Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said Wednesday that a date for troop withdrawal is “not too important” and that low troop casualty rates should be the priority. “Americans are in South Korea. Americans are in Japan. American troops are in Germany. That’s all fine,” he said. “The key to it is we don’t want any more Americans in harm’s way.”

Several Democratic leaders released critical statements in response to McCain’s comment.

In a speech Wednesday, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi criticized Sen. Barack Obama (BBC) for his recent statement that Jerusalem should remain the undivided capital of Israel.

The New York Times looks at objections among labor leaders to the recent appointment of Jason Furman as Obama’s economic policy chief. Labor has expressed particular concern over Furman’s approach to free trade.