https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-war-kent-resignation-e2e17a76d79617a68370f076c0291208WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing his concerns about the justification for military strikes in Iran and saying he “cannot in good conscience” back the Trump administration’s war.“Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” Kent said in a statement posted on social media, making claims President Donald Trump has denied.Kent, a former political candidate with connections to right-wing extremists, was confirmed to his post last July on a 52-44 vote. As head of the National Counterterrorism Center, he was in charge of an agency tasked with analyzing and detecting terrorist threats.His resignation reflects unease within Trump’s base about the war and shows that questions about the justification for the use of force in Iran extend to at least one senior member of Trump’s Republican administration. The change in personnel at one of the nation’s top counterterrorism offices comes amid heightened concerns about terrorism in the homeland following attacks within the past week at a Michigan synagogue and a Virginia university.
Justification for Iran strikes at heart of resignationKent’s decision to resign came down to the reasoning behind the strikes on Iran, or what he said was the lack thereof, he wrote in his resignation letter.Trump has offered shifting reasons for the strikes and has pushed back on claims that Israel forced the U.S. to act. Earlier this month, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., suggested that the White House believed Israel was determined to act on its own, leaving the Republican president with a “very difficult decision.”In an exchange with reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said that he always thought Kent was “weak on security” and that if someone in his administration did not believe Iran was a threat, “we don’t want those people.”“They’re not smart people, or they’re not savvy people,” Trump said. “Iran was a tremendous threat.”A spokesperson for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard did not immediately respond to questions about Kent’s resignation.Democrats strongly opposed Kent’s confirmation, pointing to his past ties to far-right figures and conspiracy theories. But following Kent’s resignation, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Kent’s concerns about the war in Iran were justified.“I strongly disagree with many of the positions he has espoused over the years, particularly those that risk politicizing our intelligence community,” Warner said. “But on this point, he is right: There was no credible evidence of an imminent threat from Iran that would justify rushing the United States into another war of choice in the Middle East.”Johnson, though, pushed back on Kent’s claims that Iran posed no imminent threat when asked about the resignation at a press conference on Tuesday.
JOE KENT IS A WHITE SUPREMACIST NO ONE CARES WHAT HE SAYS HIS WIFE DIED AND HES MAKING IT EVERYONE ELSES PROBLEM INSTEAD OF JUST GETTING A NEW WIFE
“I got all the briefings. We all understood that there was clearly an imminent threat that Iran was very close to the enrichment of nuclear capability and they were building missiles at a pace no one in the region could keep up with,” Johnson said.Johnson said he is convinced that if Trump had waited “we would have mass casualties of Americans, service members and others, and our installation would have been dramatically damaged.”Departure comes amid heightened terror concernKent is leaving the Trump administration as three recent acts of violence have raised concerns about threats to the homeland.In New York City, two men who federal authorities say were inspired by the Islamic State group took powerful homemade bombs to a far-right protest outside the mayoral mansion.In Michigan, a naturalized citizen from Lebanon rammed his vehicle into a synagogue, where he was shot at by security before he shot himself to death.And in Virginia, a man previously imprisoned on a terrorism conviction was heard yelling “Allahu akbar,” an Arabic phrase meaning “God is the greatest,” before opening fire in a university classroom in an attack that officials said ended when he was killed by students.Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and FBI Director Kash Patel are scheduled to testify before lawmakers later this week about threats facing the U.S., an annual hearing that this year is likely to be taken up by questions about the Iran war and in particular the revelation that outdated intelligence likely led to the U.S. firing a missile that hit an elementary school in Iran and killed more than 165 people.
A veteran and former congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard has in the past criticized talk of military strikes in Iran. Six years ago she said that “an all out war with Iran would make the wars that we’ve seen in Iraq and Afghanistan look like a picnic. It will be far more costly in lives, American lives, and American taxpayer dollars — and all towards accomplishing what goal? What objective?”Gabbard’s office did not respond when asked if Gabbard supported the strikes, and she has not posted about Iran on her social media accounts since the strikes began last month.A popular figure among Trump supportersKent’s background in the military and his personal story of loss and sacrifice made him a leading figure when it came to national security among Trump supporters.Before entering Trump’s administration, Kent ran two unsuccessful campaigns for Congress in Washington state. He also served in the military, seeing combat in 11 deployments as a Green Beret before retiring from Special Forces to join the CIA. He also endured tragedy: His wife, Shannon, a Navy cryptologist, was killed by a suicide bomber in 2019 while fighting the Islamic State group in Syria, leaving him to raise their two young sons alone. Kent, 45, has since remarried.During the United States’ chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Kent criticized what he said was a misguided desire for nation building by some in Washington, D.C.“It speaks to our hubris,” Kent told reporters while campaigning for Congress. “For us not to have learned from all this just shows that there are people making money and making their careers at the other end of it. They’ve been doing it on the backs and dead bodies of U.S. soldiers.”
