Catégorie oBox : OBOXMA

Joseph (Joe) Kent, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced his resignation in a public message that immediately drew attention in Washington, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran and urging President Donald Trump to change course. Kent shared the decision on X, where he posted a copy of his resignation letter alongside a statement explaining his reasoning. «After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today. 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 wrote.

In the formal resignation letter addressed directly to Trump, Kent expanded on his concerns, framing the conflict as both unnecessary and strategically misguided. «I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation,» he wrote in the document. He also argued that the decision to engage in the conflict reflected external pressure rather than clear national interest, stating that «it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.» The letter marks one of the most direct internal criticisms of the administration’s foreign policy since the escalation began.

Kent’s resignation also highlighted a broader disagreement with the direction of U.S. foreign policy under Trump’s current administration. In the letter, he referenced Trump’s earlier political positioning, noting that the president had previously warned against prolonged military engagements in the Middle East. «Until June of 2025, you understood that the wars in the Middle East were a trap that robbed America of the precious lives of our patriots and depleted the wealth and prosperity of our nation,» Kent wrote. He suggested that the current conflict represents a departure from those principles and risks repeating past strategic mistakes.

The outgoing counterterrorism chief further pointed to what he described as a misinformation campaign influencing decision-making at the highest levels of government. «Early in this administration, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran,» Kent wrote. He added that this narrative had created a false sense of urgency, warning that «this was a lie» and drawing comparisons to the lead-up to the Iraq war, which he described as a cautionary example of flawed intelligence and policy decisions.

Kent also invoked his personal background and military experience in explaining his decision to step down, emphasizing the human cost of war. «As a veteran who deployed to combat 11 times and as a Gold Star husband who lost my beloved wife Shannon in a war manufactured by Israel, I cannot 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,» he wrote. He concluded his letter with a direct appeal to Trump, urging the president to reconsider the current strategy. «I pray that you will reflect upon what we are doing in Iran, and who we are doing it for,» Kent added.

The resignation comes at a moment of heightened debate within Washington over the direction of U.S. policy in the Middle East, as the conflict with Iran continues to escalate. Kent’s departure underscores internal divisions within the administration and raises questions about the long-term strategy behind the war. In his final remarks, he framed the decision as both a personal and national turning point. «You can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline and chaos. You hold the cards,» he wrote, signaling a clear break with the administration’s current approach.

Gas prices across the United States and Canada have risen sharply in recent weeks as the conflict involving Iran continues to intensify, disrupting global oil markets and raising concerns about supply stability. The increase has been driven in part by escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. Reports of military activity, threats to shipping lanes and heightened security risks in the region have contributed to volatility in crude prices, pushing them above the $100 per barrel mark. The surge at the pump has been felt across North America, with consumers facing noticeably higher fuel costs compared to earlier in the year.

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has become a central factor in the price spike, as the narrow waterway remains essential for global energy distribution. Any disruption or perceived threat in the region tends to trigger immediate reactions in oil markets. Recent developments, including reported attacks on vessels and increased military presence, have heightened fears of a prolonged disruption. Energy analysts have warned that even limited interference with shipping traffic can lead to significant price increases, as markets react not only to actual supply losses but also to the risk of further escalation in one of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors.

In response to the surge, several countries have attempted to stabilize markets by releasing oil from strategic reserves, in what officials described as one of the largest coordinated efforts in recent years. However, the impact has proven limited. While the release initially provided a temporary easing of prices, the effect quickly faded as geopolitical tensions continued to dominate market sentiment. Analysts have noted that reserve releases can offer short-term relief but are often insufficient to offset sustained supply concerns tied to ongoing conflict. As a result, fuel prices have resumed their upward trajectory despite these interventions

Current prices reflect that pressure on consumers. In the United States, the national average for gasoline has climbed to approximately $3.6 to $3.8 per gallon, marking one of the fastest increases since 2023. In Canada, prices have also risen significantly, with averages in several provinces exceeding 1.70 to 1.90 Canadian dollars per liter depending on the region. The current surge echoes the price increases seen in 2023, when fuel costs rose amid global supply constraints and post-pandemic demand recovery, though today’s spike is more directly tied to geopolitical instability and concerns over potential disruptions in Middle Eastern oil flows.

Officials within the Trump administration have attributed the price surge primarily to external factors linked to the conflict and broader global market dynamics. In recent remarks, Trump criticized media coverage of the situation while emphasizing what he described as underlying strength in U.S. energy production. «The fact is, Iran is being decimated, and the only battles they “win” are those that they create through AI, and are distributed by Corrupt Media Outlets,» Trump said, reiterating his view that reporting on the conflict has been misleading. Administration officials have also pointed to global supply disruptions as the main driver of rising prices rather than domestic policy decisions.

Energy experts continue to warn that the outlook remains uncertain as long as tensions persist in the region. The combination of military escalation, shipping risks and market speculation has created a volatile environment that could keep prices elevated in the near term. While some analysts expect fluctuations depending on developments in the conflict, others caution that any further escalation in the Strait of Hormuz could lead to additional spikes. For consumers in both the United States and Canada, the situation underscores the direct impact that geopolitical events can have on everyday costs, particularly when global energy supply chains are affected.

Sean Penn missed one of the biggest moments of his career after winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw in the political drama One Battle After Another. Instead of attending the ceremony in Los Angeles, the 65-year-old actor traveled to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky. The victory marked Penn’s third Oscar. He previously won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Mystic River and for Milk.

His absence was noticed during the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre, where presenter Kieran Culkin acknowledged that the actor was not present to receive the award in person.

