With virtually all efforts at resolving the Gulf crisis, diplomatically exhausted, millions of people all over the world will be today praying for peace. True, at this moment, a glimmer of hope is raised by the mission of the UN Secretary-General to Baghdad in what has been rightly described as the last grasp at peace. But so far the news from the Iraqi capital on the progress of the Secretary General's talks remains contradictory and vague. No one believes that Perez de Cuellar will be able to work out a formula for a peaceful resolution of the crisis. Just in course of a single mission. However, President Saddam Hussein may still offer some kind of a way-out to Justify the postponement of the deadline for the threatened military action. Thus. Iraq may buy time, mainly to save Its face. If the Iraqi President does make such a move, the United States which is spearheading the International campaign against President Hussein should not miss the chance of opening a new dialogue for peace. Better still, Washington should readily involve Paris in any new move that emerges from the mission of Perez de Cuellar to Baghdad. The International community has already rightly condemned Iraq for its invasion of Kuwait. The move by President Saddam Hussein has split the Islamic world, caused untold suffering to millions of people within the Gulf region and outside and damaged the economies of several poor Third World countries, including Bangladesh, which we have discussed in details in articles published elsewhere in this paper. But this is not the time for recriminations. This is the time for averting a war. This is the time for a prayer for peace.