The US forces *are* doing something. They're in fact doing a lot. You just don't hear about it, because it's not news if all is going okay. You hear about incidents like this, not about the nuclear plants that were *not* looted when US troops protected it.
I think an occupying force should take responsibility for the safety of the population as soon as the fighting stops in that area. However, I wonder against *what* they have to protect the people? I don't think you can expect the US forces to protect the Iraqis from their own stupidity... At what point do the Iraqis take responsibility to protect themselves? And at what point are the US forces allowed to stop protecting? After all, if it goes all the way, the US would be responsible for Iraqi kids cutting themselves while playing, for example... unrealistic (and a stupid example, of course).
Oh, and Smooth... if the TFP hadn't crashed, you might have read my rant about how I don't give a rat's arse about both the Iraqis and the US soldiers; I'm Dutch, after all, and both countries are far away. I care about my friends and family, not about some idiot in Iraq that thinks he can ignore warnings about nuclear waste... Let me ask you this: would YOU use containers with nuclear waste to store water??? No, of course you wouldn't! That is *personal responsibility*, something the Iraqis should try for a change.