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Security

Internal security is the key to all post-conflict activities within Iraq.

As recognized occupation powers, the US coalition is to provide security to the country (in addition to humanitarian and other responsibility). Since the end of major conflict, coalition forces began to aggressively patrol Iraq to eliminate crimes against people and property, rid populated areas of weapons, ammunition and explosives, and stop the black market trade in fuel and other commodities. Coalition Forces also continue to conduct joint security patrols with Iraqi police in their efforts to increase the professionalism of the police force and prepare them for their role in a self-governed Iraq.

Immediately following the overthrow of the Saddam Hussein, US and collation forces have been battling looting, violence and intermittent attacks by Saddam loyalists. These problems with security has significant hampered the restoration of basic needs and humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian agencies have said that they have been unable to properly carry out humanitarian projects in the absence of proper security. In June 2003, security had improved to the point that food distribution on a wide and persistent scale had resumed.

It should be noted that the Department of Defense believes that the security situation is continually improving with nearly all areas of Iraq being considered, at the very least, "permissive" to collation military presence. However, collation forces continue to take casualties in theatre as resistance continues in predominately Sunni Muslim areas, loyal to the Hussein regime. The Department of Defense has acknowledged that the attacks against coalition forces have become more organized and persistent.

Iraqi Police Forces

Former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik, is overseeing Iraq's new police force. The collation security strategy involved the hiring of a largely new Iraqi police force. During the Saddam regime, the police force had about 20,000 officers with the Iraq army constantly augmenting the pre-war police force. Similarly U.S. troops began jointly patrolling the troubled Iraqi capital and other areas with the reconstituted police force in an effort to seem less like an occupational force. Shortly after the conflict, US began vetting and "deba'athing" members of the existing police force, eliminating people who have had history of human rights violations, primarily the senior elements of the police force. To date the reconstituted post-war police force numbers around 9,000.

US forces

US personnel have switched from combat operations to security and peacekeeping operations. The US has deployed troops to hotspots and continues having daily engagements with opposition forces. Coalition forces are continually conducting over 2000 daily patrols around Iraq with roughly 10 percent of patrols including Iraqi soldiers. As of June 2003, coalition there were approximately 152,000 troops in Iraq; the Army had approximately 130,000 troops in country, or the equivalent of just over five divisions, in addition to 15,000 British troops and 7,000a U.S. Marines. An additional 45,000 Army troops are in Kuwait providing support.