powerclown

I would say yes, but add: relatively speaking.

The North is far from secured. Back in November 04, violence brought on by the insurgency (made up of 2 parts: FRE, Former Regime Elements, and extremists) was at an all-time (post-Hussein) high in areas in and immediately surrounding Mosul & Kirkuk, Northern Iraq. Short overview here. What the insurgency is trying to do in Northern Iraq is goad the Kurds into a sectarian war based on longstanding animosity between the Kurds and Sunni Arabs in the region. The insurgents are doing what they can to disrupt the political process of putting into effect a legal system based upon the rule of law and order, as opposed to how it was under Hussein (violence, fear and intimidation were the 'law' of the land, in every sense of the word).

So it's early days in the North as well. Coalition Forces in Mosul are in the process of transitioning over security responsibilities to local Iraqis. More on the matter can be read about here: Handoff to Iraqi Forces Being Tested in Mosul.