CHARLESTON - U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., back from a weeklong journey overseas, offered the assessment Friday that U.S. troops will be in Iraq for years and casualties are likely for some time to come.

Graham vowed to push to increase the size of the military, attracting recruits through bonuses and benefits. But, he said, there is no need for a draft.

He also said the United Nations and NATO should assume a larger role in Iraq.

"Saddam Hussein literally raped his country," the Republican lawmaker said. "Americans have to understand that, just as in Japan and Germany, it will take years to go from a dictatorship to a democratic government."

Graham returned Thursday from his third trip to Iraq. He told reporters in a conference call that he is encouraged by the recent elections there.

"The Iraqi people are more empowered, but the security situation is worse," he said. "We had a lot less freedom to move around. In many ways, in terms of security, it is not better off at all."

Graham visited Iraq with Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin as well Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and John McCain of Arizona.

All but Feingold are members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which oversees the Defense Department budget. The lawmakers also visited Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tunisia.

"Casualties in Iraq are very likely for Americans for a time to come," Graham said. "I am hopeful this political process, if we support it, will pay dividends."

On Friday, the U.S. military death toll in Iraq reached at least 1,489, according to an Associated Press count updated since the war began in March 2003.

Graham said Americans should not think that simply because Iraq has held elections, the troops will be coming home anytime soon.

"We're still in Germany and South Korea 50 years later," Graham said. "It took years after the fall of Tokyo and Berlin before a functioning democracy was up and running. I see no reason it will not take years in Afghanistan and Iraq."

Two other Republican S.C. lawmakers, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, and U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis, of the Upstate's 4th District, currently are traveling with another congressional delegation to Iraq.