In response to the letter to the editor “Drone Strike Was Chance for Cobb to Separate” which appeared in the Jan. 15-21 issue of North Country This Week: I would like to correct a few misstatements. First of all, the drone strike that killed Soleimani and five others was legal under Article Two of our Constitution.

During Obama's administration, he authorized 542 drone strikes in foreign countries that killed an estimated 3797 people including 342 innocent civilians. Among those killed were two American citizens, Al- Awlaki and his son, a 16 year old Colorado High School Junior. And, as required by the 1973 War Powers Act, President Trump reported the event to Congress within the mandated 48 hour period.

This can be compared to when Obama authorized the killing of Osama bin Laden with no prior notification to Congress, only afterwards was Congress notified. And if you need justification for the event, Soleimani was a terrorist killer of over 600 of our brave troops, who was fomenting violence against Americans in the Middle East, as can be seen by the violent attack by mobs on our embassy in Baghdad just days before.

He was also in violation of a U.N. sanction that banned him from traveling outside of Iran. What was he doing in Baghdad? I am sure that he wasn't site seeing.

As for President Trump, he does not want to go to war with Iran. The taking out of this terrorist was a step in quelling increasing violence by Iran and its proxies.

Our president wants to bring and keep our troops home. Boots on the ground in Iran is not what he wants. This is just an example of the left ginning up emotion to create hate for our president. They do it very well.

Susan Mattison

Lawrence