Referring to an article on page A3 of the Bangor Daily News, Aug. 5, headlined, “Iraq refusing further talks.” Then on Aug. 6, page A3, “Saddam halts help for U.N. inspectors.”

I must have missed your paper that explained who won the battles in the desert called Desert Storm. I had no close friend or acquintance or relative involved and I know no one who gave his or her life in this altercation. Those who lost loved ones or spent time in the dust and heat of the battle must certainly wonder, after all these months, who really came out the victor.

I am ashamed each and every time Saddam, figuratively, rubs our collective noses with his demands — demands he has made since his humiliating (humiliating to most people) defeat. Would that the enforcers be given the power to do their job as it should be done and put Saddam out of business once and for all. To do anything less is a slap in the face of all those who fought or were home agonizing about the fate of loved ones or friends.

We will rue the day if we fail to be as firm in victory as we were in battle. Robert D. Eveleth Bar Harbor