May 16, 2008 Obama challenges McCain on international relations Play video

(NECN) - Senator Barack Obama is speaking out against President Bush and John McCain for accusing him of appeasing terrorists.

Lumping McCain together with President Bush, Obama declared: "If they want a debate about protecting the United States of America, that's a debate I'm ready to win because George Bush and John McCain have a lot to answer for." He blamed Bush for policies that enhance the strength of terrorist groups such as Hamas and "the fact that al-Qaida's leadership is stronger than ever because we took our eye off the ball in Afghanistan," among other failings.

Obama's statements come after President Bush talked to the Israeli Knesset Thursday. Bush referred to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's calls for destruction of Israel saying "some seem to believe" in negotiating with terrorists.

The President did not mention Obama by name but Obama and other Democrats say the comments were clearly directed at him.

NECN's Greg Wayland has the latest.

(Some of the above material is attributed to the Associated Press.)