Despite talk of Iraq pullout, many troops may stay

By Richard Cowan and Arshad Mohammed - Analysis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Despite the U.S. debate about a withdrawal of combat forces from Iraq, many lawmakers and analysts assume a large force would stay to protect Iraq's borders, train Iraqis and conduct counterterrorism operations.

Since their push began early this year to withdraw combat troops from Iraq, U.S. congressional Democrats mostly have avoided estimating the size of the force that would remain at the end of the redeployment they envision.

But some Democrats, who won control of Congress in last November's elections largely on a pledge to bring U.S. troops out of Iraq, admit they assume a sizable number would stay.

"The fact is I don't know how many troops will be there. I've heard anywhere from 20,000 -- and now I've got, this is the highest number I've heard -- to 70,000," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, when asked about troop strength if a Senate withdrawal plan was enacted.

On Wednesday, House of Representatives Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, a Missouri Democrat, was asked how many troops would be left behind if his legislation to bring combat troops out of Iraq by April 1 was enacted.

"I think it would be wrong for me to spell out the exact number of troops," Skelton told reporters. "I leave that as a military decision ... because I am not a general, nor am I the secretary of defence."

Skelton noted the residual missions contemplated by his legislation included "the training, equipping of the Iraqis, the force protection as well as protection of our diplomats and embassy and counterterrorism activities."

There are now about 158,500 U.S. forces in Iraq, reflecting the roughly 30,000 increase as part of the "surge" ordered by U.S. President George W. Bush in January.