westernjournal--2020-01-09--Pelosi Got Idea To Withhold Impeachment Articles from a CNN Interview: Report

It ’ s one tiny detail , but if it ’ s true , it ’ s damning .
Buried inside a lengthy , fawning profile of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi published Thursday by Time magazine is a nugget of information that had conservative news sites and social media buzzing .
The woman being portrayed as the reigning mastermind of the Democratic Party , someone whose mania for micromanagement in the party ’ s battles with President Donald Trump extended from “ from major strategic decisions to minor stagecraft , ” got one of her biggest ideas from watching a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Specifically , it was a CNN interview with Watergate figure John Dean , the former counsel to President Richard Nixon ’ s White House who ’ s gotten trotted out by Democrats every time a Republican has been in the White House to tell the country that whatever the latest scandal happens to be is “ worse than Watergate.
” It ’ s a detail that makes Pelosi look less like a grand strategist than a victim of her own designs , fumbling blindly for a way out of a trap she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East The Time report doesn ’ t offer much in the way of explanation — the detail is reported in a single sentence without elaboration .
It ’ s attributed to an unidentified source and there ’ s no elaboration .
It barely fits into the two paragraphs it ’ s part of : “ On Dec. 17 , the night before the full House would debate and vote on Trump ’ s impeachment , Pelosi met behind closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Steering and Policy Committee .
She hinted , for the first time , that she was contemplating a curveball : declining to immediately transmit the impeachment articles to the Senate after the House passed them , ” Time reported .
“ Pelosi , according to an aide , had been mulling the tactic since she heard former Nixon White House counsel John Dean float the idea on CNN on Dec. 5 .
In the committee meeting , she added that she believed McConnell would be motivated to move .
‘ Somebody said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even take up what we send .
[ But ] then [ Trump ] will never be vindicated , ’ she said , according to the aide in the room .
‘ He will be impeached forever .
Forever .
No matter what the Senate does.
’ ” As The Daily Wire noted , Dean did appear on CNN on Dec. 5 in an interview with Don Lemon , possibly the most virulently anti-Trump voice on an virulently anti-Trump network .
“ What I think Nancy Pelosi has some real leverage on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send articles of impeachment to the Senate , ” Dean said , according to a CNN transcript of the Dec. 5 episode of “ CNN Tonight.
” “ What happens , Don , after there ’ s a vote on the articles , they adopt a resolution where they select managers and then they decide when they ’ re going to send the managers over to the Senate .
“ So there ’ s a flexibility in the process where she could say , listen , let ’ s just hold these articles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together and that could last right through the campaign as far as her powers.
” Liberals routinely mock Trump as a man who allegedly gets his ideas from watching Fox News , but here is a report in an otherwise hagiographic profile that shows Pelosi literally getting an idea that holds the presidency and the country hostage from a television interview on a rabidly partisan “ news ” network .
RELATED : DeSoto : Dems Try To Snatch Defeat from Victory with Iran War Powers Resolution Against Trump By Dec. 5 , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi had even announced that very day she saw “ no choice ” but to proceed with the articles of impeachment in the House .
She had to know that polls were showing impeachment was not the political winner Democrats evidently expected it to be .
So she also had to know the dilemma she was headed for .
According to the Time article , she found her way out from the Dean interview .
“ Now , Dean is often portrayed as a patriotic , whistleblowing impeachment expert — which is true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then informed on everyone whom he conspired with after they were caught .
His real expertise is cashing in on criminality for the past 50 years ( I wrote about Dean ’ s slimy past here ) , ” he wrote .
On social media , the comments were worse : That last one nails it .
For all the liberal complaints about Fox News and the Trump administration , the reality is that it ’ s the Democratic Party that ’ s in bed with the vast majority of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allies fighting Trump since he announced for the presidency in 2015 and they ’ re allies now — each helping the other spread poison throughout American politics .
Nancy Pelosi is so blind to her own failures that , according to the Time article , she considers the passage of the disaster known as Obamacare to be her greatest legacy ( an idea that Time ’ s bootlicking Molly Ball seems to agree with ) .
Now , it turns out , if Time is accurate , that this woman with decades of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea yet from an interview on television — with a convicted felon who ’ s apparently bent on redeeming his crimes by spending decades as a Democratic hack .
The article tries to paint Pelosi as a Capitol puppet master , pulling the strings of the nation ’ s power center in her fight to defeat the president .
What it reveals instead , if this detail is true , is simply pathetic .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

It’s one tiny detail, but if it’s true, it’s damning.
Buried inside a lengthy, fawning profile of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi published Thursday by Time magazine is a nugget of information that had conservative news sites and social media buzzing.
The woman being portrayed as the reigning mastermind of the Democratic Party, someone whose mania for micromanagement in the party’s battles with President Donald Trump extended from “from major strategic decisions to minor stagecraft,” got one of her biggest ideas from watching a television interview of a convicted felon.
Specifically, it was a CNN interview with Watergate figure John Dean, the former counsel to President Richard Nixon’s White House who’s gotten trotted out by Democrats every time a Republican has been in the White House to tell the country that whatever the latest scandal happens to be is “worse than Watergate.”
It’s a detail that makes Pelosi look less like a grand strategist than a victim of her own designs, fumbling blindly for a way out of a trap she was creating for herself.
The Time report doesn’t offer much in the way of explanation — the detail is reported in a single sentence without elaboration. It’s attributed to an unidentified source and there’s no elaboration.
It barely fits into the two paragraphs it’s part of:
“On Dec. 17, the night before the full House would debate and vote on Trump’s impeachment, Pelosi met behind closed doors with top caucus members on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. She hinted, for the first time, that she was contemplating a curveball: declining to immediately transmit the impeachment articles to the Senate after the House passed them,” Time reported.
“Pelosi, according to an aide, had been mulling the tactic since she heard former Nixon White House counsel John Dean float the idea on CNN on Dec. 5. In the committee meeting, she added that she believed McConnell would be motivated to move. ‘Somebody said to me today that he may not even take up what we send. [But] then [Trump] will never be vindicated,’ she said, according to the aide in the room. ‘He will be impeached forever. Forever. No matter what the Senate does.’”
Do you think impeachment is backfiring on the Democrats? Yes No
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As The Daily Wire noted, Dean did appear on CNN on Dec. 5 in an interview with Don Lemon, possibly the most virulently anti-Trump voice on an virulently anti-Trump network.
“What I think Nancy Pelosi has some real leverage on this. She doesn’t have to send articles of impeachment to the Senate,” Dean said, according to a CNN transcript of the Dec. 5 episode of “CNN Tonight.”
“What happens, Don, after there’s a vote on the articles, they adopt a resolution where they select managers and then they decide when they’re going to send the managers over to the Senate.
“So there’s a flexibility in the process where she could say, listen, let’s just hold these articles here until the Senate gets its act together and that could last right through the campaign as far as her powers.”
Liberals routinely mock Trump as a man who allegedly gets his ideas from watching Fox News, but here is a report in an otherwise hagiographic profile that shows Pelosi literally getting an idea that holds the presidency and the country hostage from a television interview on a rabidly partisan “news” network.
By Dec. 5, an impeachment vote was a foregone conclusion. Pelosi had even announced that very day she saw “no choice” but to proceed with the articles of impeachment in the House.
She had to know that polls were showing impeachment was not the political winner Democrats evidently expected it to be.
So she also had to know the dilemma she was headed for.
According to the Time article, she found her way out from the Dean interview.
The news created an online stir.
At National Review, senior writer David Harsanyi was scathing.
“Now, Dean is often portrayed as a patriotic, whistleblowing impeachment expert — which is true insofar as he planned the Watergate coverup, and then informed on everyone whom he conspired with after they were caught. His real expertise is cashing in on criminality for the past 50 years (I wrote about Dean’s slimy past here),” he wrote.
On social media, the comments were worse:
Because he’s a pillar of success & wisdom. Lol! — Grateful_Mom (@mom_grateful) January 9, 2020
Proof positive that Speaker Pelosi has lost her ever-loving mind. — Bill (@Wagglethis) January 9, 2020
Her legacy will be she followed advice of a convicted felon — Luvmycountry (@Luvmycountry6) January 9, 2020
The media does control the Democrats & vice versa — Texas Conservative (@TexasConsBanker) January 9, 2020
That last one nails it.
For all the liberal complaints about Fox News and the Trump administration, the reality is that it’s the Democratic Party that’s in bed with the vast majority of the mainstream media.
They’ve been allies fighting Trump since he announced for the presidency in 2015 and they’re allies now — each helping the other spread poison throughout American politics.
Nancy Pelosi is so blind to her own failures that, according to the Time article, she considers the passage of the disaster known as Obamacare to be her greatest legacy (an idea that Time’s bootlicking Molly Ball seems to agree with).
Now, it turns out, if Time is accurate, that this woman with decades of Democratic misgovernance behind her got her worst idea yet from an interview on television — with a convicted felon who’s apparently bent on redeeming his crimes by spending decades as a Democratic hack.
The article tries to paint Pelosi as a Capitol puppet master, pulling the strings of the nation’s power center in her fight to defeat the president.
What it reveals instead, if this detail is true, is simply pathetic.
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--Video Emerges Appearing To Show Airliner Getting Hit by Missile Over Iran

