US counter-terrorism chief resigns over war in Iran

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The US counter-terrorism chief has resigned from the government over the war in Iran. Joe Kent, who served eleven combat tours, claimed that Tehran posed “no imminent threat to our nation” and that the US was led into the conflict by Israel. He also made parallels with the debate that preceded the 2003 invasion of Iraq, when hawks promised a swift victory. Kent is a staunch Maga Republican who was elevated to his position despite his promotion of conspiracy theories. The Trump administration initially tried to justify the strikes as “pre-emptive”, but this argument appears to be tenuous at best. The Guardian reported yesterday that Jonathan Powell, the UK’s national security adviser, attended the final talks between Iran and the US and came away with the impression that it was still possible to avert a conflict.