Former U.S. Counterterrorism Chief Criticizes Trump’s Middle East Policies
Joe Kent, the former director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center who resigned in protest against the war on Iran, has once again criticized Donald Trump’s policies in the Middle East, stating that it is time for the United States to abandon its role as a “firestarter” in the region.
According to Mehr News Agency, Kent wrote on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account that a possible U.S. withdrawal from NATO would not serve to prevent foreign conflicts. Instead, he believes such an action could pave the way for Washington to side with Israel in the event of a potential conflict between Turkey and Israel in Syria.
He further claimed that the U.S. previously played a role in the overthrow of Syria’s secular government, which led to the rise of a president with ties to al-Qaeda and ISIS.
The former American official emphasized the consequences of Washington’s interventionist policies in the region, saying, “It is time we stop playing the role of firestarter and volcano in the Middle East; it really isn’t worth it.”
His remarks come amid ongoing debates and reactions within the United States regarding the Trump administration’s foreign policy, particularly toward the Middle East.
