Obama says his plan gaining ground

In his first press conference about his tour of Afghanistan and Iraq, Barack Obama declared today that there is growing support for his plan -- to redeploy US troops from Iraq and ramp up forces in Afghanistan.

Repeating that Afghanistan and the border region with Pakistan represents the "central front in the war on terrorism," he said the United States cannot wait to send more forces there. "The situation in Afghanistan is urgent and perilous," he said, with the historic Citadel overlooking Amman, Jordan as his backdrop.

Both he and Republican rival John McCain are calling for sending thousands more US troops to fight the rebuilding Taliban and remnants of al Qaeda. Afghan President Hamid Karzai also told Obama that more security forces are needed.

In Iraq, Obama said, there is a reduction in violence. But a responsible withdrawal would encourage the Iraqi government to take on more responsibility and reach out to other factions. Iraqi government officials said they supported a withdrawal timetable that is generally in line with Obama's.

"There is security progress. Now we need a political solution," said Obama, flanked by Senators Chuck Hagel, a Nebraska Republican, and Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island.

Obama acknowledged that General David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, does not want a timetable for withdrawal so he can preserve flexibility. But the Illinois senator said while he would listen to the counsel of military commanders, as president his responsibilities would be much broader.

UPDATE: Tucker Bounds, a McCain spokesman, said in a statement, "By continuing his opposition to the surge strategy long after it has proven successful and by admitting that his plan for withdrawal places him at odds with General David Patraeus, Barack Obama has made clear that his goal remains unconditional withdrawal rather than securing the victory our troops have earned and the surge has made possible."

McCain, on the other hand, said that he would not pull out US troops until conditions on the ground allow and that the surge he championed and Obama opposed should be replicated in Afghanistan.

Obama is scheduled to have dinner later today with Jordanian King Abdullah II, then has a full itinerary of meetings and visits Wednesday in Israel and the West Bank.

Obama condemned an attack near the Jerusalem hotel where he is scheduled to stay. Israeli authorities have blamed terrorists, and Obama says it is the kind of assault that Israelis have bravely endured for decades.

Wednesday, he intends to visit a southern Israeli town that is a frequent target of rockets fired by Palestinian militants in Gaza, campaign aides told reporters.