"I'm sorry. The pictures did not look like a combat situation. Am I missing something?"

No but we are in the middle of an armed occupation, correct? True or false?

"Saddam's demonstrations of popularity were forced by secret police and threats"

I would'nt be so sure. There were lots of Sunni cities that were about as pro-saddam as it gets. Saddam was a facist bastard who deserved a bullet (and may still be), I'm not arguing he is a good guy... But that does not make Blair and Bush automatically better, or displays of affection by a frightened and war torn country any more believable.

"While I imagine this greeting to Blair was certainly arranged ahead of time, the actual displays of affection on the part of the kids was not because Blair had armed stooges standing off stage to enforce it."

And the british soldiers escorting the PM (0and you have to be nuts to think there were none) were not conspicuously armed to the teeth?

The soldiers patrolling the streets are not armed to the teeth?

We may understand that Blair would not have had those children shot if they did not exude affection, but the question is: do the Iraqis know that?

"I can't believe you can't tell the difference."

I can tell the difference, but the Iraqis may see it a 6 of one half dozen of the other. To them, an asshole with a gun and the right to kill you is just an asshole with a gun and the right to kill you.