As war with Iraq unfolds and jitters mount about American casualties on the battlefield, business leaders are wondering what's in store for them.

Three elder statesmen in the local business community have various views on what the war may hold for the economy. But all three agree that the political wrangling and waiting leading up to this moment may be worse than what the war will bring.

"I think the uncertainty has been the worst part of all this,'' said Stephen Gurgovits, chief executive officer of First National Bank of Pennsylvania. "People tend to -- when faced with uncertainty -- go into paralysis. That's the worst-case scenario for any business.''

Headquartered in Hermitage, First National continues to see hefty consumer demand for mortgage and mortgage refinancing loans.

"The housing market is strong,'' Gurgovits said. "People look at the stock market, which has been down for nearly three years. I think there's some people who are saying, 'I'm going to invest in my home.' ''

While the war has grabbed center stage, the economy could change on a dime.

"I think one of the key ingredients is: How will this play out in America,'' Gurgovits said. "If we are subject to additional terrorist attacks at home ... If it doesn't happen it will be business as usual. If there are terrorist attacks, that would be a different situation all the way around.''

Bob McIntire, president of Hermitage-based McIntire International Consulting, believes the duration of the war will be a deciding factor.

"If it's a quick war, it won't have much effect on business,'' McIntire said. "What depresses the business climate is uncertainty.''

McIntire heads a consulting firm that represents mostly American companies in the rail, construction, mining-equipment and energy markets. He said foreign business leaders don't share their governments' sentiments on war with Iraq.

Recently returning from a business trip that took him to Spain, London, Moscow and China, McIntire didn't find any anti-American sentiment in those business communities.

"I was welcomed in Russia and China with wide-open arms,'' McIntire said. "The subject of war wasn't even brought up, and we were with the top business people. Businessmen generally work beyond politics. We just don't get into political issues.''

While in Russia he was with 20 other American company representatives who met with government and business leaders.

"Not one of the 20 people there felt the Iraq war would have an adverse impact on them'' McIntire said.

Jim Feeney, chairman and chief executive officer of Protected Home Mutual Life Insurance Co. in Sharon, said the long prelude to war has been draining on emotions and the economy.

"It will be a positive for local businesses to get this threat behind us,'' Feeney said. "It may bring about more normalcy in construction in the United States that's been on hold for many months now since we were attacked on Sept. 11.''

Belief that the war will be brief has been shown in the stock market, which has risen in recent days. As for life insurance products, business has been strong, Feeney said.

"With interest rates so low, some people are looking at life insurance portfolios as a good place to invest because there aren't very many alternatives out there.''

Although the economy has been sluggish of late, Feeney feels it's due for a turn.

"It can't be this bad forever,'' he said. "I'm getting more bullish than anyone else. It would appear if we could get businesses and industry to start capital spending, along with not too much of a decline in individual spending, this thing could turn -- and turn rapidly.''

Still, in an ever-changing geopolitical world, there are things that remain constant.

On a recent trip to France, McIntire said that as an American he received snooty treatment from employees at various hotels where he was staying.

"It's always been like that,'' he said.