McCain went as part of an official congressional delegation, which is entirely different from what is going on here. Had Obama gone to Iraq and elsewhere as part of an official congressional delegation, there would be no basis for this thread and Rice's policy directive would not have implications in the present presidential race.

The policy itself is entirely appropriate: the federal government (including America's embassies) don't work for the political candidates.

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A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air.

"Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes toward the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.

"I'm a panda," he says at the door. "Look it up."

The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation.

"Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."