Video footage appears to show the moment a missile hit a Ukrainian airliner over Iran , eventually resulting in a crash that killed all 176 people on board .
Recent developments in the case suggest it was an Iranian missile that took down the aircraft , likely accidentally .
“ There is now a body of information that the flight was shot down by an Iranian Surface to Air Missile , ” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement .
“ This may well have been unintentional .
We are working closely with Canada and our international partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full , transparent investigation , ” he added .
Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 caught fire shortly after taking off from Tehran on Wednesday and later crashed .
TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East Video obtained by The New York Times and CNN appears to show the moment when an Iranian missile collided with the plane .
CNN reported that it was unable to immediately “ verify the authenticity of the video , but the buildings seen in it appears similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capitol suburb of Parand.
” “ The Ukrainian plane crashed just north of the suburb , ” the outlet added .
The Times , however , reported that it had verified the authenticity of the video .
“ A small explosion occurred when a missile hit the plane , but the plane did not explode , the video showed , ” according to the newspaper .
“ The jet continued flying for several minutes and turned back toward the airport , The Times has determined.
” “ The plane flew toward the airport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , other videos verified by The Times showed.
” RELATED : DeSoto : Dems Try To Snatch Defeat from Victory with Iran War Powers Resolution Against Trump The Iranian government has already been caught changing its story on what exactly happened .
They then said the aircraft tried to turn around after takeoff .
Photos posted to social media , meanwhile , appear to show missile remains near the aircraft ’ s final flight path .
A U.S. official told CNN the Ukrainian jet was shot down by Russian-made surface-to-air missiles .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Video footage appears to show the moment a missile hit a Ukrainian airliner over Iran, eventually resulting in a crash that killed all 176 people on board.
Recent developments in the case suggest it was an Iranian missile that took down the aircraft, likely accidentally.
“There is now a body of information that the flight was shot down by an Iranian Surface to Air Missile,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement.
“This may well have been unintentional. We are working closely with Canada and our international partners and there now needs to be a full, transparent investigation,” he added.
Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 caught fire shortly after taking off from Tehran on Wednesday and later crashed.
Video obtained by The New York Times and CNN appears to show the moment when an Iranian missile collided with the plane.
Watch below:
CNN reported that it was unable to immediately “verify the authenticity of the video, but the buildings seen in it appears similar to ones that are in the Iranian capitol suburb of Parand.”
Should Iran be held accountable for what happened to this airliner? Yes No
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“The Ukrainian plane crashed just north of the suburb,” the outlet added.
The Times, however, reported that it had verified the authenticity of the video.
“A small explosion occurred when a missile hit the plane, but the plane did not explode, the video showed,” according to the newspaper.
“The jet continued flying for several minutes and turned back toward the airport, The Times has determined.”
“The plane flew toward the airport ablaze before it exploded and crashed quickly, other videos verified by The Times showed.”
The Iranian government has already been caught changing its story on what exactly happened.
Iranian officials originally blamed a technical issue with the plane.
They then said the aircraft tried to turn around after takeoff.
Photos posted to social media, meanwhile, appear to show missile remains near the aircraft’s final flight path.
Second image (right) of Tor anti-aircraft missile debris, supposedly from near the #PS752 crash site. Still unverified, and still going to be very hard to geolocate it based on what’s visible in the image. h/t @Liberalist_30 pic.twitter.com/TQNRp6hopj — Eliot Higgins (@EliotHiggins) January 9, 2020
Iran likely downed a #Ukrainian Boeing 737 near #Tehran last night by mistake when their air defense was on alert for US airstrikes. Video of plane burning in the sky, bullet or shrapnel holes in the plane, 176 killed. #Iran refuses to turn over the black box flight recorder… pic.twitter.com/GDaa8eK6Qz — Matthew VanDyke (@Matt_VanDyke) January 8, 2020
A U.S. official told CNN the Ukrainian jet was shot down by Russian-made surface-to-air missiles.
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--DeSoto: Dems Try To Snatch Defeat from Victory with Iran War Powers Resolution Against Trump

House Democrats appear determined to snatch defeat from victory in the aftermath of President Donald Trump ’ s decision to take out Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani last week in Baghdad .
Tehran retaliated with missile strikes into Iraq on Tuesday night that resulted in no American or Iraqi casualties and minimal damage to installations housing U.S. military personnel .
Both Iranian leadership and Trump have communicated they do not seek further military action ; in fact , Trump said Wednesday he wants to open negotiations with Iran .
Nevertheless , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to limit the president ’ s military actions .
The administration must de-escalate and must prevent further violence .
America and the world can not afford war.
” The speaker said the purpose of the resolution is “ to protect American lives and values.
” TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East Democrat Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan introduced the resolution , known as H. Con .
Res .
83 .
“ The killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani , as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Iraqi bases , risks significant escalation in hostilities between the United States and Iran , ” the resolution states in part .
“ Congress has not authorized the President to use military force against Iran.
” The resolution is expected to be “ privileged , ” which will force the Senate to vote on it too .
Republicans hold a narrow 53 to 47 majority in the Senate and at least two in the GOP ranks , Sens .
Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah , have criticized Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If Paul , Lee and two more Republicans defect , the Democratic resolution could pass Congress .
The House resolution , as currently drafted , would not go to the president for his signature and therefore does not have the force of law , but of course undermines Trump before the eyes of the Iranians nonetheless .
What message do Pelosi and her fellow Democrats think passing such a resolution sends to Tehran ?
Maybe push Trump to respond militarily and Congress will pass legislation truly tying his hands .
Do the Iranians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provocations more or less thanks to this current resolution ?
Does an emboldened Iran and a hamstrung president make Americans more or less safe ?
RELATED : Buttigieg Suggests Trump Is at Fault for Iran Shooting Down Civilian 737 Remember , he did not order the hit on Soleimani in a vacuum , but rather exercised great restraint in not responding militarily beforehand .
It was the culmination of a series of recent provocations .
These included using proxies to strike U.S. forces in Iraq , seizing ships in the Persian Gulf , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shooting down U.S. drones .
Of course , the most recent act of aggression was an Iranian-backed militia launching a rocket attack at a U.S. base in Iraq last week , which resulted in the death of an American and the wounding of four other U.S. service members .
This same group then breached the outer defenses of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad , and had they had broken through , would no doubt have killed and or captured more Americans .
When Trump green-lit the killing of Soleimani , the Iranian general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deputy commander of Iran-backed militias responsible for these attacks .
Something tells me they were not meeting to plan their next family vacation together or to trade gardening tips .
Foreign policy and national security experts from across the political spectrum found the recent exchange of hostilities between the U.S. and Iran resulted in a victory for Trump and America .
Ian Bremmer with the Eurasia Group , who described himself a “ far from a Trump supporter , ” told CNN , “ This is a win for Trump .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Their response has been the minimum possible military engagement against the Americans , ” Bremmer said of the Iranians .
“ That is wildly de-escalatory.
” His overall assessment : “ Iran is weaker today than it was when Trump became president.
” James Carafano — a national security expert with the conservative Heritage Foundation — said he agrees with Bremmer .
“ Trump clearly emerges from this last round of confrontation the winner , ” Carafano told The Western Journal .
“ The administration has not backed off its maximum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it remains in place the more the regime is isolated ; the weaker the economy ; the more internal domestic discord ; the more the surrogates are undercut ; the more support the U.S. has in the region — the more the regime is humiliated that it is powerless to break the American stranglehold , ” he explained .
Trump , rightly , responded to Pelosi ’ s resolution saying he would not commit to seeking congressional approval before taking further military action against Iran .
“ It would all depend on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House on Thursday .
“ I don ’ t have to , and you shouldn ’ t have to be able because you have to make split-second decisions sometimes .
Sometimes you have to move very , very quickly , ” Trump said .
“ You know what bothers me ?
” the president continued .
“ When I see a Nancy Pelosi trying to defend this monster from Iran who ’ s killed so many people .
… So many people are walking around now without legs and without arms.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats want to defend him , I think that ’ s a very bad thing for this country.
” The last time an American president took such a bold move toward the Iranian regime was in 1988 , when then-President Ronald Reagan directed the U.S. Navy to take out two Iranian oil platforms .
The move was in response to Iran disrupting the flow of oil through the Persian Gulf region , including the placing of a mine that crippled a U.S. Navy frigate , while injuring several sailors .
The New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two nations occurred in which U.S. warships “ sank an Iranian missile patrol boat that approached and fired on them.
” “ Later , jets from the aircraft carrier Enterprise sank or badly damaged three large armed speedboats that were shelling oil facilities or merchant ships .
And in two other incidents , the Navy ’ s ships and planes severely damaged two Iranian frigates that fired on American ships and aircraft , ” according to The Times .
The result of the engagement was that Iran backed down , and there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Peace through strength ” doctrine prevailed , once again .
Not much was heard from Iran toward the U.S. for years afterward .
Trump ’ s strike on Soleimani was clearly intended to reset the deck by re-establishing deterrence .
Tehran seemed shocked by the U.S. move .
After launching its face-saving retaliatory missile attack on Tuesday , Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif announced , “ We do not seek escalation or war.
” Trump said on Wednesday , “ Iran appears to be standing down , which is a good thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the de-escalation Pelosi ’ s resolution seeks has already taken place .
The only thing that can change the powerful position America has now gained is if the Democrats succeed through their ill-conceived , politically motivated resolution to turn victory into defeat .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

