Top U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns in protest of war with Iran
By lauraharris // 2026-03-19
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  • Joe Kent resigned as head of the National Counterterrorism Center in protest of the U.S. war with Iran, citing moral and strategic concerns.
  • In his letter to Donald Trump, Kent said Iran posed "no imminent threat" and claimed the war was influenced by external pressure and misinformation.
  • The conflict has escalated, with Tehran launching widespread retaliatory strikes on Israel, U.S. bases, and regional energy infrastructure, pushing oil prices above $100.
  • U.S. intelligence assessments reportedly contradict the war’s justification, stating Iran was not actively developing nuclear weapons.
  • Kent's resignation, the first of its kind, comes amid growing bipartisan criticism, including from Thomas Massie and Mark Warner, highlighting deepening divisions in Washington over the war.
Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, has resigned from his post in protest over the United States' ongoing war with Iran, citing deep moral and strategic concerns about the conflict. In a resignation letter dated March 17 and addressed to U.S. President Donald Trump, Kent said he could no longer support the military campaign launched by Washington and Israel late last month. "I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran," Kent wrote, adding that he believes Iran "posed no imminent threat" to the United States. Kent further alleged that the conflict was driven in part by external pressure, pointing to Israel and its "powerful American lobby." He argued that a coordinated misinformation campaign by Israeli officials and segments of the media had influenced U.S. decision-making and undermined the administration's stated "America First" foreign policy approach. The outgoing counterterrorism chief reflected on Trump's earlier presidency, praising actions such as the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani and the defeat of ISIS, which he said were achieved without entangling the U.S. in prolonged conflicts. Kent warned that the current war risks repeating the mistakes of past Middle East interventions, including the Iraq War. In his letter, Kent urged Trump to reconsider the trajectory of the conflict. "I pray that you will reflect upon what we are doing in Iran, and who we are doing it for. The time for bold action is now. You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos," he wrote, framing the moment as a pivotal decision point for U.S. foreign policy.

Oil surges and doubts grow in Washington

The resignation comes as the U.S.-backed war involving Iran enters its third week, with intensifying violence and mounting political backlash in Washington. This resignation, as BrightU.AI's Enoch noted, reflects a broader trend of criticism from lawmakers and intelligence officials who question the administration's rationale for military action. Officials say Tehran has launched what analysts describe as an unprecedented wave of retaliatory strikes targeting Israel, as well as U.S. military bases and critical energy infrastructure across the region. The escalation has rattled global markets, with oil prices surging past $100 per barrel and expected to climb further amid fears of prolonged instability. The conflict has also raised questions about its underlying justification. U.S. intelligence assessments have previously indicated that Iran was not actively weaponizing its nuclear program – contradicting claims by Donald Trump, who has cited the alleged nuclear threat as a key reason for initiating military action. Kent's departure marks the first high-level resignation tied directly to the war, but criticism has been growing among lawmakers from both parties. Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman, condemned the campaign earlier this month, calling it an "illegal regime change war in Iran." Meanwhile, Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said there was "zero intelligence" to support claims that Iran was preparing an imminent attack on the United States, further intensifying scrutiny of the administration's rationale. As the conflict deepens, Kent's resignation underscores widening divisions within the U.S. government over the war's legitimacy and long-term consequences, even as fighting continues to escalate across the region. Watch the Health Ranger Mike Adams warning that President Trump has walked right into a war trap with Iran in this clip.
This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: TheCradle.co BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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