US Counterterrorism Director Resigns Over Iran War, Citing Israeli Influence
In a significant development amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict, Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned on March 18, 2026, becoming the first senior Trump administration official to step down over the war. In his resignation letter, Kent stated he could not support the conflict in good conscience, asserting that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States and that the war was initiated due to pressure from Israel and its American lobby. Kent, a veteran with a controversial background including past associations with far-right groups, highlighted concerns that the conflict serves Israeli interests more than American ones.
The article, drawing from a piece by Robert Kuttner in The American Prospect, details how Israeli actions have escalated tensions without full prior consultation with President Trump. Israeli strikes assassinated Iranian security chief Ali Larijani and intelligence minister Esmail Khatib, with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly stating that Trump would be informed only after the fact. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier acknowledged awareness of impending Israeli actions that could provoke attacks on US forces. A forthcoming poll by IMEU Policy Project and Demand Progress, conducted by Data for Progress, indicates voters believe the war benefits Israel over America by a nearly 2-to-1 margin (56% to 29%).
The piece raises questions about Netanyahu's strategic influence on Trump, suggesting it risks broader regional escalation and potential rises in antisemitism as blame shifts. It notes Trump's ambivalence contrasted with Netanyahu's determination to continue targeting Iranian leadership. The resignation and poll reflect growing domestic unease with the war's direction and its perceived alignment with foreign rather than US priorities. While the article frames these events critically, mainstream reports confirm Kent's resignation and the assassinations, underscoring real tensions in US-Israel coordination during the conflict.
US Counterterrorism Director Resigns Over Iran War, Citing Israeli Influence
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