Coalition troops in southern Iraq have negotiated deals with various political groups to prevent the establishment of armed militias. Bodyguards and security guards have been given permits to carry weapons in public, and other members of the militias are being recruited into organized units of security troops, the police force and army. If there is going to be a working democracy  in Iraq, the ancient custom of backing political positions with armed force. The idea of voting and negotiation was never as popular as confrontation and violence.