The Democratic candidate went from strength to strength , He focused attention on the mess that the Bush administration has made of Afghanistan , advanced the discussion of how and when to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq , met with both Israelis and Palestinians on a successful transit of the Middle East , earned not just respect but encouragement from world leaders , consulted knowledgeably with U.S. generals and enjoyed the cheers of troops who treated him as their next commander-in-chief .