Why don't we pray to God that the efforts of the Pope are successful and that his efforts convince those around Saddam to abdicate and debunk. A good solution.
Pope offers Saddam 72 hours to go into exile March 12 2003 By Barney Zwartz Religious Affairs Writer
Tandberg
Related links: US tests 'mother of all bombs' Imminent: Iraq appeals to avoid 'catastrophic war' Top adviser quits over war stance Intelligence: Adviser 'trustworthy': colleague US, Britain forced to retreat on UN vote Jason South: A nation braces for war War in a week? Vote now
The Pope is trying to broker a deal to have Iraqi President Saddam Hussein accept exile and avoid war at the last minute.
Under the secret plan - the existence of which Vatican officials confirmed yesterday - Mr Saddam and his family have 72 hours from yesterday to accept.
The exile proposal comes as veteran Australian peace activist Helen Caldicott mounts a worldwide campaign to have the Pope go to Baghdad as a human shield - the only one US President George Bush would not bomb, she says.
The Pope's proposal, brokered by the Vatican with Saudi Arabia and moderate Arab states, was reportedly tabled by Pakistan during a meeting of the 10 non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
The Glasgow Sunday Herald reported that the proposal could become part of a second Security Council resolution.
The report said that under the plan the UN would establish and oversee a new Iraqi government and the UN would take stewardship of Iraq's oilfields. Fifty Iraqi military leaders would be offered amnesty for co-operation.
Meanwhile, Dr Caldicott said from the US yesterday that she had been overwhelmed by the response to her campaign, which began on March 1. In her appeal, she wrote: "To persuade the Holy Father to take this unusual but potent action, he must hear from you and millions of others around the world who have already been inspired to stand up and speak out for peace.
"A mountain of surface mail, email, faxes and phone calls are our devices to inspire him."
Yesterday she said she was getting hundred of emails daily.
She said the Pope had been active in opposing war. "I think he feels passionate. He's an old man who is very sick with nothing to lose."
She said some who rang the Vatican were told by telephone operators: "It's you stupid Americans who voted George Bush in."
There is precedent for a pope halting an invasion. In 452 Pope Leo the Great visited the camp of Attila the Hun and persuaded Attila not to invade Rome.
