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Barack Obama is considering visiting Bahrain in the near future during a tour of the Middle East as part of his campaign to become the US President.
Actual dates have still to be worked out but Democratic insiders told GulfWeekly that the hearts and minds of the thousands of US servicemen based in the kingdom - and their families - will be important to win over if their man is to make it to the White House.
Earlier this year, George Bush became the first sitting US president to visit Bahrain. He met the royal family and enjoyed breakfast with members of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet stationed here.
Similar to President Bush's visit, Senator Obama's likely trip will be part of a whistle-stop tour of the Middle East.
Obama briefly mentioned his plans while speaking to reporters after a conversation with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. Obama said he told Zebari he looked forward to meeting with him in Baghdad.
An Obama trip to the Middle East and Europe during the summer has been under discussion for some time among campaign officials. Obama said further details would be announced shortly by his campaign.
As a candidate for the United States Senate in 2002, Obama put his political career on the line to oppose going to war in Iraq, and warned of "an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs, and undetermined consequences." He has been a consistent, principled and vocal opponent of the war in Iraq.
Obama will immediately begin to remove US troops from Iraq if he wins the Presidency. He will remove one to two combat brigades each month and have all of the combat brigades out within 16 months.
Obama will make it clear that the US will not build any permanent bases in Iraq. He will keep some troops to protect the US embassy and diplomats and if Al Qaeda operatives attempt to build a base, he will keep troops in the region to carry out targeted strikes on them.
Obama says he will launch the most aggressive diplomatic effort in recent American history to reach a new compact on the stability of the Middle East. This effort will include all of Iraq's neighbours - including Iran and Syria. This compact will aim to secure Iraq's borders; keep neighbouring countries from meddling inside, isolate Al Qaeda, support reconciliation among sectarian groups and provide financial support for the country's reconstruction.
Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain, met Iraq President Jalal Talabani in Washington at the weekend.
McCain emphasised that the two countries will decide the role of US forces together.
"I am confident that the two nations, as sovereign nations, will reach agreement in the best interest of the United States of America and the best interest of the government of Iraq," he said. "We are winning in Iraq, and we will withdraw, but we will withdraw with victory and honour."
The US presidential election will take place on Tuesday, November 4.
