Obama steps up rhetoric on Afghan war as he trails rival in polls

WASHINGTON - US Democratic presidential hopeful, who has now fallen behind his Republic rival John McCain in polls, said Wednesday that the United States could not succeed in Afghanistan as long as there was a safe-haven for terrorists in Pakistan.

Noting the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf, Obama advocated tripling nonmilitary aid to Pakistan while making sure military aid is targeted to fight the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

He called the border region of Pakistan and Afghanistan "the central front in the war on terrorism," where the Taliban is resurgent and Osama bin Laden is believed to be hiding.

"As commander-in-chief, I will have no greater priority than taking out these terrorists who threaten America and finishing the job," the Illinois Senator said during his address to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Orlando.