HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE — The top U.S. military commander in the Pacific said it's possible Hawai'i's Stryker brigade won't have to be in Iraq for a full 15 months after he returned upbeat from a stop in the country.

"I think it's feasible (that it could be slightly shorter)," Adm. Timothy J. Keating said yesterday after completing a six-day trip that included a visit to see U.S. military aid to Bangladesh after a devastating cyclone struck the nation last week.

It was Keating's first visit to Iraq after becoming head of U.S. Pacific Command at Camp Smith in March.

He cautioned that his optimism for the Stryker brigade's time in Iraq shouldn't be taken as a guarantee.

"If I were in the Stryker brigade, I'd plan on being (in Iraq) for 15 months," Keating told reporters after returning to Hawai'i. "But I'd hope that officials in the (Defense Department) and Central Command and in the embassy in Iraq would be working with our Iraqi (counterparts) to try and whittle a little off the end of that."

Asked whether conditions were improving, Keating said, "The reports I got and the predictions to which I have some access, are very, very cautiously optimistic."

The Stryker brigade's 4,000 soldiers are expected to start leaving in coming days for the north Baghdad area and Taji Air Base about 10 miles to the north of the capital.

Keating's main stops over the past week included Singapore, the Maldives, Iraq for Thanksgiving — where he flew on a helicopter to see Baghdad and several nearby bases — and Bangladesh.

Cyclone Sidr devastated Bangladesh on Nov. 15, killing more than 3,000 and leaving millions destitute.

Marine helicopters from the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge lifted off yesterday with loads of bottled water for those affected.

U.S. Pacific Command said on its Web site that the Kearsarge, out of Norfolk, Va., and USS Tarawa, whose home port is San Diego, would assist in the transportation of relief supplies, equipment and personnel.

Keating said Bangladeshi people relied on ponds for drinking water, and when the tidal surge came in, it salinated all the ponds.

"That (drinking water) is where we can do a lot of help," Keating said.

Reverse osmosis water purification units at Hickam were airlifted to the region to provide more potable water and other units also are being utilized.

Keating added that "our medical personnel are going to have a lot to do there and those who are very seriously wounded — we'll take them out to the Kearsarge."

The aid is consistent with a new maritime strategy unveiled last month by the U.S. Navy, Marines and Coast Guard that stresses traditional combat missions, but also elevates humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to prevent war.

Keating said if the tremendous resources of the United States aren't engaged in combat or training, "then we in the military think we can help those in need." He added that he envisions the Bangladesh aid to be measured in days and not weeks.

Keating spent Thanksgiving with Alaska-based soldiers in Iraq, overflew the Baghdad area in a helicopter, and visited with Marines from Tonga and soldiers from Mongolia providing perimeter security.

"I come away reassured that success is measurable, and this isn't from the old guys, the senior guys, this is from the guys who are out there on patrol," Keating said. "Things have changed in Iraq in the last five or six months. Attacks are down. They are developing friendships with Iraqi citizens. They are developing trust and they are seeing examples of where the Iraqi security forces are taking over."

Keating did say he was "disappointed" by China's last-minute decision to not let the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk dock in Hong Kong on Thanksgiving for a visit planned months in advance.

Hundreds of American family members living in Japan had flown to Hong Kong to be with U.S. crew members on the holiday.

"We have been working hard in kind of an outreach to develop mutual understanding to demonstrate responsible behavior on our part and to ask for the same from them," Keating said. "This, to me, doesn't qualify as responsible behavior."

The carrier, four warships and a submarine were 250 miles out to sea when China changed its mind, but the decision was made to continue on to Japan.

One expert on U.S.-China relations said China's decision was probably a response to President Bush's appearance last month with the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, The Washington Post reported.

Keating said he hopes the port snub won't have lasting ramifications, but he added, "I don't want to be dismissive and just say, 'Oh yeah, life goes on.' This is a setback for us."

Keating said a China trip is planned for early January and "we'll address this head on." He said he'll continue to encourage personnel exchanges and China's participation in small exercises "to develop trust and understanding that reduces the potential for misunderstanding."

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.