Opinion: A toppling regime

The war in Iraq is not over, but it reached its symbolic climax Wednesday in Baghdad when jubilant residents joined with American Marines to topple a prominent statue of Saddam Hussein. Hesitant Iraqis had wondered whether this war, after so many false hopes over the years, would truly bring an end to Hussein's three decades of tyranny. For them, the scene marked a milestone of liberation.

The battle of worldwide opinion continues as well, and the scenes of American troops' joyous welcome in Baghdad were televised in neighboring Arab countries and throughout the world. The real test of the success of this war will be measured over time. If Hussein's dictatorship is replaced by a humane, representative government that reflects the aspirations of the Iraqi people, fair-minded people of all nationalities will celebrate the change. For now, though, the spontaneous scenes from Baghdad and other Iraqi cities tell an unmistakable story.

Of course, the world also has witnessed more gruesome scenes. American viewers generally have been shielded from the most difficult images of the war's carnage. But much of the rest of the world has been bombarded by them: dead and maimed civilians, Iraqi and American battlefield casualties, chaos and deprivation in some cities that have been left without functioning government.

Other images have begun to emerge. U.S. and British troops have uncovered horrific evidence of the scope and depravity of Hussein's police state. Schools have doubled as munitions warehouses. Hospitals have doubled as prisons and torture chambers. Hussein's forces have used women and children as human shields. The circumstantial evidence of Iraq's illegal chemical and biological weapons programs also has been accumulating. That growing indictment of Hussein's crimes against humanity will have an influence on world opinion.

When the chaos of war is televised in real time, the powerfully conflicting images can produce powerfully conflicting emotions. With selective perception, those who assume the best and the worst of American motives in Iraq can find images to reinforce their biases. But as the war winds down and the building of a new Iraqi society begins, the images will become clearer. The world will know how well we succeed in delivering humanitarian aid and restoring order to desperate communities. The world will know whether the government that replaces Hussein's regime can build legitimacy among the Iraqi people.

In the meantime, our most effective ambassadors will continue to be the grunts on the ground: the young men and women of our armed services who are making one-on-one connections with residents in every region of Iraq. Like the American troops who liberated Europe in another time, they are showing that a smile, a cigarette, a cup of water or a piece of candy can send a more effective message of shared humanity than any massive public relations campaign could muster.

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright