Obama in Iraq...McCain says he's been right...Hurricane preparations

BAGHDAD (AP) Barack Obama is in Iraq, where he's been holding what he calls "very constructive" discussions with Iraqi leaders.

He's also meeting with U.S. military commanders about recent progress in the Iraq war.

KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine (AP) John McCain says he's been consistently right on both Iraq and Afghanistan, while his Democratic rival "has been completely wrong." On Afghanistan, McCain says he's always said it's going to be a "long and tough and hard" road. And on Iraq, McCain says the U.S. isn't just succeeding there, it's already "succeeded" there.

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) A jury pool of uniformed American military officers has been brought in for questioning by lawyers on both sides, as the first war crimes trial gets under way at the U.S. Navy base in Cuba. The trial began with a not-guilty plea from Salim Hamdan (sah-LEEM' hahm-DAHN'), a former driver and alleged bodyguard for Osama bin Laden.

McALLEN, Texas (AP) Residents along the Texas-Mexico border are watching Tropical Storm Dolly. Forecasters believe it will strengthen into a hurricane later this week and make landfall. It's expected to dump 10 to 20 inches of rain in coastal areas near the border.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) The president of a Connecticut swimming pool company has been charged with manslaughter in the drowning death of a six-year-old boy. Police say the child drowned last summer after his arm became trapped in his family pool's powerful drain pump. Police say the company president "recklessly caused" the death by failing to have his company install mandated safety devices in the pool.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-21-08 1450CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list