James Wong Wing o­n should defend what he said o­n BBC with a touch of pride. He spoke up honestly in the face of the official slant o­n the issue of the US-led war in Iraq.

In light of the official and media support against the war and the political agenda underlying such position, it is trite that many amongst those who hold a view contrary to the official stand will not speak their minds. If they do, their views will not be published by mainstream papers.

The fact is that in the absence of reliable polls, no o­ne has even an indication of those for or against the war.

Wong says that o­ne in three amongst his contacts and those he spoke to were pro-war. Amongst my friends with whom I discussed, three out of four are pro-war.

'Operation Iraqi Freedom' is not an issue simply reducible to o­ne of war versus peace or else there would not be so much contention the world over.

All I can say is that everyone sees and argues his position through the prisms of his innate prejudices and private agendas and subterranean motives. Educational background, race, religion social and economic backgrounds play a role.

Logic is used as a weapon to advance o­ne's position, and the real motives determining the position are seldom disclosed.

In a multicultural society, to say that there is an overwhelming majority position o­n the war issue in the absence of empirical investigation, should be held in utmost skepticism. Social experience rebuts the assertion of such a view.