House Democrats appear determined to snatch defeat from victory in the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s decision to take out Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani last week in Baghdad.
Tehran retaliated with missile strikes into Iraq on Tuesday night that resulted in no American or Iraqi casualties and minimal damage to installations housing U.S. military personnel.
Both Iranian leadership and Trump have communicated they do not seek further military action; in fact, Trump said Wednesday he wants to open negotiations with Iran.
Nevertheless, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Thursday the House would pass a “war powers resolution to limit the president’s military actions. The administration must de-escalate and must prevent further violence. America and the world cannot afford war.”
The speaker said the purpose of the resolution is “to protect American lives and values.”
Democrat Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan introduced the resolution, known as H. Con. Res. 83.
“The killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, as well as Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Iraqi bases, risks significant escalation in hostilities between the United States and Iran,” the resolution states in part. “Congress has not authorized the President to use military force against Iran.”
The resolution is expected to be “privileged,” which will force the Senate to vote on it too.
Republicans hold a narrow 53 to 47 majority in the Senate and at least two in the GOP ranks, Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah, have criticized Trump’s decision to eliminate Soleimani.
Do you think Trump's decision to take out Soleimani was a strategic win for the U.S.? Yes No
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If Paul, Lee and two more Republicans defect, the Democratic resolution could pass Congress.
The House resolution, as currently drafted, would not go to the president for his signature and therefore does not have the force of law, but of course undermines Trump before the eyes of the Iranians nonetheless.
What message do Pelosi and her fellow Democrats think passing such a resolution sends to Tehran? Maybe push Trump to respond militarily and Congress will pass legislation truly tying his hands.
Do the Iranians fear how Trump would respond to future provocations more or less thanks to this current resolution?
Does an emboldened Iran and a hamstrung president make Americans more or less safe?
Remember, he did not order the hit on Soleimani in a vacuum, but rather exercised great restraint in not responding militarily beforehand.
It was the culmination of a series of recent provocations.
These included using proxies to strike U.S. forces in Iraq, seizing ships in the Persian Gulf, attacking a Saudi Arabian oil field and shooting down U.S. drones.
Of course, the most recent act of aggression was an Iranian-backed militia launching a rocket attack at a U.S. base in Iraq last week, which resulted in the death of an American and the wounding of four other U.S. service members.
This same group then breached the outer defenses of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and had they had broken through, would no doubt have killed and or captured more Americans.
When Trump green-lit the killing of Soleimani, the Iranian general was meeting with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iran-backed militias responsible for these attacks.
Something tells me they were not meeting to plan their next family vacation together or to trade gardening tips.
Foreign policy and national security experts from across the political spectrum found the recent exchange of hostilities between the U.S. and Iran resulted in a victory for Trump and America.
Ian Bremmer with the Eurasia Group, who described himself a “far from a Trump supporter,” told CNN, “This is a win for Trump. And it’s clear that it is.”
“Their response has been the minimum possible military engagement against the Americans,” Bremmer said of the Iranians. “That is wildly de-escalatory.”
His overall assessment: “Iran is weaker today than it was when Trump became president.”
James Carafano — a national security expert with the conservative Heritage Foundation — said he agrees with Bremmer.
“Trump clearly emerges from this last round of confrontation the winner,” Carafano told The Western Journal.
“The administration has not backed off its maximum pressure strategy at all and the longer it remains in place the more the regime is isolated; the weaker the economy; the more internal domestic discord; the more the surrogates are undercut; the more support the U.S. has in the region — the more the regime is humiliated that it is powerless to break the American stranglehold,” he explained.
Trump, rightly, responded to Pelosi’s resolution saying he would not commit to seeking congressional approval before taking further military action against Iran.
“It would all depend on the circumstance,” he told reporters at the White House on Thursday.
“I don’t have to, and you shouldn’t have to be able because you have to make split-second decisions sometimes. Sometimes you have to move very, very quickly,” Trump said.
President @realDonaldTrump: “You know what bothers me? When I see a Nancy Pelosi trying to defend this monster from Iran who killed so many people. So many people are walking around now without legs and without arms… I think that’s a very bad thing for this country.” pic.twitter.com/SOBjpPeJkA — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 9, 2020
“You know what bothers me?” the president continued. “When I see a Nancy Pelosi trying to defend this monster from Iran who’s killed so many people. … So many people are walking around now without legs and without arms.”
“When Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats want to defend him, I think that’s a very bad thing for this country.”
The last time an American president took such a bold move toward the Iranian regime was in 1988, when then-President Ronald Reagan directed the U.S. Navy to take out two Iranian oil platforms.
The move was in response to Iran disrupting the flow of oil through the Persian Gulf region, including the placing of a mine that crippled a U.S. Navy frigate, while injuring several sailors.
The New York Times reported a naval engagement between the two nations occurred in which U.S. warships “sank an Iranian missile patrol boat that approached and fired on them.”
“Later, jets from the aircraft carrier Enterprise sank or badly damaged three large armed speedboats that were shelling oil facilities or merchant ships. And in two other incidents, the Navy’s ships and planes severely damaged two Iranian frigates that fired on American ships and aircraft,” according to The Times.
The result of the engagement was that Iran backed down, and there was no wider war. Reagan’s “Peace through strength” doctrine prevailed, once again.
Not much was heard from Iran toward the U.S. for years afterward.
Trump’s strike on Soleimani was clearly intended to reset the deck by re-establishing deterrence. Tehran seemed shocked by the U.S. move.
After launching its face-saving retaliatory missile attack on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif announced, “We do not seek escalation or war.”
Trump said on Wednesday, “Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned.”
It sounds like the de-escalation Pelosi’s resolution seeks has already taken place.
The only thing that can change the powerful position America has now gained is if the Democrats succeed through their ill-conceived, politically motivated resolution to turn victory into defeat.
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--Bob Ehrlich: Polls Won’t Tell the Whole Story in 2020

