It has to be done. That is the sentiment of local leaders as the United States inches closer to war with Iraq.

Most agree that while war is not something to be relished, it is the last and now only option in dealing with Saddam Hussein.

"In the last 12 years, there have been 15-20 resolutions passed by the United Nations which the Iraqi leaders have agreed to and then completely disregarded. The fact that the Iraqi leaders admitted they do have things that they denied having just a few short weeks ago shows that they are not being truthful," Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Richard Walton said. "No one wants war, but where are the alternatives? If nothing is done, what will the Iraqi leadership do?"

His thoughts were echoed by Lawrence County Auditor Raymond T. Dutey.

"I hate to see it happen, but we've come to the place where there is nothing left to do but go in and get him out of there," Dutey said. "I think it's the right call. I think the president has gone the extra mile with Iraq. I'm with the president on this."

Asked what he would tell the troops, Dutey responded "Tell them we're praying for them."

Prayer for the troops was very much on the minds of people who gathered for the Tuesday special meeting of the Lawrence County Commission. Commission President George Patterson asked people to use the traditional moment of silent prayer as a time to pray for our troops and our nation's leaders.

"It's bothering a lot of people," Patterson said. "I've never been in combat, but my dad was and I've heard the stories. I ask that you pray that people would support our country and our troops."

"I know the president is a spiritual person and a lot of people are praying for him and for all of our leaders and our troops," Commissioner Jason Stephens said.

Like Dutey, Stephens said he backs the president 100 percent, even though as the father of two, with a baby on the way, he acknowledged that he looks at the world and the subject of war a little differently than he did the last time our country went to battle. During the Persian Gulf War, Stephens was a 21-year-old college student.

"I remember thinking then, that if this doesn't go well, where will we be? Now, I have kids and you see things happen. It's concerning at best," he said.

Commissioner Doug Malone graduated from high school in 1971, when the nation was involved in the the Vietnam conflict. He grew up during The Cold War and the years that followed.

"It's a very dangerous time in the world. To me, this is as dangerous as during the Cuban Missile Crisis," Malone said. "Saddam Hussein is very dangerous. I don't know whether this is totally right or totally wrong, but we do have to back the president and take a stand against those who support terrorism. People need to pray for our leaders and pray for our troops."

Ironton City Health Department Administrator Charlie Kouns agreed.

"Our prayers have got to be with our president and soldiers,"

Kouns said. "If we put God first, God will fight that war. If you listen to people who were in World War II, they will tell you divine intervention was a big reason we won that war."

Kouns drew analogies between Saddam Hussein and German dictator Adolph Hitler, and said he thought the Iraqi leader should never have been allowed to remain in power this long.

"We're doing what should have been done 12 years ago," he said. "We've given him every possible chance, but now it's going to take nothing short of going in and bringing him out dead or alive. There's no question in my mind that man has to go."

And if they could, what would these Lawrence County leaders tell the Iraqi people, if they had the chance?

"The American people want to help them, want to liberate them," Dutey said, describing Saddam Hussein as a brutal dictator.

Asked what he would tell the American troops on the verge of war, Walton replied "God bless them, and God bless our country."