Permanent peace with Iran is possible

To the editor:

I'm encouraged that a permanent peace and existence on earth with a non-nuclear Iran is on the horizon. It isn't a done-deal yet, but it seems possible. It is important that we let negotiations work. We should encourage efforts by the Obama Administration in any way that we can. We should encourage those who represent us - Sen. Chuck Grassley, Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Dave Loebsack - to use every influence they have to help the negotiations underway and to speak out publicly in favor of diplomacy with Iran. Thankfully Loebsack has done that by signing onto the Schakowsky-Doggett-Price letter encouraging the president to continue negotiations.

The Congress should be delighted to eventually receive a negotiated document, for their study and approval, spelling out the way to a permanent peace. As a nation we have much more invested in our military establishment than in our negotiating skills. World War I was touted as 'the war to end war.” The Versailles Treaty pretty well guaranteed World War II. Since then there has been an uncountable number of wars. War seems inevitably to lead to more war. Only negotiations will bring peace. A permanent peace will be a non-partisan blessing for the people of Iowa, our nation and our world.

Don Laughlin

Iowa City