History shows that the vast majority of public opinion polls taken during the campaign of 2016 underweighted the strength of candidate Donald J. Trump .
The phenomenon was exacerbated by the anti-Trump , left-leaning media , whose worst moments may have been typified by the following headline in the Oct. 24 , 2016 , Washington Post : “ Donald Trump ’ s chances of winning are approaching zero.
” This and other similar polling results constituted daily fodder for the Hillary sycophants and lefty pundits who sought to reassure the country candidate Trump could never win .
Indeed , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Javits Center in New York City on the evening of Nov. 8 , 2016 , show that they , too , believed those polls .
Now fast-forward to the present wherein weekly polling shows top-tier Democratic contenders either leading or within the margin of error in match-ups against the President in the highly competitive , all-important states of Pennsylvania , Michigan , Wisconsin and Florida .
With a national approval rating that never exceeds 50 percent , the president can rest assured 2020 ’ s campaign polls will again reflect a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump haters everywhere .
TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East I was reminded of this narrative while reading about the president ’ s impressive cash haul ( $ 46 million ) during the final quarter of 2019 .
Call it the “ Deplorables strike back ” syndrome .
You know the theory : The opposition piles on your guy so much that you feel compelled to defend — really act out — in response to the endless piling on .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to write a check .
Here , the full-speed “ got ta get it done before Christmas ” impeachment sham led to an awful lot of people deciding to reach for their checkbooks .
To boot , in addition to the re-election campaign ’ s $ 46 million raised , the GOP ’ s “ WinRed ” joint fundraising platform ( included are the Republican National Committee , every state Republican party and most House and Senate campaigns ) brought in $ 101 million in the second half of 2019 , most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line impeachment vote and most of it in small-dollar denominations .
Other acts of conservative resistance are also at play during the Trump era , and they are often far more subtle than writing a check .
It can be as simple as a secret fist pump or a knowing glance with a fellow conservative whenever the left oversteps its bounds — a daily occurrence in this era of progressive lunacy .
It can also be that angry feeling you get when you read about a restaurant requesting ( contrary to our freedoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or when you watch many of the Democratic presidential contenders express their support for free health care for illegal aliens , or see those same candidates enthusiastically manifest their intent to eliminate high-paying , blue-collar energy jobs in natural gas and coal , or when your religious values ( especially Christian values ) are regularly dismissed as “ phobic ” at best , mere “ dogma ” at worst .
But it is not the oft-demonized deplorables alone who react so negatively to the daily assaults on their belief and value systems .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact of their over-the-top policies on moderates as well .
Yes — those all-important middle of the roaders .
The ones who may not belong to the NRA but understand how fast-thinking , gun-toting good people saved a whole lot of lives in a Texas church a few weeks ago ; the ones who oppose discrimination but believe that only girls should be allowed to compete in female athletic contests ; the ones who support Roe v. Wade but oppose late-term abortion and most certainly afterbirth abortion .
Recall these are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unhappy folks ( who voted for the disruptor/outsider ) that progressives only three years ago promised to engage in dialogue .
RELATED : Bob Ehrlich : Democrats ' Lurch to the Left Is Unprecedented Those conversations never did take place .
Far from it .
Anti-Trump rage replaced the scheduled “ listening tours.
” The party ’ s leaders instead made a sharp left turn — further left than ever before .
So far left that Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg are now said to be the “ moderate ” alternatives to Bernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result , you can expect more than a few of these important “ gettables ” to break for Mr. Trump at the end of the day .
The message here is a simple one .
The next time you see or hear that the president is four points down in Pennsylvania , do yourself a favor .
Read it as “ lean Trump ” — at least you will be the one living in the real world .
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners of this website .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

History shows that the vast majority of public opinion polls taken during the campaign of 2016 underweighted the strength of candidate Donald J. Trump.
The phenomenon was exacerbated by the anti-Trump, left-leaning media, whose worst moments may have been typified by the following headline in the Oct. 24, 2016, Washington Post: “Donald Trump’s chances of winning are approaching zero.”
This and other similar polling results constituted daily fodder for the Hillary sycophants and lefty pundits who sought to reassure the country candidate Trump could never win. Indeed, the looks on the faces of the assembled at the Javits Center in New York City on the evening of Nov. 8, 2016, show that they, too, believed those polls.
Now fast-forward to the present wherein weekly polling shows top-tier Democratic contenders either leading or within the margin of error in match-ups against the President in the highly competitive, all-important states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida.
With a national approval rating that never exceeds 50 percent, the president can rest assured 2020’s campaign polls will again reflect a dangerous vulnerability — to the delight of Trump haters everywhere.
I was reminded of this narrative while reading about the president’s impressive cash haul ($46 million) during the final quarter of 2019. Call it the “Deplorables strike back” syndrome.
You know the theory: The opposition piles on your guy so much that you feel compelled to defend — really act out — in response to the endless piling on. In this case, the reflective defense is to write a check. Here, the full-speed “gotta get it done before Christmas” impeachment sham led to an awful lot of people deciding to reach for their checkbooks.
To boot, in addition to the re-election campaign’s $46 million raised, the GOP’s “WinRed” joint fundraising platform (included are the Republican National Committee, every state Republican party and most House and Senate campaigns) brought in $101 million in the second half of 2019, most of it since the day of the party line impeachment vote and most of it in small-dollar denominations.
Other acts of conservative resistance are also at play during the Trump era, and they are often far more subtle than writing a check.
Do you think Trump will be re-elected? Yes No
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It can be as simple as a secret fist pump or a knowing glance with a fellow conservative whenever the left oversteps its bounds — a daily occurrence in this era of progressive lunacy.
It can also be that angry feeling you get when you read about a restaurant requesting (contrary to our freedoms) Trump staffers leave the premises, or when you watch many of the Democratic presidential contenders express their support for free health care for illegal aliens, or see those same candidates enthusiastically manifest their intent to eliminate high-paying, blue-collar energy jobs in natural gas and coal, or when your religious values (especially Christian values) are regularly dismissed as “phobic” at best, mere “dogma” at worst.
But it is not the oft-demonized deplorables alone who react so negatively to the daily assaults on their belief and value systems. Today’s progressives fail to comprehend the impact of their over-the-top policies on moderates as well.
Yes — those all-important middle of the roaders. The ones who may not belong to the NRA but understand how fast-thinking, gun-toting good people saved a whole lot of lives in a Texas church a few weeks ago; the ones who oppose discrimination but believe that only girls should be allowed to compete in female athletic contests; the ones who support Roe v. Wade but oppose late-term abortion and most certainly afterbirth abortion.
Recall these are the voters supposedly up for grabs — the unhappy folks (who voted for the disruptor/outsider) that progressives only three years ago promised to engage in dialogue.
Those conversations never did take place. Far from it. Anti-Trump rage replaced the scheduled “listening tours.” The party’s leaders instead made a sharp left turn — further left than ever before. So far left that Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg are now said to be the “moderate” alternatives to Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
As a result, you can expect more than a few of these important “gettables” to break for Mr. Trump at the end of the day.
The message here is a simple one. The next time you see or hear that the president is four points down in Pennsylvania, do yourself a favor. Read it as “lean Trump” — at least you will be the one living in the real world.
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here.
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--Virginia Dems Move To Shutter Indoor Gun Ranges, Enact Ammo-Free Zones

Two more bills chipping away at Virginia residents ’ Second Amendment rights have been introduced by some of the state ’ s Democratic legislators as part of an anti-gun push that doesn ’ t seem to be slowing down .
House Bills 318 and 567 , introduced over the past few weeks , aim to restrict where ammunition can travel and decimate the state ’ s indoor gun ranges , respectively .
HB 318 , introduced by Democratic Del .
Kaye Kory in late December , would make it illegal to knowingly possess ammunition in a school or anywhere on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gun-free zones have been proven ineffective when it comes to stopping malicious shooters , this bill also opens up the possibility of major unintended consequences for innocent people who run afoul of the law .
What if a high school senior , fresh from a morning squirrel hunt , has a handful of .22 LR shells in his truck ?
If his truck is parked on school grounds , he could face some serious legal issues .
TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trivial issues for a lawmaker who openly endorses gun control : HB 567 is an entirely different beast .
Introduced by Democratic ( seeing a pattern here ? )
Del .
Dan Helmer on Monday , the bill seeks to attack privately owned indoor shooting ranges by mandating that the facilities be under a shocking amount of government control .
The prospective law would require indoor gun ranges to be housed in buildings owned by the state of Virginia or the federal government .
The only exceptions are for indoor ranges with less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where police or federal law enforcement officers make up 90 percent of the users .
And even if indoor ranges do meet the second requirement , the bill has even more restrictions in store .
These ranges must keep “ a log of each user ’ s name , phone number , address , and the law-enforcement agency where such user is employed , and … the indoor shooting range verifies each user ’ s identity and address by requiring all users to present a government-issued photo-identification card.
” While this doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affect the gun community at large , indoor ranges are vital to shooters in certain areas .
RELATED : TX Church Shooter Had History of Getting Angry with Church over Charity Those living in cities where there may not be enough rural area for a gun range can easily travel to a local indoor range to train .
Those more familiar with their own firearms are much less likely to cause an accident than those with no time behind the trigger .
These two bills are just more unashamed attacks on the Second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spark an outright revolution in the commonwealth .
Thankfully , these Democrats are up against some heavy competition .
An overwhelming majority of the counties in Virginia have stood up to Richmond ’ s tyranny and established constitutional safe zones .
Their pro-gun activism is so effective that it ’ s now spreading like wildfire across America .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Two more bills chipping away at Virginia residents’ Second Amendment rights have been introduced by some of the state’s Democratic legislators as part of an anti-gun push that doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
House Bills 318 and 567, introduced over the past few weeks, aim to restrict where ammunition can travel and decimate the state’s indoor gun ranges, respectively.
HB 318, introduced by Democratic Del. Kaye Kory in late December, would make it illegal to knowingly possess ammunition in a school or anywhere on the grounds of school facilities.
While gun-free zones have been proven ineffective when it comes to stopping malicious shooters, this bill also opens up the possibility of major unintended consequences for innocent people who run afoul of the law.
What if a high school senior, fresh from a morning squirrel hunt, has a handful of .22 LR shells in his truck? If his truck is parked on school grounds, he could face some serious legal issues.
Of course, these are trivial issues for a lawmaker who openly endorses gun control:
Enough is enough. No child should go to school in fear. No parent should have to worry if their child will come home safe. We have to do better. #GunControlNow — Del. Kaye Kory (@KayeKory) November 15, 2019
HB 567 is an entirely different beast.
Will Republicans sweep Virginia's next elections? Yes No
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Introduced by Democratic (seeing a pattern here?) Del. Dan Helmer on Monday, the bill seeks to attack privately owned indoor shooting ranges by mandating that the facilities be under a shocking amount of government control.
The prospective law would require indoor gun ranges to be housed in buildings owned by the state of Virginia or the federal government. The only exceptions are for indoor ranges with less than 50 employees, and indoor ranges where police or federal law enforcement officers make up 90 percent of the users.
And even if indoor ranges do meet the second requirement, the bill has even more restrictions in store.
These ranges must keep “a log of each user’s name, phone number, address, and the law-enforcement agency where such user is employed, and … the indoor shooting range verifies each user’s identity and address by requiring all users to present a government-issued photo-identification card.”
While this doesn’t seem like a law that could affect the gun community at large, indoor ranges are vital to shooters in certain areas.
Those living in cities where there may not be enough rural area for a gun range can easily travel to a local indoor range to train. Those more familiar with their own firearms are much less likely to cause an accident than those with no time behind the trigger.
These two bills are just more unashamed attacks on the Second Amendment — attacks that are now threatening to spark an outright revolution in the commonwealth.
Thankfully, these Democrats are up against some heavy competition.
An overwhelming majority of the counties in Virginia have stood up to Richmond’s tyranny and established constitutional safe zones. Their pro-gun activism is so effective that it’s now spreading like wildfire across America.
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--Bus Driver Hailed Hero After Trusting Instincts, Helps Save Missing Man with Dementia

