"If till now the coalition forces have been the ones surprised by the apathy of the Iraqi population and the cool welcome given them, apparently it is now Saddam Hussein's turn to be surprised," writes Zvi Bar'el. "The initial pictures from the battle for Baghdad show Iraqi citizens starting to wave cautiously to the U.S. and British soldiers bearing down on the capital. These encouraging pictures are an important chapter in the propaganda war underway between the coalition forces and Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Said al-Sahhaf, and the reactions of the public have yet to stand the true test of Baghdad." Recent video of Saddam (or his body double) kissing babies in the streets of Baghdad demonstrates "the importance the Iraqi regime is placing on public opinion in advance of the battle in the city."