The US-led invasion of Iraq is almost complete. The main aim of starting this war to achieve 'regime change' - was achieved with the total capitulation of Baghdad last week

The invading-turned-occupying forces are now set to remain in Iraq for the foreseeable future. US commander General Tommy Franks has said his forces will be in Iraq until a free government takes place. No o­ne has any idea when this will happen.

For now, though, the US-led troops must now settle some of the more important consequences of their invasion.

At the top of the list will be to restore law and order in Iraq, and to ensure that humanitarian assistance flows to the Iraqis without disruption.

Chaos in Iraq

The Iraqis are finding it very difficult to adjust to their newfound freedom/liberation after being under 24 years of iron-fisted rule.

Years of frustration turned into frenzied euphoria when President Saddam Hussein's regime collapsed, and people vented their anger o­n the remnants of his glory days.

All the symbols of his rule - from portraits to palaces - were either torn down or looted. With the help of US marines, Iraqis toppled a huge statue of Saddam in Baghdad.

But the looting was not confined to Baghdad. In all major cities liberated by the coalition forces, from Basra to Nasiriyah to Baghdad and Mosul and Kirkuk in north, looters have gone too far.

Nothing has escaped their clutches. They have hit shops, houses, clinics and hotels. They have carted away X-ray machines from hospitals, taken away ancient artifacts from Baghdad's largest archeological museum and even flour kept in a building belonging to an international humanitarian aid organisation.

Looting unjustified

There is no excuse for this level of disorder amid the breakdown of civil authority in Iraq.

No doubt the 23 million Iraqis have suffered under Saddam's rule. Two major wars plus UN sanctions imposed after the Iraq-Kuwait war in 1991 have resulted in the people bearing much of the brunt of Saddam's fancy of being the leader of the Arab world.

They have not seen luxury since the beginning of the eight-year war with neighbour Iran in 1980. And after their defeat to the coalition forces in 1991, their quality of life deteriorated.

The UN sanctions o­nly served to exacerbate the problem. Iraqis did not have sufficient milk for children or medicine for the sick.

All this while, the Iraqi leadership continued to plunder the country's remaining wealth for personal use. Even the UN-supported oil-for-food programme brought financial gains o­nly to these leaders.

Saddam continued to push for the construction of more palaces for himself. He even spent millions of dollars to build a mosque - aptly called Mother of all Mosques - in Baghdad to symbolise his 'victory' in Kuwait.

Yet, none of this can justify what is taking place in Iraq today.

Patrols needed

It has become imperative for the US to impose some order in the cities its forces control - they owe the Iraqis as much.

Like it or not, the troops are now the occupying forces of Iraq. With this comes the responsibility to start policing the areas under their control.

The US and the British (who control Basra in the south) must reorganise their troops so that some personnel can take over civil duties in Iraq, while their political masters in Washington and London work out details of governance by locals.

The commanders o­n the ground could start with neighbourhood patrols while putting together civilian patrol groups that could eventually become the predecessor of a police force under a democratically-elected government.

Humanitarian efforts

One must bear in mind that anger against Saddam alone cannot be the o­nly reason for the widespread looting. General poverty, coupled with additional deprivation due to the current war, would have fuelled the reaction of locals.

Perhaps the looting was a way for them to show the conquerors that their needs have to be urgently addressed.

Thus, the next important role for the Anglo-American forces will be to secure the areas under their control, to allow much-needed humanitarian aid to be provided.

At present, pockets of resistance by forces loyal to Saddam are still a source of danger to aid workers, who face the additional risk of seeing their supplies looted.

If the coalition forces can impose order in Iraq, this will help international aid agencies to carry out their tasks. The long-awaited food, medicine and other necessary items can be dispensed to the Iraqis.

At present the level of pillaging in hospitals is so severe that it endangers the lives of those wounded in the war, as well as of patients in need of regular treatment, such as dialysis.

The aid agencies can supplement local hospitals in solving such problems as well as by treating the large number of civilians injured in clashes with the invading forces.

Increased frustration

Continued bombing by the coalition forces have knocked out water and power supply to most parts of Iraq. This lack of basic amenities can increase the frustration of the locals who are stuck in the middle of a war.

After the first Gulf war in 1991, Iraqi engineers restored utility supplies within three days in Baghdad, and within weeks in other places.

However, since there is no local authority in place, it will be up to the occupying forces to see to the basic needs of Iraqis.

This must include re-establishing national radio and television broadcasts, which have been off-air for the past two weeks.

These efforts will help Iraqis to believe that the situation is getting back to normal. Perhaps this will then persuade them to enjoy their freedom more responsibly.