NEW YORK — New York Gov. David Paterson said Sunday he was overwhelmed by the camaraderie of the U.S. troops he met on his first visit to Iraq.

“They seem very upbeat,” Paterson said via telephone from Baghdad.

“A lot of them are coming home shortly, and they’re very excited about that.”

Paterson spent Sunday in Iraq with Reps. Steve Israel of Long Island and Anthony Weiner of Queens; the three Democrats were joined by Republican Reps. Tom Cole of Oklahoma and Ed Whitfield of Kentucky.

The three New York politicians noted in a conference call with reporters that the situation in Iraq has improved recently as violence has dropped throughout the country.

An Iraqi military official said Sunday that murder rates have returned to prewar levels.

But, Weiner said, “it’s still a very depressing place. The remnants of all-out war are everywhere. We have to realize that this country has been ravaged.”

The three criticized the Bush administration policies that launched the war but expressed hope that President-elect Barack Obama would preside over an orderly withdrawal.

“The troops here have done a remarkable job, but now the politics has to begin,” said Weiner, who was making his first visit to Iraq.

Israel, who has visited Iraq twice before, said, “I’ve seen the climate in Iraq go from bad to worse to better ... which means that it’s time to wind down.”

The top U.S. general in Iraq, Army Gen. Ray Odierno, told The Associated Press on Saturday he would make a decision about American troops’ future role there in early spring, to allow enough time to address any violence that may arise from January’s provincial elections and ensure those legitimately elected can take office.

Military officials say Odierno has already outlined for Pentagon leaders a withdrawal plan that would pull thousands of troops out of Iraq early next year but move more cautiously than the 16-month timetable Obama pledged during his campaign.

Obama has said he would consult with commanders in Iraq and senior civilian defense officials before carrying out his campaign promise to bring the war to an end.

Asked whether he was concerned that Obama was backtracking on a timetable for troop withdrawal, Paterson said he doesn’t have as much information as the president-elect. “I trust they are making the right decision,” he said.

The delegation left late Friday and has had a packed schedule of briefings and visits with troops.

The officials met with Marines commanded by Maj. Gen. John Kelly in Anbar province, received a briefing on the training of Iraqi security forces and had dinner with New Yorkers from an Army National Guard aviation battalion.

Paterson said that while the war in Iraq has been controversial, “there’s no argument over the effort of the men and women who are involved.”

The officials planned to meet Monday with Odierno and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

As of last month, 8,300 New Yorkers were serving in the active duty military in Iraq and Kuwait, as well as more than 2,000 members of the New York National Guard, Air National Guard and Reserves.