Former National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent, who resigned in March over the Iran war, appeared on Fox News Digital to argue that President Donald Trump has the authority to end the conflict and remove U.S. combat troops from the Middle East.
Personal stakes and policy concerns
Kent, a military veteran and gold‑star husband whose wife Shannon was killed in Syria in 2019, said the war places American service members in unnecessary danger. He described troops as “tripwires” that could draw the United States into a larger fight if Iran were to strike.
“This war is not in our national security interest,” Kent said. “Iran posed no imminent threat.” He reiterated the same view he expressed in his resignation letter, noting that the war was prompted by pressure from Israeli officials on the Trump administration.
Base vulnerability and strategic costs
Kent argued that U.S. bases in the region have become liabilities. He cited Iranian ballistic missiles and drones that forced evacuations, stating, “We couldn’t even fight a war from our military bases. So what good is a base that you can’t fight a war from?” He warned that the presence of bases gives Iran the ability to strike U.S. forces at will.
Fiscal and constitutional implications
Beyond the human cost, Kent highlighted the economic burden of overseas deployments. He said the United States cannot afford to continue foreign aid and military spending while facing a growing national debt, inflation, and domestic economic challenges. He called for aid to be directed only to partners that directly enhance American security, not to nations that could drag the country into further conflicts.
He also warned that endless foreign wars erode civil liberties and increase the deficit, saying, “When Americans choose between a Republican and a Democrat, they end up with the next war, more deficit, more debt, and their civil liberties encroached upon.”
Call to action
Kent urged citizens who share his view to contact their congressional representatives and the White House, stating, “We want out of war right now.” He emphasized that Trump has the political power to frame a withdrawal as a win or at least a draw for the American people.
White House response
White House spokesman Davis Ingle responded to Kent’s comments, asserting that Trump has largely destroyed Iran’s military capabilities and is maintaining a powerful naval blockade. Ingle dismissed Kent’s perspective as misguided.
Political aspirations
When asked about future political ambitions, Kent said he has none, though he expressed a desire to help build a “political coalition” that would highlight how foreign wars consume American lives, money, and national will.
Kent’s remarks come more than five months after Trump launched the Iran war in coordination with Israel. The U.S. continues to enforce a naval blockade, and the conflict’s duration remains uncertain.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
