It seems the road to peace could take an unexpected turn through France and Germany - two nations with a hostile history - after the two countries celebrated 40 years of reconciliation Wednesday. Leaders of the bordering countries said Wednesday they are committed to finding a peaceful solution to the Iraq situation during a ceremony.
"War is not inevitable," French President Jacques Chirac told a historic joint session of the French and German Parliaments on Wednesday, according to The Associated Press. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has made it clear on many occasions Germany will refuse to back a U.S-led war against Iraq.
The world leaders agreed any decision to mount an attack on Iraq should go through the U.N. Security Council. Chirac said France, which holds the Security Council leadership, was committed to work closely with Germany "to give peace the utmost chance."
Chirac's statements should come as an alarm to U.S. leaders who are poised for war. France and the United States have a long history of fighting along side one another to promote freedom. After all, the symbol of liberty and the nations' friendship still stands with her torch held high in New York Harbor.
Red flags should raise in the sights of leaders across America who have their hearts set on war. France and Germany have spoken in a loud and unprecedented voice.
And the frustration of those two countries is understandable. It's hard to draw a line in the sand and say, "If you cross this, we will go to war."
War should not be used as a means to solve the world's problems. France and Germany have perhaps learned that lesson the hard way after having been the stage for two world wars. Their unified call for peace should be heard and reflected upon.
Since the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the Bush administration has been pushing war as the path to solve America's problems and protect its freedom.
But there comes a time when enough is enough. Yes, it is likely Iraq is harboring weapons of mass destruction. But provoking war might not be the best means to disarm the country. It would be devastating if Iraq disarms itself by launching a nuclear arsenal on the world in an effort to defend itself.
Someone needs to quickly hand President Bush and his war-stirring comrades a history book so they might understand the significance of France and Germany's Wednesday message.
The Bush administration should join the effort to promote peaceful solutions and look to war as a last resort.
Aside from Great Britain, it seems the United States doesn't have friends at its back in an effort to bring down Iraq. Perhaps the time has come for U.S. leaders to alter their plans for war.
It seems avoiding a third world war is more important than pursuing one country's personal vendetta against another.