While many of our bus-driver-turned-hero stories come from the Milwaukee County Transit System , this particular episode hails from the west coast , illustrating that no matter where you are , there are good people around .
Camille Wilson is a bus driver with a route through Perris .
She works with the Riverside Transit Agency in Riverside , California .
The Golden State ’ s motto “ Eureka ” certainly applied in this case , as Wilson was able to identify a missing person and keep him calm and close until proper authorities could be contacted .
TRENDING : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East An alert went out on Nov. 2 , 2019 , while Wilson was driving , notifying listeners that an older gentleman with dementia was on the loose .
Somehow , the man who ’ d last been spotted in Corona had found his way onto her bus .
She didn ’ t realize it was him at first — but after chatting with him , she sensed something was off .
“ He said he was on his way to a casino in Moreno @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no casinos in Moreno Valley , ” she told The Press-Enterprise Riverside .
“ When he said that it kind of triggered me and so I kept asking him more questions and talked to him .
He sat up front with me and , as we talked , I realized that this man was the missing man.
” Once she connected the dots , she parked her bus and contacted dispatch , beginning the difficult process of trying to convince the man to stay onboard without causing too much distress until the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to get off the bus but I told him that this was not his stop yet and that he should stay here because I wanted to get him closer to his destination , ” she explained .
It wasn ’ t just the man ’ s safety that she was concerned about — apparently it was clear he had a lot of cash on him , too .
“ I was relieved when the police came because he had a lot of money on him and I was worried that , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would try to take advantage of him , ” she said .
RELATED : Brave Border Collie Helps Save Flock of Sheep from Fires in Australia Wilson ’ s actions were noted , and though this kind act took place in November , she was just recently recognized with the RTA ’ s “ hero ” award .
“ Our drivers do so much more than provide transportation from place to place , sometimes they are heroes in disguise , ” Bradley Weaver , an RTA spokesman , told The Press-Enterprise .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people don ’ t even know about .
This was a perfect example of that.
” “ I am really happy to receive the award because I felt like I did something really good , ” Wilson added .
“ The recognition alone is awesome.
” “ And I think it ’ s important to acknowledge when your employees do something good .
It was really unexpected , but I was really happy to get this.
” The story has made the rounds on Facebook , with the Moreno Valley Matters page congratulating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts the evening of Nov. 2 , Camille Wilson won the Riverside Transit Agency ’ s hero award , ” they shared .
“ Congrats Camille !
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

While many of our bus-driver-turned-hero stories come from the Milwaukee County Transit System, this particular episode hails from the west coast, illustrating that no matter where you are, there are good people around.
Camille Wilson is a bus driver with a route through Perris.
She works with the Riverside Transit Agency in Riverside, California.
The Golden State’s motto “Eureka” certainly applied in this case, as Wilson was able to identify a missing person and keep him calm and close until proper authorities could be contacted.
An alert went out on Nov. 2, 2019, while Wilson was driving, notifying listeners that an older gentleman with dementia was on the loose.
Somehow, the man who’d last been spotted in Corona had found his way onto her bus.
She didn’t realize it was him at first — but after chatting with him, she sensed something was off.
“He said he was on his way to a casino in Moreno Valley, but I knew there were no casinos in Moreno Valley,” she told The Press-Enterprise Riverside. “When he said that it kind of triggered me and so I kept asking him more questions and talked to him. He sat up front with me and, as we talked, I realized that this man was the missing man.”
Once she connected the dots, she parked her bus and contacted dispatch, beginning the difficult process of trying to convince the man to stay onboard without causing too much distress until the police could get there.
“He kept trying to get off the bus but I told him that this was not his stop yet and that he should stay here because I wanted to get him closer to his destination,” she explained.
It wasn’t just the man’s safety that she was concerned about — apparently it was clear he had a lot of cash on him, too.
“I was relieved when the police came because he had a lot of money on him and I was worried that, if he got off the bus, people would try to take advantage of him,” she said.
Wilson’s actions were noted, and though this kind act took place in November, she was just recently recognized with the RTA’s “hero” award.
“Our drivers do so much more than provide transportation from place to place, sometimes they are heroes in disguise,” Bradley Weaver, an RTA spokesman, told The Press-Enterprise. “Sometimes they do things for the community people don’t even know about. This was a perfect example of that.”
“I am really happy to receive the award because I felt like I did something really good,” Wilson added. “The recognition alone is awesome.”
“And I think it’s important to acknowledge when your employees do something good. It was really unexpected, but I was really happy to get this.”
The story has made the rounds on Facebook, with the Moreno Valley Matters page congratulating Wilson as well.
“For her efforts the evening of Nov. 2, Camille Wilson won the Riverside Transit Agency’s hero award,” they shared. “Congrats Camille!”
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--Tucker Carlson Scores His Highest Ratings Ever Amid US-Iran Jabs

