Two items today. First, intelligence has revealed that planned attacks against U.S. interests in Syria and Lebanon were what brought about the "taking out" of one of the leading anti-American terrorists in the entire world, Qassem Soleimani.

President Trump ordered this action on this past Thursday, and on Friday the following statement came from multiple U.S. officials, "When we start seeing extensive and very solid intelligence that Soleimani is plotting imminent attacks against the U.S., the President, as commander-in-chief, has a duty to take decisive action." 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an interview on CNN that Soleimani was "actively plotting in the region to take huge action that would have put dozens, if not hundreds, of American lives at risk. The U.S. drone strike on Thursday stopped that from happening." A senior U.S. official revealed that intelligence showed that Soleimani traveled in recent days to Syria and Lebanon, and then on this past Thursday to Iraq, approving final plans for attacks on U.S. bases in each of those locations. 

As you know, a violent obviously well-planned attack on our Embassy in Iraq occurred, but it was unsuccessful. On New Year's Eve President Trump posted to his Twitter account, "The U.S. Embassy in Iraq is SAFE. Iran will be held fully responsible for lives lost or damage incurred at any of our facilities. Those who attack us will pay a very BIG price." 

Folks, this could be the beginning of the end of Iran's 40-year aggression against our country, and we should welcome that. Now, for the second item. 

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is introducing legislation to dismiss the impeachment "trial" being pursued by the U.S. House, calling Speaker Pelosi's withholding of the Articles of Impeachment an "Abuse of the Constitution." Sen. Hawley, former Missouri Attorney General, issued this statement: "Pelosi kept saying that impeachment was URGENT. Now they don't want to proceed to a trial, because they obviously have no impeachable evidence. In the real world, if prosecution doesn't proceed with a case, the case gets dismissed. 

“So I am introducing a measure to dismiss this bogus impeachment for lack of prosecution."

Sen. Hawley further stated that his legislation would expose the left's cynical move to oust the President, an effort that started even before he took the oath of office. It's been a long, expensive, sometimes scary coup attempt, but it has, thank God, about run its course.

Now to end on a lighter note: A six-year-old boy called his mother from his friend Charlie's house and confessed he had broken a lamp when he threw a football in their living room.

"But, Mom," he said, brightening, "You don't have to worry about buying another one. Charlie's mother said it was irreplaceable." Have a really good day!   

The opinions of Neuse News columnists do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Neuse News.