Iraq is in chaos, it's not really anarchy as in the political process espoused by anarchists. I think.
As far as the police protection goes, they are never there when you need one.
I've seen cops, riot squad, turn a rowdy bike race, with young men just being noisy, into day long running battles, because it seemed that they were bored with no one to bash, even innocent family guys were clubbed to the ground by mad cops.
The herd instinct, or with cops, maybe an us n them attitude, they the spectators were having a good time, the cops hate people enjoying themselves.