This in response to Denis Bergeron’s letter April 23, in which he wanted to know what the objectives were in Iraq. He correctly pointed out that three objectives have been met: eliminate weapons of mass destruction; topple Saddam Hussein; establish a democratic government in Iraq.

But there is a fourth objective that the adminstaration has pointed out, and that is to ensure that the Iraq forces under the Iraq government can contain the insurgents working with al-Qaida, backed by Iran. That is nearly finished, so to pull out now could affect those other objectives, leaving Iraq far worse than it was before we went in.

U.S. forces need to finish the nearly completed job first.

Keith Thompson, Lewiston