The win capped a strong awards season for Penn, whose performance in One Battle After Another had been widely praised by critics. In the film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, Penn portrays Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw.

The production, which features an ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio Del Toro, became one of the most talked-about films of the year. Penn ultimately prevailed over fellow nominees Delroy Lindo, Jacob Elordi and Stellan Skarsgård. As the envelope was opened during the ceremony, Culkin addressed the actor’s absence, telling the audience:

«Sean Penn couldn’t be here tonight, or he didn’t want to.»

While Hollywood celebrated the victory, Penn was thousands of miles away in Ukraine, continuing his public support for the country during its war with Russia. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky shared a photograph with the actor on X following their meeting. In the message accompanying the photo, Zelensky highlighted Penn’s commitment to Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion. «Sean, thanks to you, we know what a true friend of Ukraine is.

You have stood with Ukraine since the first day of the full-scale war. This is still true today. And we know that you will continue to stand with our country and our people,» Zelensky wrote.

Penn has been one of the most visible Hollywood figures supporting Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. The actor was in Kyiv when the invasion began while filming a documentary about the conflict and later returned several times to meet Zelensky and Ukrainian officials. During one of those visits, Penn handed one of his Oscar statuettes to the Ukrainian president as a symbolic gesture of solidarity. The award he left in Kyiv was one of the two Best Actor Oscars he received earlier in his career, honoring his performances in Mystic River and Milk.

His continued presence in Ukraine comes as the country faces ongoing military pressure and uncertainty about international support. Ukrainian forces remain engaged in heavy fighting across several regions as the war continues more than three years after Russia’s invasion. At the same time, geopolitical attention in Washington has increasingly shifted toward the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, drawing diplomatic focus and military resources away from Eastern Europe. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that maintaining global attention and assistance remains critical as the war enters another difficult stage.

For Penn, the decision to travel to Ukraine instead of attending the Oscars reflects a pattern that has defined much of his public life in recent years. The actor has repeatedly used his platform to advocate for political and humanitarian causes around the world. By choosing to be in Kyiv on the night he won his third Academy Award, Penn again prioritized his activism over Hollywood ceremony, reinforcing the message that his support for Ukraine remains ongoing even as international attention shifts to other global crises.

Donald Trump launched a lengthy and angry tirade on Truth Social as he denounced what he described as false reporting about the war with Iran. The president posted a long message criticizing what he called «fake» coverage of the conflict, accusing major American media outlets of spreading misleading narratives about the state of the war and the performance of the U.S. military. Trump singled out The Wall Street Journal and other news organizations, claiming their reporting echoed Iranian propaganda and distorted the reality of the conflict. His comments arrived as the war with Iran continues to dominate headlines and spark debate in Washington over military strategy and the way the conflict is portrayed to the American public.

In the message, Trump argued that Iran has long relied on propaganda and information warfare to influence global perception of its military capabilities. «Iran has long been known as a Master of Media Manipulation and Public Relations. They are Militarily ineffective and weak, but are really good at “feeding” the very appreciative Fake News Media false information,» Trump wrote. He claimed Tehran had recently intensified those efforts by using artificial intelligence to create fabricated images and videos designed to appear authentic. According to the president, such material is then amplified by Western media outlets that fail to verify the claims before publishing reports about alleged Iranian successes in the conflict.

Trump also challenged several reports describing damage to American military assets during the war, particularly stories suggesting that U.S. refueling aircraft had been destroyed or severely damaged. «The five U.S. Refueling Planes that were supposedly struck down and badly damaged, according to The Wall Street Journal’s false reporting, and others, are all in service, with the exception of one, which will soon be flying the skies,» Trump wrote. He insisted that images circulating online showing damaged American infrastructure or vessels were fabricated and part of a broader disinformation effort. «Buildings and Ships that are shown to be on fire are not — It’s FAKE NEWS, generated by A.I.,» he added.

The president also pointed to claims circulating online about a supposed attack on a major U.S. naval vessel operating in the region. «For instance, Iran, working in close coordination with the Fake News Media, shows our great USS Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier, one of the largest and most prestigious Ships in the World, burning uncontrollably in the Ocean,» Trump wrote.

Trump said the scenario never happened and accused Iranian authorities of manufacturing dramatic images to project strength despite what he described as heavy losses on the battlefield. «Not only was it not burning, it was not even shot at — Iran knows better than to do that!» he wrote.

Trump then escalated his criticism of the press by suggesting that outlets publishing such reports should face severe consequences under U.S. law.

«The story was knowingly FAKE and, in a certain way, you can say that those Media Outlets that generated it should be brought up on Charges for TREASON for the dissemination of false information!» Trump wrote. He argued that the conflict itself was unfolding very differently from what he said the media portrayed.

«The fact is, Iran is being decimated, and the only battles they “win” are those that they create through AI, and are distributed by Corrupt Media Outlets.» Trump also accused what he called the «Radical Leftwing Press» of knowingly spreading false stories.

Trump concluded the post by praising Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, who has warned broadcasters about the potential consequences of spreading false information.

«I am so thrilled to see Brendan Carr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), looking at the licenses of some of these Corrupt and Highly Unpatriotic “News” Organizations,» Trump wrote. The president argued that television networks benefit from public airwaves and should therefore face scrutiny if they disseminate inaccurate reporting.

«They get Billions of Dollars of FREE American Airwaves, and use it to perpetuate LIES, both in News and almost all of their Shows,» Trump added, suggesting that federal regulators should consider whether some broadcasters deserve to keep their licenses.