Former US National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent on Friday accused pro-war advocates within the US and Israel of convincing President Donald Trump that he wanted to strike Iran, regardless of little agency proof that the nation posed an imminent risk.
During an look on the Megyn Kelly Show, Kent claimed that Israeli leaders and US allies like Sen. Lindsey Graham created an “echo chamber” round Trump, urgent him for months to launch a army marketing campaign whereas slicing skeptical voices out of the dialogue.
“I saw the bubble being created around President Trump,” mentioned Kent, who resigned earlier this week over his misgivings concerning the conflict. “The president was isolated, and so he was just hearing that echo chamber.”
Kent added that the lead-up to hanging Iran contrasted sharply with the preparations for Trump’s bombing final 12 months of the nation’s nuclear websites, which he mentioned occurred solely after a strong back-and-forth inside the administration over the deserves of an assault.
Instead, he claimed that Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and his advisers, aided by pro-war allies of Trump, efficiently urged Trump to act earlier than the administration had labored by means of all of the attainable repercussions.
“Whatever argument they used, the effect was that President Trump was then led to believe that if he took action now, this whole thing would be quick and easy,” Kent mentioned.
In a press release, White House spokesman Davis Ingle known as Kent’s resignation letter “riddled with lies” and defended Trump’s choice to strike Iran.
“Most egregious were Kent’s false claims that the largest state sponsor of terrorism somehow did not pose a threat to the United States and that Israel forced the President into launching Operation Epic Fury,” Ingle mentioned.
Kent’s interview was the second he’s achieved with a distinguished conservative skeptic of the conflict since quitting, following a prolonged sitdown with Tucker Carlson.
This submit has been up to date with a White House assertion.
