By Kristin Roberts BAGHDAD, Dec 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates gave few clues on whether he wants more troops for Iraq as he toured the shattered country to prepare a new war plan. During his fact-gathering visit, Gates has offered broad thoughts but few details on the alternative war strategies he must soon present to U.S. President George W. Bush. "He is keeping his recommendations to himself before he talks to the president," said one official, during what is expected to be a three-day visit in Iraq. Gates, who replaced Donald Rumsfeld on Monday, must give his recommendations to Bush soon for what might be done to change course in Iraq, a war both he and Bush have said America is not winning. During the past week, Gates has said he understands the desire of many Americans to bring home troops but the United States could not afford to lose in Iraq. He has also said he was discussing a short-term "surge" in U.S. forces to establish security in Baghdad and then played down calls from soldiers on the ground for additional troops. "I think, like most people on the front lines in a battle, they'd always like to have more forces," Gates said. "We have to take into account the views of the Iraqi government, the views of our own leadership, the views of our own military leadership in taking that into account." According to administration officials, Gates will discuss his visit with Bush upon returning to the United States. Bush is expected to deliver a speech on a new Iraq strategy in 2007. Violence has been intensifying in Iraq more than three years after the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. BAGHDAD SECURITY U.S. and Iraqi troops have failed to establish security in Baghdad, and nearly 3,000 U.S. forces and tens of thousands of Iraqis have died in the conflict. The strength of Iraq's post-invasion insurgency and a clear defeat for Bush's Republican party in legislative elections in November has prompted a reassessment of the war. Under one option, Washington could boost its troop levels by as much as 30,000 in the short-term surge from the 134,000 now. Gates, praised by Democrats and Republicans in Congress for his candid assessments and independent thought, must pick among a number of competing strategies for the way ahead. Defense officials say Bush is considering the surge option. But U.S. commanders express concerns about the impact that plan might have on the training of Iraqis, arguing that Iraqi security forces would hold back if not pushed to take control. "They see what we do, and if we surge, they can step back," said a senior defense official in Baghdad. Commanders worry more U.S. troops would not help efforts to train Iraqis to take control, senior defense officials said. Gates' trip to Iraq was also aimed at hearing the views of soldiers and Iraq's leaders. While the soldiers he met were clear in their call for more troops, results from the defense secretary's meeting with Iraqis were not, and Gates in fact revealed little afterward. Asked whether Iraq's prime minister and defense minister embraced the idea of a U.S. surge, Gates said only that he was convinced Iraq's leaders want to improve security. "I certainly came away from our discussion with the absolute conviction that the Iraqi government is determined to improve the security of the people here in Iraq and above all here in Baghdad," he said.
