time. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)
    Obama, McCain and their uneven gifts of gab Wed Jul 23, 5:22 PM ET

    WASHINGTON - If the presidential election were decided by speeches alone, it would be over already.

  • Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., greets audience members seated on the stage during a campaign stop at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Wednesday, July 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
    Veterans group hits McCain on troop pullout Thu Jul 24, 1:08 AM ET

    WASHINGTON - A veterans group critical of the war in Iraq accuses John McCain of wanting to occupy Iraq indefinitely, against the wishes of the country's leaders, in an ad that will air later this week.

  • In this photo released by the Israeli Government Press Office, U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., walks with Israeli President Shimon Peres. right. during their meeting at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, Wednesday, July 23, 2008. Barack Obama, after vowing to immediately work for a breakthrough in Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations if elected U.S. president, plunged into the intricacies of the region's conflict Wednesday with a packed schedule of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. (AP Photo/ GPO, Moshe Milner, HO)
    Obama buys expensive ads for Olympics Thu Jul 24, 1:05 AM ET

    WASHINGTON - Barack Obama is going for the gold.

  • U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.,center, arrives at the chancellery for his talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin Thursday, July 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
    Today on the presidential campaign trail 1 hour, 5 minutes ago

    Obama arrives in Germany, kicking off European leg of his overseas trip ... McCain denies he misstated timing of Iraq surge, says some elements began before Bush's order ... Obama wraps up tour of Israel with visit to Jerusalem holy site ... Police look to make personal contacts with protesters to soften disruptions at GOP convention ... Obama campaign expands ad reach with big network buy during Olympics

  • Charles T. Payne, 83, a great uncle to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is seen during an interview with the Associated Press Tuesday, July 22, 2008, in his apartment in Chicago. Helping to liberate Ohrdruf, a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp, in April 1945 was Payne's first close brush with history. Payne put on an Obama pin and said of his history-making great nephew Tuesday, 'He's truly an astounding young man and always has been.' Payne is the the brother of Obama's maternal grandmother. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
    Obama's great-uncle recalls liberating Nazi camp Thu Jul 24, 1:11 AM ET

    CHICAGO - Charles T. Payne had his first close brush with history at the end of World War II, when his infantry division liberated Ohrdruf, a subcamp of the Nazis' Buchenwald concentration camp.

  • In this May 20, 2008, file photo, Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., arrives for a rally in Des Monies, Iowa, with his wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia, second from left. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
    Obama daughters keep hectic schedules of their own Thu Jul 24, 1:10 AM ET

    WASHINGTON - The rules in the Obama household for Malia and Sasha are clear-cut:

  • Obama visits Western Wall Wed Jul 23, 11:01 PM ET

    JERUSALEM - Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama paid a predawn visit to the holiest place in Judaism on Thursday, bowing his head in prayer at the Western Wall.

  • In this March 4, 2008 file photo, supporters cheer as then Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., spoke at his primary election watch party in Dallas after winning the Republican presidential nomination. If the presidential election were decided by speeches alone, it would be over already: Obama soars, McCain struggles. Both use a teleprompter, but you can only tell with one of them. McCain's discomfort makes him authentic, and that's one reason it's not game over. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
    McCain in his own words Wed Jul 23, 1:12 PM ET

    Quotes from John McCain, the Republican nominee-in-waiting.

  • In this Feb. 20, 2008 file photo, a supporter cries as then Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks during a rally in Dallas. If the presidential election were decided by speeches alone, it would be over already: Obama soars, McCain sturggles. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
    Obama in his own words Wed Jul 23, 1:13 PM ET

    Quotes from Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee-in-waiting.

  • US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama talks to the media on his campaign airplane. Obama has kicked off a European tour in Berlin, saying he wanted to signal a fresh start in transatlantic ties from the city where the Cold War was won.(AFP/Paul J. Richards)
    Obama pays visit to Jerusalem holy site Wed Jul 23, 10:53 PM ET

    JERUSALEM - Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama paid a predawn visit to the holiest place in Judaism on Thursday, bowing his head in prayer at the Western Wall.

  • Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, shakes hands with Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, upon his arrival in the West bank city of Ramallah, Wednesday, July 23, 2008. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wants Barack Obama to take away one message from their meeting Wednesday if elected U.S. president, he should focus immediately on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or any gains made in peace talks could vanish. (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)
    Obama's West Bank trip raises hope, skepticism Wed Jul 23, 8:15 AM ET

    RAMALLAH, West Bank - Barack Obama's trip to the West Bank on Wednesday appeared to generate some goodwill among Palestinians, though deep skepticism about U.S. policy remains.

  • Newly-graduated Iraqi police officers hold national flags during their graduation ceremony in Baghdad on July 20. Democratic White House candidate Barack Obama is in Iraq on a fact-finding tour, days after confirming plans to withdraw US troops from Iraq in 16 months if he takes office next year.(AFP/Ahmad al-Rubaye)
    Obama: Iraq now needs a political solution Tue Jul 22, 8:10 PM ET

    AMMAN, Jordan - Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama declined Tuesday to rate the Bush administration's troop surge in Iraq a success despite a reduction in violence, and expressed understanding of Gen. David Petraeus' opposition to a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops.

  • Presidential candidate Ron Paul laughs backstage before taking the stage at his rally in Philadelphia, PA on November 10. (Photo and caption submitted by Allen Gannett)
    Ron Paul's political event moves to larger venue Tue Jul 22, 6:09 PM ET

    ST. PAUL, Minn. - Supporters of maverick Rep. Ron Paul who are organizing a rally as an alternative to the Republican National Convention are moving their crosstown event to a larger venue.

  • Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, walks with King Abdullah of Jordan, Tuesday, July 22, 2008, in Amman, Jordan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
    Analysis: Obama pledges engagement in Mideast Tue Jul 22, 4:25 PM ET

    WASHINGTON - Is there anything new a presidential candidate can say about the absence of peace in the fragile Middle East?