[Opinion] War of Perceptions

The U.S.-led attack on Iraq sharply divided the world into two before even it started. Having failed to muster support facing vehement opposition by France, Germany and Russia, Americans pushed for preemptive attacks without acquiring a go-ahead from the U.N. Security Council, saying it need to get rid of any threat in advance. Now heavily bombing Baghdad, therefore, Americans and Brits are seeking to make their case before people in the world. Iraq, on its part, is avoiding using chemical weapons even facing the sheer firepower of the so-called allied forces, apparently to appeal to the international society.

The U.S.-based Christian Science Monitor called this behind-the-scene competition `a war of perceptions.` Is this a war for liberation of Iraqi people and security of the world, or a war sought by dangerous imperialistic and war-mongering policy? The debate will almost certainly affect the international relations of powers and the stance of the U.S. in the long term. The paper cited casualties, existence of weapons of mass destruction, control of Iraqi oil fields and duration of the war as key factors that will decide the winner and the loser. For instance, if Americans fail to find out weapons of mass destruction and end up killing many civilians, they will lose the war of perceptions even if they win the war on the battlefield. If the Bush Administration sticks to its plan to control Iraqi oil fields, it will only validate the argument by anti-war activists that this is an immoral war for oil.

The attack will be remembered in history as a war that provoked the most widespread anti-war demonstrations throughout the world. Even in the U.S. and Britain, as well as in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa, tens of thousands protestors continue to take to the streets. This is the first time that every each continent of the world erupts into anti-war sentiment. We are indeed living in a global village. Pope John Paul II, who appealed to people with his anti-war messages until the last moment, recently said during his pray for peace that he felt sympathy towards the people of Iraq.

Korea is one of the thirty countries explicitly supporting the U.S. attack, but its people are voicing their opposition against the war. And debates on whether or not to send troops to the battlefield are heating up before the vote in the National Assembly set for March 25. There are opponents in the ruling party and likewise advocates in the opposition party, which implies how delicate the issue is. Will there be a way for the country to catch the two birds by serving the universal human value of keeping peace while not hurting the national interest?

Kim Sang-young, Editorial Writer, youngkim@donga.com