Obama Defends Experience, Battles McCain for Commander-in-Chief Trust

July 23, 2008— -- Sen. Barack Obama defended his whirlwind tour of the Middle East and Europe, admitting he may be new to the international scene but arguing he can be a trusted commander-in-chief.

"The main purpose of the trip from my perspective is looking at some of the most critical issues that the next president is going to have to deal with and developing some relationships that I think might be useful in solving some of those problems," Obama, D-Ill., told ABC News' Charlie Gibson in an interview for "World News."

It's the elephant -- so to speak -- looming in every room of Obama's foreign tour: is the freshman senator who, only four years ago, served in the Illinois state senate experienced enough to be president?

WATCH MORE OF CHARLIE'S INTERVIEW WITH BARACK OBAMA IN ISRAEL ON "WORLD NEWS" WEDNESDAY AT 6:30 PM ET ON ABC

When asked by Gibson about questions surrounding his youth and inexperience, Obama replied, "Well, in order to deal with the first problem, that I'm very young, I'm cropping a lot of gray hair over the last year and a half. But there is no doubt that as somebody who has not been in the national political scene as long as John McCain, that people are going to have more questions, and I think that's perfectly appropriate."

McCain Tops Obama in Commander-in-Chief Test

Obama's weeklong tour has a dual purpose: showcasing Obama on the world stage and easing doubts about his experience at home.

In a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, 72 percent of Americans -- even most Democrats -- say Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would be a good commander-in-chief of the military.

Perhaps even more urgent for the Obama camp, fewer than half -- 48 percent -- say Obama would be a good commander-in-chief, a significant weakness on this measure.

Thomas Friedman, author of "The World is Flat," says Obama's trip may be a good start toward addressing those concerns.

"As someone who is a columnist and deals with foreign affairs, my motto is: if you don't go, you don't know," Friedman told ABC News' Diane Sawyer in an interview on "Good Morning America" Wednesday. "I've never taken a trip abroad that I didn't learn something by interacting with the people on the ground, smelling, hearing, listening and I'm sure [Obama] has as well."

But there have been some questions as to whether a one-week, media-focused tour is enough. This is, after all, only Obama's second trip to Iraq while his Republican rival has made four times as many trips to the war zone in the last eight years.

"Did he just get a master's degree in Middle East studies? No," Friedman told "GMA," "But you have to think he comes back a little wiser and smarter."

Delicate Diplomatic Dance in Israel

Obama spent the weekend in Afghanistan and Iraq consulting with commanders, meeting critical leaders in each country and even finding time to sink a three-pointer in front of cheering U.S. troops.

So far, the trip has been a politician's dream: no gaffes and glowing coverage.

"It's been better than they could have imagined," ABC News' George Stephanopoulos said on "GMA" Monday, referring to the Obama campaign.

But in Israel -- a country long-consumed by political and diplomatic turmoil -- Obama may face an even tougher test.

"Do you sense that there's a considerable portion of Israelis, and even Americans, who are very reserved and even distrusting of your commitment to Israel?" Gibson asked Obama.

"Well, I think that because I'm relatively new to the international scene and because the stakes are so high, for Israel and those who are friends of Israel, people understandably want to lift the hood and kick the tires. And that takes some time. Those who know my track record have absolutely no doubt about my unwavering support for Israel and its security," Obama told Gibson, again returning to the theme of experience.

Turning to Iran, Gibson pressed Obama on how he would deal with the threat of nuclear weapons in that country.

"If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, it triggers a potential arms race, nuclear arms race in the Middle East and that is not only life-threatening to Israel but it is a profound, a game-changing shift when it comes to our national security. We have to do everything we can to prevent it," Obama told ABC News.

But as Obama confronts concerns about experience, Friedman said many in the Arab world were warming to Obama.

"I was in Cairo a few weeks ago," Friedman told "GMA." "What was so striking is how impressed Egyptians were simply with the prospect that after 9/11, Americans might actually elect a man whose middle name was Hussein.

"Many of them, you know, think he has Middle Eastern origin or has some Muslim background, which he doesn't, but it was actually quite a compliment by them to America because many of them look around at their own societies and ask, 'Could someone like that, someone from such a minority background ever be elected president of our country? And the answer is 'no' and they're quietly impressed with America for simply giving Obama the chance they've given him so far."