The war in Iraq and much worldwide terrorism could end tomorrow if – in concert with the United Nations, Europe, the World Council of Churches, the Vatican and the rest of the world who opposed our senseless invasion of Iraq – Saddam Hussein and the Baathist party were restored to their rightful position as the legitimate government in Iraq.

Guarantees and assurances would have to be secured that peace and reconciliation would prevail and no recriminations whatsoever would occur.

Then the nations and leaders of the word could truly work together, with Iraq, to secure lasting peace and justice for the long-suffering peoples of the Middle East and elsewhere.

There would be plenty of blame to go around thereafter, but no one or nation need be singled out for scapegoating in this complex and tragic historical process, which only time and dispassionate, scholarly analysis can ever hope to sort out, at least to some degree.

“Peace is the gift of the politicians.” But, it will take great courage and statesmanship on the part of world leaders to take such daring, historically unparalleled action. Do they have it?

If they do, we may begin to see a golden age in the history of the world, one in which peace, justice, progress and equality may truly be pursued for all people, and one which will put an end, once and for all, to the insane notion that “War is the continuation of politics by other means.”

Paul Corrao, Auburn