U.S. Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain (R-AZ) smiles as he addresses a League of United Latin American Citizens conference in Washington, July 8, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

For his part, McCain cast Obama as wrong on Iraq and inexperienced on foreign policy.

"Obama will tell you we can't win in Afghanistan without losing in Iraq," he said. "In fact, he has it exactly backwards. It is precisely the success of the surge in Iraq that shows us the way to succeed in Afghanistan."

The 71-year-old former Navy pilot also touted his experience, saying that "in wartime, judgment and experience matter. In a time of war, the commander-in-chief doesn't get a learning curve."

He proposed sending three additional combat brigades to Afghanistan, but said it should not interfere with the pursuit of victory in Iraq.

McCain also had harsh words for how the Afghan war is being waged, strongly criticizing a divided NATO command structure and military restrictions by individual coalition partners.

"This is no way to run a war," McCain said.

Obama's speech also called for securing all nuclear weapons and materials from terrorists and "rogue states," achieving energy security and rebuilding international alliances.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2008)