Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Mar 17: Joe Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), has resigned with immediate effect, marking the first high-level exit from the administration of Donald Trump in protest over the ongoing conflict with Iran.
In a public statement released on Tuesday, Kent said he stepped down after reflecting on the implications of the war.
“After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today,” he said.
Kent openly criticised the rationale behind the conflict, stating that he could not support the war.
“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. 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,” he said.
Despite his criticism, Kent expressed appreciation for his time in office and acknowledged working under President Trump and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
In a resignation letter addressed to the President, Kent warned that the United States risked repeating past strategic mistakes in the Middle East.
Drawing on his personal experience, he said he could not support sending “the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives.”
The White House did not immediately respond to questions regarding the resignation.
Kent’s departure triggered a political reaction in Washington, including from Mark R. Warner, Vice Chair of the US Senate Intelligence Committee.
Warner criticised Kent’s past record but agreed with his central claim regarding the Iran conflict.
“Joe Kent’s record is deeply troubling, and in my view, he never should have been confirmed to lead the National Counterterrorism Center,” Warner said.
However, he added that there was no credible evidence of an imminent threat from Iran that would justify rushing the United States into another war in the Middle East.
Warner cautioned that politically driven decisions could endanger national security and risk repeating past mistakes.
The resignation highlights growing tensions within the administration regarding intelligence assessments and the conduct of the Iran conflict. The NCTC plays a key role in analysing terrorism threats and coordinating intelligence across US agencies, making the resignation of its director both unusual and politically significant.