Analysis - U.S. fears grow about Iraq, but response remains limited

Iraqi soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint in Ein Tamarm, a town some 40 km (25 miles) west of Kerbala, January 7, 2014. REUTERS/Mushtaq Muhammed

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is considering expanding its support to Iraqi forces as they fight off a renewed al Qaeda threat, but Washington's ability to significantly increase security assistance to Baghdad will remain limited.

U.S. officials say they are in discussions with the Iraqi government about training its elite forces in a third country, which would allow the United States to provide one modest measure of new assistance against militants in the absence of a troop deal that allows U.S. soldiers to operate within Iraq.