If Bush’s speech last night went against the collective political feeling inside the US, it was certainly not in line with the political situation in Iraq, where fighting has continued and grown fiercer despite continued US and Iraqi military operations. Iraqis see little connection between the assertions Bush made in his speech and the realities on the ground. Until now, joint US and Iraqi military efforts to secure Baghdad have failed. David Enders, Salam Talib and Hiba Daoud report on reactions from Baghdad.