Iraq and the Old West

With the war in Iraq winding down for the U.S. military, it seems that some parts of Iraq is entering a period of criminal gangs and lawlessness, perhaps similar to America in the settlement days or the old west. However, instead of Indians murdering scores of civilians, in Iraq it is Sunni and Shia criminals kidnapping or killing sunni and shia civilians. The problem with this level of lawlessness is that the authorities will never have enough resources to denfed the populace. Consequently, civilians will be forced to defend themselves just as America's settlers defended themselves against the indians. We should be hopeful that the lawlessness will eventually subside. One way it may subside is for the general populace to eventually become armed 24 hours a day to protect themselves, which would not only seriously deter the criminal gangs, it could also make it extremely difficult in the future for a strongman to retake control of the country. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.