John McCain questioned Barack Obama’s judgment on the U.S. military surge in Iraq before a group of disabled veterans Saturday, calling his opposition to the strategy a path to ‘retreat and failure.’

Sen. McCain (Ariz.), the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee, declared the decision to send more U.S. troops to Iraq a success and stressed that his Democratic opponent had originally opposed the move and still would not support it knowing what he knows today.

“Even in retrospect, he would choose the path of retreat and failure for America over the path of success and victory,” McCain said. “Behind all of these claims and positions by Sen. Obama lies the ambition to be president. What’s missing is the judgment to be commander in chief.”

McCain, speaking in Las Vegas at a Disabled American Veterans convention, said that he, too, wants to end the war and bring U.S. troops home.

“The great difference is that I intend to win it first,” he said.

The Democratic National Committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

McCain used his appearance before former military members to highlight his proposals for greater funding for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, an increase in gratuity payments for families of deceased veterans and a new access card allowing veterans to obtain healthcare at private facilities.

“As president, I will do all that is in my power to ensure that those who serve today, and those who have served in the past, have access to the highest quality health, mental health and rehabilitative care in the world,” McCain said.