McCain warns al Qaida is not beaten

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Following talks with Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the fifth anniversary of the invasion, Mr McCain diplomatically refused to be drawn on how long Britain should maintain troops in the country.

"I believe that that decision is a matter for the British Government and people," he told reporters in Downing Street.

However the Senator - who is set to be the Republican candidate for the presidency - made clear his commitment to the US mission in Iraq and warned that a premature pull out risked handing victory to al Qaida.

"The fact is al Qaida is on the run. They are not defeated. We're going to have to continue training the Iraqi military and do what we have been doing if we are going to achieve a stable situation in Iraq," he said.

Mr McCain, who is on a week-long tour of Europe and the Middle East, praised the "long service and sacrifice" of British troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan while acknowledging the public frustration at the slow pace of progress.

"I fully appreciate that British public opinion has been frustrated by sometimes our lack of progress in both areas," he said.

"All I can do is express my gratitude to the British Government and people, especially the brave young people who are serving."

However, he said that the US public were coming to see that the troop "surge" in Iraq had been a success.

With the two Democrat hopefuls, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, committed to withdrawing US troops, Mr McCain also acknowledged that Iraq would be a major issue in the forthcoming election.