Iran ’ s missile strike on military bases housing U.S. troops on Tuesday brought Fox News ’ “ Tucker Carlson Tonight ” its highest ratings since the show ’ s launch in 2016 .
According to Nielsen Media Research , 5.6 million viewers tuned into the show as news of the attack broke .
Iran fired roughly 15 ballistic missiles into Iraq , with at least 11 hitting Ain al-Asad Air Base and Erbil military base in Iraq on Tuesday night , Fox News reported .
U.S. and Iraqi officials said the attack caused no casualties .
The missiles were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strike that killed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani .
TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East Host Tucker Carlson and Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier discussed on Tuesday the impact of the missile attack on the 2020 elections and beyond .
“ I think that this is the biggest test for President Trump as a leader , ” Baier said .
He reminded viewers that Donald Trump had campaigned on getting troops out of the Middle East .
Carson said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president , he is not interested in some kind of a protractive war with Iran , certainly not a ground war .
… His instincts are restraint.
” Baier countered that although that is what Trump campaigned on , his rhetoric on Twitter and elsewhere tells a different story .
How those two different messages are resolved “ is the key moment for this president as commander-in-chief , ” he said .
Soleimani and his Quds Force were “ responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Department of Defense .
“ General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region .
… He had orchestrated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the last several months — including the attack on December 27th — culminating in the death and wounding of additional American and Iraqi personnel , ” the Pentagon said .
During his Monday show , however , Carlson criticized U.S. leaders for “ having a built-in bias for war.
” “ Just a month ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking about Iran , ” he said .
“ Now , suddenly , we are on the brink of war .
In Washington , that is considered an upgrade , indeed a massive improvement .
It ’ s harder to get rich and powerful in Washington during peacetime.
” Carlson also questioned the intelligence community ’ s assessment that Iran and Soleimani were an imminent threat .
“ Keep in mind , these are the people who invented excuses to spy on the Trump campaign purely because they didn ’ t like Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they ’ re the ones who pretended he was a Russian agent in order to keep him from governing , ” Carlson said .
“ Our friends in the intel community did that , ” he said .
“ And by the way , these are the same people who lied about Iraq ’ s weapons of mass destruction way back in 2002 , and by doing that they got us into an utterly pointless war that dramatically weakened our country .
“ The people pushing conflict with Iran are the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carlson Tonight ” closely followed Fox News ’ “ Hannity , ” which brought in 5.7 million viewers on the same night .
Both shows scored 0.8 ratings in the adults 18-49 demographic .
In 2019 , the average audience for “ Hannity ” was 3.3 million and the average audience for “ Tucker Carlson Tonight ” was 3.1 million , The Hill reported .
According to Nielsen Media Research ’ s numbers , “ Tucker Carlson Tonight ” drew more viewers Tuesday than CNN ’ s “ Anderson Cooper 360 ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” which brought in 2.9 million viewers and 3.4 million viewers , respectively .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Iran’s missile strike on military bases housing U.S. troops on Tuesday brought Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight” its highest ratings since the show’s launch in 2016.
According to Nielsen Media Research, 5.6 million viewers tuned into the show as news of the attack broke.
Iran fired roughly 15 ballistic missiles into Iraq, with at least 11 hitting Ain al-Asad Air Base and Erbil military base in Iraq on Tuesday night, Fox News reported.
U.S. and Iraqi officials said the attack caused no casualties.
The missiles were launched in retaliation for a U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani.
Host Tucker Carlson and Fox News chief political anchor Bret Baier discussed on Tuesday the impact of the missile attack on the 2020 elections and beyond.
“I think that this is the biggest test for President Trump as a leader,” Baier said. He reminded viewers that Donald Trump had campaigned on getting troops out of the Middle East.
Carson said, “My sense is that the president, he is not interested in some kind of a protractive war with Iran, certainly not a ground war. … His instincts are restraint.”
Baier countered that although that is what Trump campaigned on, his rhetoric on Twitter and elsewhere tells a different story. How those two different messages are resolved “is the key moment for this president as commander-in-chief,” he said.
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
Soleimani and his Quds Force were “responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more,” according to the Department of Defense.
“General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. … He had orchestrated attacks on coalition bases in Iraq over the last several months — including the attack on December 27th — culminating in the death and wounding of additional American and Iraqi personnel,” the Pentagon said.
During his Monday show, however, Carlson criticized U.S. leaders for “having a built-in bias for war.”
“Just a month ago, not one in 100 Americans was thinking about Iran,” he said. “Now, suddenly, we are on the brink of war. In Washington, that is considered an upgrade, indeed a massive improvement. It’s harder to get rich and powerful in Washington during peacetime.”
Carlson also questioned the intelligence community’s assessment that Iran and Soleimani were an imminent threat.
Do you agree with Tucker Carlson? Yes No
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“Keep in mind, these are the people who invented excuses to spy on the Trump campaign purely because they didn’t like Donald Trump’s foreign policy views, and they’re the ones who pretended he was a Russian agent in order to keep him from governing,” Carlson said.
“Our friends in the intel community did that,” he said. “And by the way, these are the same people who lied about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction way back in 2002, and by doing that they got us into an utterly pointless war that dramatically weakened our country.
“The people pushing conflict with Iran are the same people who did that.”
“Tucker Carlson Tonight” closely followed Fox News’ “Hannity,” which brought in 5.7 million viewers on the same night. Both shows scored 0.8 ratings in the adults 18-49 demographic.
In 2019, the average audience for “Hannity” was 3.3 million and the average audience for “Tucker Carlson Tonight” was 3.1 million, The Hill reported.
According to Nielsen Media Research’s numbers, “Tucker Carlson Tonight” drew more viewers Tuesday than CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360” and MSNBC’s “Rachel Maddow Show,” which brought in 2.9 million viewers and 3.4 million viewers, respectively.
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--Widow of Fallen Officer ‘Flabbergasted’ When She Finds Out Mortgage Has Been Paid Off

The family of fallen police officer Billy Clardy III will have their home mortgage paid in full thanks to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation .
The foundation announced Wednesday it was paying off the mortgage of two recently fallen officers : Huntsville Police Department Officer Billy Clardy III and Hendersonville Police Department Master Patrol Officer Spencer Bristol , Globe Newswire reported .
Clardy , from Huntsville , Alabama , was shot and killed on Dec. 6 during a drug investigation , WHNT reported .
Clardy , who was part of a drug task unit , is survived by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five children , as well as grandchildren .
TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East In a statement to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation , Ashlee Clardy spoke of her appreciation for the life-changing gesture .
“ I ’ m flabbergasted by your compassion and I am incredibly humbled by your generosity , ” she said .
According to the foundation ’ s news site , the Fallen First Responder Home Program designates money to support the families of first responders killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by paying for their home mortgages .
“ Through our Fallen First Responder Home Program , we support our law enforcement and firefighters that lost their lives under extraordinary circumstances in the line of duty , ” the foundation stated .
“ In these times of tragedy , it is our mission to provide a support system for the surviving family and ensure that they are cared for.
” The Tunnel to Towers Foundation also has a Smart Home program , supporting disabled military veterans , and Gold Star Family Home Program , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young children .
The foundation was started in memory of New York City Fire Department Firefighter Stephen Siller , who died on Sept. 11 , 2001 , while saving the lives of others .
RELATED : Age 5 Boy Attacked by Coyote Outside of Museum in Chicago , Rushed to Hospital To date , over $ 125 million has been raised for first responders , military veterans and their families .
Since 2015 , over 40 families have received a mortgage-free home thanks to the foundation , which aims to continually pay off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young children behind .
While nothing can take away the pain of losing a loved one , the Clardy family will hopefully find a slice of comfort knowing the burden of housing costs has been lifted .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The family of fallen police officer Billy Clardy III will have their home mortgage paid in full thanks to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
The foundation announced Wednesday it was paying off the mortgage of two recently fallen officers: Huntsville Police Department Officer Billy Clardy III and Hendersonville Police Department Master Patrol Officer Spencer Bristol, Globe Newswire reported.
Clardy, from Huntsville, Alabama, was shot and killed on Dec. 6 during a drug investigation, WHNT reported.
Clardy, who was part of a drug task unit, is survived by his wife, Ashlee Clardy, and five children, as well as grandchildren.
In a statement to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Ashlee Clardy spoke of her appreciation for the life-changing gesture.
“I’m flabbergasted by your compassion and I am incredibly humbled by your generosity,” she said.
“This means the world to me.”
According to the foundation’s news site, the Fallen First Responder Home Program designates money to support the families of first responders killed in the line of duty, specifically by paying for their home mortgages.
“Through our Fallen First Responder Home Program, we support our law enforcement and firefighters that lost their lives under extraordinary circumstances in the line of duty,” the foundation stated.
“In these times of tragedy, it is our mission to provide a support system for the surviving family and ensure that they are cared for.”
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation also has a Smart Home program, supporting disabled military veterans, and Gold Star Family Home Program, providing mortgage-free homes for surviving spouses with young children.
The foundation was started in memory of New York City Fire Department Firefighter Stephen Siller, who died on Sept. 11, 2001, while saving the lives of others.
To date, over $125 million has been raised for first responders, military veterans and their families.
Since 2015, over 40 families have received a mortgage-free home thanks to the foundation, which aims to continually pay off mortgages for fallen police officers who leave young children behind.
While nothing can take away the pain of losing a loved one, the Clardy family will hopefully find a slice of comfort knowing the burden of housing costs has been lifted.
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--With Soleimani Gone, US Must Ramp Up Sanctions

