WASHINGTON - Ahead of a trip through the Middle East, Barack Obama is laying out his goals for the war in Iraq, as well as other foreign policy challenges.

The U.S. Democratic presidential candidate says the country is not currently pursuing a strategy that will keep Americans safe. Obama says fighting al-Qaida and the Taliban in Afghanistan would be his top priority after ending the war in Iraq.

John McCain has already released a response that he plans to give at a town hall meeting in New Mexico today.

McCain will argue Obama's speech means his upcoming trip is being done backwards.

McCain will say "fact-finding missions usually work best the other way around: First you assess the facts on the ground, then you present a new strategy."