During his 2022 congressional campaign, Kent paid Graham Jorgensen, a member of the far-right military group the Proud Boys, for consulting work. He also worked closely with Joey Gibson, the founder of the Christian nationalist group Patriot Prayer, and attracted support from a variety of far-right figures.Early during his first campaign, Kent acknowledged that a political consultant set up a call that was joined by Nick Fuentes, a popular right-wing influencer who has said that Jews are holding the U.S. “hostage” and once proclaimed that “Hitler was awesome, Hitler was right.”During his Senate confirmation hearing, Kent also refused to distance himself from a conspiracy theory that federal agents instigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol, as well as false claims that Trump won the 2020 election over Democrat Joe Biden.Kent later disavowed those ties and stated that he rejected all “racism and bigotry.”Still, Republicans praised Kent’s counterterrorism qualifications, pointing to his military and intelligence experience.Sen. Tom Cotton, the GOP chair of the intelligence committee, said in a floor speech that Kent had “dedicated his career to fighting terrorism and keeping Americans safe.”
>>1498236Reminder this dude has been one of the hardcore MAGA members since before he joined; like "Iran is trying to kill President Trump" loyal.
AMERICA WILL ALWAYS FACE ATTACKS WE ARE THE WILD WESTTHATS THE COST OF BEING ON TOP. WE RUN THE WORLD OF COURSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TAKE A SWING AT US BUT WHEN THEY DO WE KNEECAP THEM AND EXECUTE THEM AND THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY ALSO DAMN AINT NO ONE READING ALL THAT OP KEEP IT TO 1-2 POSTS THIS THREAD WOULD BE DOA BUT HERE ILL RESSUCITATE IT FOR YOUR DUMBASSJOE KENT BLAMED ISRAEL IN HIS RESIGNATION LETTER.
>>1498236Imagine my shock. None. This isn't shocking at all.
>>1498245>JOE KENT BLAMED ISRAEL IN HIS RESIGNATION LETTER.Probably because it's Israel's fault. Both Marco Rubio and Mike Johnson have slipped and acknowledged Israel forced Trump's hand
>>1498245The United sharts instigated these attacks, ma'am. Please don't spread misinformation.
>>1498238clearly you never lost a spouse. my wife died six years ago and i still fall asleep crying and snuggling up to her picture
>>1498248>acknowledged Israel forced Trump's handHow? They have both the piss tape and a tape of trump fucking kids?
>>1498237>A spokesperson for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard did not immediately respond to questions about Kent’s resignation.Tulsi is set to testify before the Senate tomorrow. This will no doubt make the hearing much more interesting.
>>1498251Israel attacked Iran first, then America attacked Iran because (according to Rubio) they knew that Iran would start shitting and pissing all over Israel in response. >https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVgclF5ltks
>>1498249>>1498254Hell yeah we struck first. Smart move if you ask me! But the Iranian regime was trying to build a nuke and they kept shouting "death to America" in their little parades so I'm thinking maybe they had it coming...
>>1498254>>1498255>Israel attacked Iran first>Hell yeah we struck first. Smart move if you ask me!I'm sure from your perspective sending the golem to die for you was a smart move, Moshe.
>>1498254Except trump moved most of military to attack Iran, so this was clearly planned and not reflexive.
>>1498257youre projecting again, esl shill
>>1498255Trump removed the obama deal that let them monitor Irans to prevent nuclear weapon development in person:https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/fact-checking-trumps-comments-that-a-2015-deal-gave-iran-the-right-to-nuclear-weapons>Under the deal, Iran agreed to refrain from pursuing nuclear weapons and to allow continuous monitoring of its compliance in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. Different parts of the agreement were scheduled to last between 10 and 25 years; some elements were to last indefinitely. Obama officials hoped for future renegotiations.
>>1498262So you agree, Iran was pursuing a nuke and getting close to having one. I don't care why they were close to a nuke I don't care whose fault it was. I just won't let them have the bomb. Cry about it.
>>1498264I didn't agree to that. You haven't shown any evidence of them building nukes.
>>1498262Didn't Obama send Iran plane loads of cash? And Iran used that money as the world's largest state sponsor of terror to fund the attacks on Israel during October 7th?
>>1498265NTA but when you're a paranoid schizo anything is possible.
>>1498265Oh come on anonDon't you know Iran has been just hours away from a nuke for the last 30 years?
>>1498266WTF is October 7?
>>1498266you're projecting again, esl shill
Shit must be really bad for a rat like Kent to flee the ship.
