Joe Kent, a former Green Beret, stepped down as the head of the National Counterterrorism Center on Tuesday, expressing his dissatisfaction with the U.S. military actions against Iran.
Kent indicated that he doesn’t see Iran as an “immediate threat” to the United States. Instead, he believes that U.S. involvement in the conflict is largely a result of Israeli pressure. He mentioned it would be morally wrong for him to continue in his role, particularly after the loss of his “beloved wife Shannon in a war orchestrated by Israel.”
Kent stated, “I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran.” In a letter to President Trump, he emphasized that Iran does not pose an immediate danger and that U.S. actions were influenced by Israel and its significant lobbying presence in the U.S.
As an 11-time combat veteran and a Gold Star husband who lost his wife to a war driven by Israeli interests, he feels it would be unjust to send future generations into conflict that serves no real purpose for Americans.
Kent lauded Trump’s foreign policy during the past election campaigns, noting that Trump previously recognized that wars in the Middle East were traps costing American lives. He supported Trump’s decisions regarding the elimination of Qassem Soleimani and the defeat of ISIS, but he believes the administration was later swayed by “senior Israeli officials” aiming for war against Iran.
“In the early days of this administration, senior Israeli officials along with prominent figures in American media engaged in a misinformation campaign that undermined the America First platform and fostered a pro-war sentiment towards Iran,” Kent remarked. He described this as an echo chamber that misled people into thinking Iran was an imminent threat and that any attack would lead to a swift victory.
He further pointed out that such tactics resemble those used to draw the U.S. into the Iraq War, which resulted in the loss of thousands of lives, urging that repeating this mistake would be disastrous.
Kent called on Trump to reconsider his course regarding war with Iran. “We need to reflect on our actions in Iran and the motivations behind them,” he mentioned. “Now is the moment for decisive action. You can choose to redirect our nation’s path or let it continue to spiral into disorder. The decision is yours.”
Kent expressed gratitude for his time in the administration and serving the country.
The White House has been approached for comments regarding this development.
