Wisconsin Congressman Dave Obey says a trip to Iraq convinced him that setting a timetable for withdrawing troops is a reasonable goal toward ending the combat role of the U.S. there.

The Wausau Democrat cited comments this week of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, supporting the establishment of a timeframe for ending the presence of the U.S. military in Iraq.

A spokesman for the prime minister says Iraqis would like the U.S. troops gone by 2010.

That's nearly the schedule outlined by Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

In his role as House Appropriations Committee chairman, Obey has included withdrawal timelines or goals in supplemental military spending bills, only to have them countered by vetoes or threats of vetoes from President Bush.

Obey and five other committee members made the Iraq trip, leaving last Thursday and arriving back yesterday.