>>1498271>NamefagThe irony of being too ESL to spell ESL is delicious
>>1498277To be fair, he's a hardcore Nazi.And he's making the correct call as a Nazi.
>>1498255>Iranian regime was trying to build a nukeOrange pedo in chief said they were years away from making one. Before flip flopping back and forth again. >and they kept shouting "death to America" in their little paradesGee! I wonder why they hate a country that constantly attacks and sanctions them. Truly a mystery!!
>>1498236We need a real patriot in control who understands the POTUS is right and Iran is actually a terrorist nation. Iran declared war on the whole wide world when they shut down the strait for literally no reason at all. Trump already told them they can't close the strait so this must be a war crime or something. Joe Kent must be an antisemite if he's saying these things. Doesn't he remember the holocaust?
>>1498281of course he's a nazi he blamed israel for trumps mistake
>>1498236>all the dems and nevertrumpers jumping shipswamp continue to drain. trump need get some of /ourguys/ in. any anon from /pol/ would be more good than trators.
>>1498289>tratorsnice try esl shill
>>1498287The strait’s only closed for Iran’s enemies
>>1498236Trump will be asked about this it’ll be interesting
>>1498289>nevertrumpers jumping shipthis dude was a fucking uber trumper. He literally advocated for defending Israel and said Iran was trying to kill Trump. He invited all the far-right shitheads onto his shows and everything. The fact he's jumping ship with this explanation is a sign things really are that fucked.
Are most of the Trump supporters at this point just larping?>>1498289/pol/ turned against Trump when Fuentez turned against him. Trump's just lame. He has bad vibes. He's lost the main character energy. /pol/ wants zingers and trolling. Trump pisses off people by being a retard, but it's not really good trolling. Good trolling is punchy, and makes you look cool and intelligent while your opponent looks like an over emotional retard. He was damn good at it in his first term, but his brain has gone to mush since.
>>1498301the Evangelicals are still with him. They just want the world to end, nothing more, nothing less. My crazy aunt Cathy is one of them. We hear all about it from her.
>>1498299He already answered"That guy didn't think iran was a threat? Good I'm glad he's gone we don't want guys like that"Ez the masterbaiter does it again can't stick shit to Teflon Don
>>1498304you're projecting again, esl shill
>>1498266This is a famous republican lie. Obama froze all of Iran's overseas money, so he was just giving what was there's back if they followed the deal.Unlike trump who would actually bribe people with American money.
>>1498308obama wasn't american and neither are you, esl shill
>>1498301>Are most of the Trump supporters at this point just larping?Most trump supporters at this point are a actually just leftists larping as trump supporters
>>1498310Rightoids can't meme
>>1498244yeah this is pretty hardcore. im sure foxnews won't touch it.
>>1498308I thought the money was frozen since the Iranian Hostage in 1979. Obama froze all of iran's overseas money?
>>1498320Obama locked them out of SWIFT
>>1498236And of course he immediately was like "Well he was always weak on security and it's good he's gone because he was really just stupid about Iran."
>>1498236I can't believe he committed suicide by getting shot six times in the back of the head next week >>1498238This, I trust all-caps schizo ranting. That's why I voted for Donald Trump
>>1498245literally everyone blames Israel. All turnip had to do is say "No" and pull his ships out of the strait. Israel lured Orange Retard to put the fleet there because Bibi knew they would become the prime target once Israeli airstrikes took out supreme leader. That's also why Bibi gave Turnip the targets that included a populated school. Bibi's whole plan with Trump is to trick him into doing something stupid with him so they both get to share half of the blame.
>>1498323you're projecting again, esl shill
>>1498251Bibi convinced Trump to put the fleet in the strait just before the airstrikes. So if you're now dealing with an Iran that is GOING to start launching missiles all over the middle east, your options are >War >Shrug your shoulders as missiles rain on US bases Literally Bibi used Trump's excitement at being a human toilet against him, well-played Israel.
>>1498325>gets mad>Doesn't reply in all capsNot true american, DISCARDED
>>1498325what is even being 'shilled' anymore? hatred of Donald Trump being Netanyahu's toilet paper? trust me, there's plenty of that to go around. you don't have to try shilling it to us.
>>1498324>BibiHe ded naow. Is you def? I say you he ded.
>>1498328you're projecting again, esl shill
>>1498321That makes more sense, thanks for the clarification
what are the chances he resigned when asked to go along with the false flag that's being planned
Noooo, what? Israel did what?
>all the altright conspiracies are coming trueEntertaining timeline
>>1498335they seem to be more like self fulfilling prophecies, albeit entirely unnecessary ones
I'm proud of this proud boy.
>>1498336you're projecting again, esl shill