In light of the U.S. assassination of the incredibly powerful Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani , the U.S. and its allies remain on high alert against reprisal attacks .
The relations between the U.S. and Iran have been strained for a long time but this new escalation has many people fearing that an outbreak of war could be on the horizon .
“ World War III ” is trending across social media and there is a real fear for Americans both at home and abroad that the lives of their military personnel and civilians could be under serious threat .
To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has kickstarted such a fierce escalation in U.S.-Iran relations , it is first important to understand exactly who Qassem Soleimani was .
The son of a farmer who was born into impoverished circumstances , Soleimani rose to a position of such power that at the time of his death he was considered to be the second most influential figure in the whole of Iran .
This position , behind only the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , saw him wield enormous power and influence in both Iran and the region at large .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his open support for terrorist organizations that forced the Americans to act against him .
TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East A military leader who was schooled in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps , he would later become the commander of the elite Quds Force in 1998 .
Begrudgingly respected even by his American general counterparts for his skills as a technician , Soleimani was a major destabilizing force in the whole of the Middle East .
According to Michael Pregent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Soleimani was a dangerous yet influential leader , one who constantly advocated for the destruction of non-believers .
“ Qasem Soleimani is… was a designated terrorist , designated for killing Americans , Iraqis , Syrians , Lebanese… Soleimani was always willing to fight to the last Arab in his quest to build a land-bridge to the Levant and [ had ] a capability to sustain a conflict with the US and Israel in order to take back Jerusalem or Quds and be the power broker in the Middle East , ” Pregent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a concerted drive by Iran to destabilize and take proxy control of the whole region .
Aside from the many nefarious military activities he was directly involved in , he also authorized huge cash payments to Hezbollah in Lebanon of over $ 700 million a year .
He pledged a monthly payment of $ 1000 a month to every Hezbollah terrorist in Syria , plus another $ 70 million to Islamic Jihad terrorists .
It is reported that Soleimani also authorized the increase of payment to $ 30 million per month to Hamas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel .
With the knowledge of active Hezbollah sleeper cells in the U.S. who have the capability to carry out terror attacks on U.S. soil , it is obvious why American military leaders and President Trump felt the time was right to bring down one of its most dangerous enemies .
Ramifications for the U.S. and its allies Due to the great power and significance held by Soleimani in Iran and the wider range , it is inconceivable to think that revenge attacks will not be launched shortly .
To not do so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home and in the eyes of the rest of the world .
In fact , Iran has already targeted U.S. troops stationed at an army base in Iraq , sending more than a dozen ballistic missiles .
According to Dr. Jonathan Spyer from Wikistrat , Iran has a few options when it comes to retaliatory actions .
“ Largely thanks to the strategy applied by Soleimani , Teheran possesses a ‘ suite ’ of options available to it , including popular demonstrations , rocket attacks on US facilities , and political pressure on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of US forces from Iraq , ” Spyer wrote .
This reality has put Americans both at home and in the Middle East in danger , also placing Israel on high alert due to the country ’ s strong links with its American allies .
RELATED : Dems Came Out Against Killing Soleimani Because They 've Forgotten the Holocaust In the first instance , it is most likely that Iran will look to target American targets in the Middle East .
This makes military personnel and embassy staff in the region those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be at risk .
These military and staff members will be on high alert , but as visitors in foreign lands , they are now directly on the front line of what could be a further escalation in the coming days and weeks .
Another tactic used by the Iranians before could be for them to launch attacks on oil tankers in the region .
This serves not only to potentially kill the innocent American civilians on board but also has an economic impact if it pushes up the price of oil , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s assassination .
In the U.S. , there will also be the fear that a terrorist splinter group with links to groups funded by Soleimani could use his death as the motivation to strike directly on U.S. soil .
Israel could also bear the brunt of such revenge attacks , although Prime Minister Netanyahu has said the killing of Soleimani was a U.S. mission and that Israel and its people should not be dragged into the fight .
How could the U.S. and its allies respond to revenge attacks ?
The obvious response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the full force of their military machine and take the fight to Iran to restore order and control within the country and the wider region .
While this option would be one that President Trump sees as viable in the face of any attacks on Americans , the truth is that it would not benefit either nation in the long-run for a full-on war to develop .
The knock-on effect could also see weakened groups , like ISIS and al-Qaida , having the opportunity to regroup while their enemies are at war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-violent weapon would be for the U.S. to impose even harsher sanctions on Iran as a response .
This strategy serves to sow discord in the country itself as it is the people on the ground who suffer the consequences the most .
To protect against any potential attacks , the U.S. can also look to forge even closer ties with its main ally in the region , Israel and those in Europe .
By presenting a united front both with Israel and its European allies , the U.S. will be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Iran that any further reaction and provocation on their part would lead to serious consequences for the country and its people .
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

In light of the U.S. assassination of the incredibly powerful Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, the U.S. and its allies remain on high alert against reprisal attacks.
The relations between the U.S. and Iran have been strained for a long time but this new escalation has many people fearing that an outbreak of war could be on the horizon. “World War III” is trending across social media and there is a real fear for Americans both at home and abroad that the lives of their military personnel and civilians could be under serious threat.
Who was Soleimani?
To understand just why this move by Washington has kickstarted such a fierce escalation in U.S.-Iran relations, it is first important to understand exactly who Qassem Soleimani was.
The son of a farmer who was born into impoverished circumstances, Soleimani rose to a position of such power that at the time of his death he was considered to be the second most influential figure in the whole of Iran. This position, behind only the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saw him wield enormous power and influence in both Iran and the region at large. It was his abuse of power and his open support for terrorist organizations that forced the Americans to act against him.
A military leader who was schooled in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, he would later become the commander of the elite Quds Force in 1998. Begrudgingly respected even by his American general counterparts for his skills as a technician, Soleimani was a major destabilizing force in the whole of the Middle East. According to Michael Pregent from Wikistrat, the expert crowdsourcing network, Soleimani was a dangerous yet influential leader, one who constantly advocated for the destruction of non-believers.
“Qasem Soleimani is… was a designated terrorist, designated for killing Americans, Iraqis, Syrians, Lebanese… Soleimani was always willing to fight to the last Arab in his quest to build a land-bridge to the Levant and [had] a capability to sustain a conflict with the US and Israel in order to take back Jerusalem or Quds and be the power broker in the Middle East,” Pregent wrote.
What made Soleimani so dangerous?
Soleimani was the leader of a concerted drive by Iran to destabilize and take proxy control of the whole region. Aside from the many nefarious military activities he was directly involved in, he also authorized huge cash payments to Hezbollah in Lebanon of over $700 million a year. He pledged a monthly payment of $1000 a month to every Hezbollah terrorist in Syria, plus another $70 million to Islamic Jihad terrorists. It is reported that Soleimani also authorized the increase of payment to $30 million per month to Hamas, in order to receive intelligence on Israel.
With the knowledge of active Hezbollah sleeper cells in the U.S. who have the capability to carry out terror attacks on U.S. soil, it is obvious why American military leaders and President Trump felt the time was right to bring down one of its most dangerous enemies.
According to Maximillian Brenner from the Berlin-based Security Institute, Soleimani was a critical target of the U.S. and its efforts in countering national security threats.
“Soleimani was the number one proponent of incitement against the U.S., its allies, and non-Shiite elements. Moreover, Soleimani was the operational brains behind many future plans to attack U.S. interests in the region and beyond,” Brenner said.
Ramifications for the U.S. and its allies
Due to the great power and significance held by Soleimani in Iran and the wider range, it is inconceivable to think that revenge attacks will not be launched shortly. To not do so would leave Iran looking weak both at home and in the eyes of the rest of the world. In fact, Iran has already targeted U.S. troops stationed at an army base in Iraq, sending more than a dozen ballistic missiles.
According to Dr. Jonathan Spyer from Wikistrat, Iran has a few options when it comes to retaliatory actions.
“Largely thanks to the strategy applied by Soleimani, Teheran possesses a ‘suite’ of options available to it, including popular demonstrations, rocket attacks on US facilities, and political pressure on the Iraqi government to demand the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq,” Spyer wrote.
This reality has put Americans both at home and in the Middle East in danger, also placing Israel on high alert due to the country’s strong links with its American allies.
Do you think the U.S. should impose harsher sanctions on Iran? Yes No
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In the first instance, it is most likely that Iran will look to target American targets in the Middle East. This makes military personnel and embassy staff in the region those who would seem to be most likely to be at risk. These military and staff members will be on high alert, but as visitors in foreign lands, they are now directly on the front line of what could be a further escalation in the coming days and weeks.
Another tactic used by the Iranians before could be for them to launch attacks on oil tankers in the region. This serves not only to potentially kill the innocent American civilians on board but also has an economic impact if it pushes up the price of oil, which has already skyrocketed since Soleimani’s assassination.
In the U.S., there will also be the fear that a terrorist splinter group with links to groups funded by Soleimani could use his death as the motivation to strike directly on U.S. soil. Israel could also bear the brunt of such revenge attacks, although Prime Minister Netanyahu has said the killing of Soleimani was a U.S. mission and that Israel and its people should not be dragged into the fight.
How could the U.S. and its allies respond to revenge attacks?
The obvious response would be for the Americans to respond with the full force of their military machine and take the fight to Iran to restore order and control within the country and the wider region.
While this option would be one that President Trump sees as viable in the face of any attacks on Americans, the truth is that it would not benefit either nation in the long-run for a full-on war to develop. The knock-on effect could also see weakened groups, like ISIS and al-Qaida, having the opportunity to regroup while their enemies are at war with one another.
The most powerful non-violent weapon would be for the U.S. to impose even harsher sanctions on Iran as a response. This strategy serves to sow discord in the country itself as it is the people on the ground who suffer the consequences the most.
To protect against any potential attacks, the U.S. can also look to forge even closer ties with its main ally in the region, Israel and those in Europe. By presenting a united front both with Israel and its European allies, the U.S. will be able to send out a loud and clear message to Iran that any further reaction and provocation on their part would lead to serious consequences for the country and its people.
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here.
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--Teenage Boys Reportedly Fill Car with Koalas To Help Save Them from Fires in Australia

