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''It is time to turn the page on eight years of policies that have strengthened Iran and failed to secure America or our ally Israel,'' Obama said in his statement. ''Instead of tough talk and no action, we need to do what (Presidents) Kennedy, Nixon and Reagan did and use all elements of American power -- including tough, principled, and direct diplomacy -- to pressure countries like Iran and Syria.''

For their part, McCain and Republicans increasingly see Obama as their November rival and have been taking every opportunity to raise questions about his readiness to be a wartime commander in chief. The GOP also hopes to make national security -- historically a Republican strength -- a focus of the campaign when the political terrain favors Democrats.

Indicating what's to come, McCain said: ''Peace through strength is the way we achieve peace in the world. That's the point. I will debate this issue with Senator Obama throughout this campaign.''

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Associated Press Writers Jennifer Loven in Jerusalem and Glen Johnson in Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report.

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