Back To The Rule Of The Gun?

The Financial Times says "Iraq's incoming government is considering imposing martial law to help stabilise the country."

But who would maintain martial law? US troops, which would be such a target, and so unpopular, that violence would most likely increase? Or Iraqi forces, which by all accounts still lack training and discipline (or, more exactly, a good reason to put their lives on the line for an unpopular, unelected puppet government)?

As the FT points out, martial law would also make a mockery of the new government's supposedly democratic credentials. The violence lately seems very mush out of control, so much so that even the UN is relectant to send staff back into the country.

So what to do? I am reminded of the chaos in Vietnam as the last US troops boarded a helicopter on the roof of the Saigon embassy... The Vietnamese finally got their country back under control. Would the Iraqis be able to do the same, if it comes to that?