Two Australian teenagers living on Kangaroo Island reportedly used their car to rescue as many koalas as they could from the deadly wildfires sweeping across the island .
According to a post by Reddit user Steve_OH , his two cousins Micah and Caleb drove around Kangaroo Island to help vulnerable koalas .
“ Amid the terrible bushfires in Australia , my cousins went out and saved as many koalas as they could , ” Steve_OH wrote .
“ Good on em.
” The video shows Micah , 19 , and Caleb , 18 , quietly approaching an injured koala and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towel over the koala ’ s body and lifted it out of the ashes and into their car .
The koala joined a group of other injured koalas inside the teenagers ’ car , including a mother with her joey cuddling quietly in the backseat .
TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East One of the cousins can be heard talking about their small-scale koala rescue , saying , “ just trying to collect as many live ones as we can.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted the video , the deadly wildfires have hit close to home .
“ My cousins live on Kangaroo Island , south of Adelaide , ” Steve_OH wrote .
“ The western half of the island has been hit hard.
” “ My uncle lost his home and many others have left and lost a lot .
If you pray , please pray for Australia.
” According to KSAZ-TV , the two teens brought the carful of koalas to their neighbors , who Micah said have a permit to care for wildlife .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the koalas didn ’ t survive the trip .
As the teens drove around , the sight of dead wildlife was sobering .
As they surveyed the land , the teenagers estimated that around 60 percent of the koalas they came across had burned to death .
According to The Guardian , Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park has been left with no other choice but to euthanize about one-third of injured koalas delivered to them because of their extreme injuries .
“ At least a third of what has been brought in we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Sam Mitchell , co-owner of Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park said .
“ We are seeing many burns to hands and feet — fingernails melted off .
For some , the burns are just too extreme.
” RELATED : Former Atheist-Turned-Christian Says Prayers Saved Thousands from Fires in Australia Kangaroo Island is home to unique and endangered wildlife , including dunnarts , goannas , echidnas , bandicoots and the glossy black-cockatoos .
“ People call this place a little Noah ’ s Ark .
The island is a refuge , ” ecologist Heidi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the largest fire we have seen in a long time.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Two Australian teenagers living on Kangaroo Island reportedly used their car to rescue as many koalas as they could from the deadly wildfires sweeping across the island.
According to a post by Reddit user Steve_OH, his two cousins Micah and Caleb drove around Kangaroo Island to help vulnerable koalas.
“Amid the terrible bushfires in Australia, my cousins went out and saved as many koalas as they could,” Steve_OH wrote. “Good on em.”
The video shows Micah, 19, and Caleb, 18, quietly approaching an injured koala and inspecting it. The brothers placed a towel over the koala’s body and lifted it out of the ashes and into their car.
The koala joined a group of other injured koalas inside the teenagers’ car, including a mother with her joey cuddling quietly in the backseat.
One of the cousins can be heard talking about their small-scale koala rescue, saying, “just trying to collect as many live ones as we can.”
For the teens and their cousin who posted the video, the deadly wildfires have hit close to home.
“My cousins live on Kangaroo Island, south of Adelaide,” Steve_OH wrote. “The western half of the island has been hit hard.”
“My uncle lost his home and many others have left and lost a lot. If you pray, please pray for Australia.”
According to KSAZ-TV, the two teens brought the carful of koalas to their neighbors, who Micah said have a permit to care for wildlife. He added that sadly, one of the koalas didn’t survive the trip.
As the teens drove around, the sight of dead wildlife was sobering. As they surveyed the land, the teenagers estimated that around 60 percent of the koalas they came across had burned to death.
According to The Guardian, Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park has been left with no other choice but to euthanize about one-third of injured koalas delivered to them because of their extreme injuries.
“At least a third of what has been brought in we’ve had to euthanize, unfortunately,” Sam Mitchell, co-owner of Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park said. “We are seeing many burns to hands and feet — fingernails melted off. For some, the burns are just too extreme.”
Kangaroo Island is home to unique and endangered wildlife, including dunnarts, goannas, echidnas, bandicoots and the glossy black-cockatoos.
“People call this place a little Noah’s Ark. The island is a refuge,” ecologist Heidi Groffen told The Guardian. “This is the largest fire we have seen in a long time.”
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westernjournal--2020-01-09--NYC Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison on Terror Charges

A federal judge sentenced a New York City woman to 15 years in federal prison for studying how to make bombs for a terrorist attack that prosecutors said would have targeted law enforcement in the United States .
Asia Siddiqui , 35 , of Queens , admitted in federal court in Brooklyn that she and another woman looked online for recipes for homemade explosives and shopped for components at Home Depot with the intent to bomb government targets .
She was arrested in 2015 and pleaded guilty last year .
Prosecutors asked that Siddiqui be sentenced to two decades behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ followed and expressed a violent , warped version of Islam which , in their view , demanded that they teach each other and learn how to build a bomb.
” They said Siddiqui wrote two poems and an article that were published in a magazine called “ Jihad Recollections.
” TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East “ Had they succeeded in executing a bombing like the prior terrorist attacks they repeatedly discussed and celebrated , the result would have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court filing .
The other woman charged in the case , Noelle Velentzas , also of Queens , is scheduled to be sentenced March 5 .
Siddiqui and Velentzas discussed several prior terrorist attacks in the U.S. with a counter-terrorism officer posing as a convert to Islam .
The undercover agent had been assigned to mingle with young Muslims around the city and made recordings of the women discussing their plans .
Authorities said they discovered “ tools of the trade for terrorists ” inside the women ’ s homes , including propane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ literature and machetes .
“ Lives were saved when the defendants ’ plot to detonate a bomb in a terrorist attack was thwarted by the tireless efforts of law enforcement , ” Richard Donoghue , the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn , said in a news release .
“ This is precisely the reason why countering terrorism remains the highest priority of the Department of Justice.
” Siddiqui ’ s defense attorneys argued that there had been no specific plot .
They said in court filings that Siddiqui ’ s role in studying the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that the so-called terrorism enhancement in the case had distorted the “ seriousness ” of the crime .
RELATED : Ayatollah Mocks Trump , Days Later POTUS Has Him Crying at Terrorist 's Funeral “ To construct a bomb from what Ms. Siddiqui had in her basement would have required the expertise of the fictional MacGuyver , and the claim that she was going to independently build her own explosive device is equally fictional , ” the defense attorneys wrote .
Defense attorney Charles Swift said he respected the 15-year sentence but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the merits of the argument we made.
” The Associated Press contributed to this report .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A federal judge sentenced a New York City woman to 15 years in federal prison for studying how to make bombs for a terrorist attack that prosecutors said would have targeted law enforcement in the United States.
Asia Siddiqui, 35, of Queens, admitted in federal court in Brooklyn that she and another woman looked online for recipes for homemade explosives and shopped for components at Home Depot with the intent to bomb government targets.
She was arrested in 2015 and pleaded guilty last year.
Prosecutors asked that Siddiqui be sentenced to two decades behind bars, saying she and her co-defendant “followed and expressed a violent, warped version of Islam which, in their view, demanded that they teach each other and learn how to build a bomb.”
They said Siddiqui wrote two poems and an article that were published in a magazine called “Jihad Recollections.”
“Had they succeeded in executing a bombing like the prior terrorist attacks they repeatedly discussed and celebrated, the result would have been catastrophic,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing.
The other woman charged in the case, Noelle Velentzas, also of Queens, is scheduled to be sentenced March 5.
Siddiqui and Velentzas discussed several prior terrorist attacks in the U.S. with a counter-terrorism officer posing as a convert to Islam.
The undercover agent had been assigned to mingle with young Muslims around the city and made recordings of the women discussing their plans.
Authorities said they discovered “tools of the trade for terrorists” inside the women’s homes, including propane gas tanks, soldering tools, jihadist literature and machetes.
“Lives were saved when the defendants’ plot to detonate a bomb in a terrorist attack was thwarted by the tireless efforts of law enforcement,” Richard Donoghue, the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, said in a news release.
“This is precisely the reason why countering terrorism remains the highest priority of the Department of Justice.”
Siddiqui’s defense attorneys argued that there had been no specific plot.
They said in court filings that Siddiqui’s role in studying the explosive devices had been “inconsequential” and that the so-called terrorism enhancement in the case had distorted the “seriousness” of the crime.
“To construct a bomb from what Ms. Siddiqui had in her basement would have required the expertise of the fictional MacGuyver, and the claim that she was going to independently build her own explosive device is equally fictional,” the defense attorneys wrote.
Defense attorney Charles Swift said he respected the 15-year sentence but added, “I still believe in the merits of the argument we made.”
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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