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Any Moment, House Armed Services Committee Holds Hearing on U.S. Military Posture in the Americas; Head of U.S. Counterterrorism Center Announces Resignation. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired March 17, 2026 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, breaking news, U.S. embassy in Baghdad targeted again, air defense systems engaging multiple explosions as you see caught on camera.

Also, gas prices up overnight, national average now at $3.79 a gallon.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Plus, airport chaos, security lines growing by the hour in Atlanta, more than 90 minutes this morning. And breaking right now, some airports may need to shut down completely as the TSA is, quote, fully stretched.

And vaccine overhaul blocked, a judge stopping RFK Jr.'s sweeping changes to reshape vaccine policy. The new reporting straight ahead.

Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer with Pamela Brown, and you're in The Situation Room.

BROWN: And we are following a number of live events this hour. Any moment, as the war intensifies in Iran, top military officials will testify on Capitol Hill on a range of issues surrounding Cuba, Venezuela, and Greenland. And we're awaiting remarks from House Speaker Mike Johnson after defending President Trump's handling of the Strait of Hormuz.

Later this hour, the head of the National Institutes of Health will face questions from lawmakers as a federal judge puts a pause on RFK Jr.'s vaccine overhaul.

And next hour, we're expecting to hear from President Trump as he meets with the Irish prime minister.

So, let's turn now to Capitol Hill. Any moment now, as I mentioned, the House Armed Services Committee is set to hold that hearing on the U.S. military posture and national security challenges in the Western Hemisphere, and this comes amid the war with Iran and on the heels of that U.S. operation in Venezuela, which saw the capture of Nicolas Maduro, and as President Trump is floating, the idea of, quote, taking Cuba as the island's power grid collapses after the U.S. effectively shut off the flow of oil to the country. BLITZER: Testifying this morning during the hearing, the head of the U.S. military's Southern Command, General Francis Donovan, the leader of the U.S.'s military's Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, General Gregory Guillot, and Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and America Security Affairs Joseph Humire.

CNN National Security Reporter Haley Britzky is here with us in The Situation Room. So, what are we expecting to learn at this hearing today?

HALEY BRITZKY, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: So, Wolf, there's a lot of topics that they are surely going to be asked about, especially knowing that the Pentagon has deemed homeland defense the number one priority in the National Defense Strategy, which was released earlier this year.

So, we have the Ecuador narco-terrorist operations that U.S. Southern Command announced last month or earlier this month. We have the president's remarks about Cuba and certainly what he may or may not be wanting to do there. All of this coming as there are still roughly six Navy ships in the region sort of keeping those operations open for the president for whatever he may decide to do there.

BROWN: You mentioned Cuba, what he may or may not do, he floated this idea of taking Cuba. Cuba's electoral grid, as I mentioned, suffered a total collapse on Monday. So, what more do we know about what that could look like and how it could mirror what happened in Venezuela?

BRITZKY: Sure. So, I think that's one of the main questions is this, is this going to look like the very targeted very quick operation in Venezuela in taking Nicolas Maduro, or is it going to look sort of like the more prolonged operations that we're seeing in Iran that don't necessarily have a clear end goal? It's something certainly that General Donovan and General Guillot are going to be asked about this morning. Whether or not they're going to be able to get into any specifics, certainly their job is to provide options to the president for whatever course of action he plans to take, and I'm sure they're going to be threading that needle very carefully.

BLITZER: It's going to be an important hearing. We'll have live coverage coming up.

BROWN: Haley Britzky, thanks so much.

BLITZER: Now, we're also following additional breaking news this morning. We just learned, get this, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, has just announced he's resigning.

CNN National Security Reporter Zachary Cohen is joining us right now. Zachary, what more can you tell us about this dramatic development?

ZACHARY COHEN, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes, Wolf. This appears to be a significant resignation at the senior most levels of the Trump intelligence community. This is Joe Kent. He was the director of the National Counterterrorism Center. He posting, appearing to post on X, a resignation letter that he submitted citing misgivings over the Trump administration's decision to launch its war with Iran.

Now, Kent in this letter writes in part, quote, 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.

[10:05:09]

Now Kent, in his apparent post on X, does also seem to suggest that there was no imminent threat, that it has been used and cited by the Trump administration as justification for launching this war against Iran. He says essentially that the administration manufactured this idea of an imminent threat, and that is part of the reason why he's deciding to resign from his post today.

BLITZER: All right. Zachary Cohen, a dramatic development, indeed. I just read this letter, very, very strong words. Pamela?

BROWN: All right. Let's talk more about this with our CNN Political and Global Affairs Commentator Sabrina Singh and retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Steve Anderson. Good morning to both of you.

This is significant that you're getting this resignation from Joe Kent, perhaps on a household name, right? But he is the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, and he is saying in this letter released today on X that there was no imminent threat to our nation from Iran, and that this war was started due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby. As a result, he cannot, in good conscience, stay in his role. I mean, someone like him would know what the intelligence shows, right?

SABRINA SINGH, CNN POLITICAL AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: They certainly would. And it goes against the administration's initial argument that Iran posed a threat to the United States and therefore the U.S. had to take immediate action. It's always shocking when a political appointee, particularly like one like him, resigns in such a public way.

And so I think there is you're -- you could potentially see more breaking happening within the administration. We already know the MAGA base is very divided about this war in Iran, but specifically someone like him who handles counterterrorism issues, who would know deeply the intelligence that was being provided to the administration at this time. I think his resignation is significant and it could send more to resign as well.

BLITZER: General, what do you make of this?

BRIG. GEN. STEVE ANDERSON (RET.), U.S. ARMY: I totally agree with Sabrina. I mean, this is -- the timing of this probably couldn't be worse, by the way, because, of course, the Iranians pose a significant terrorist threat to the United States, you know? And -- but, I mean, I admire him for making the stand that he has made and I actually agree with him and I believe that he's a war hero. His voice has mattered a great deal. And this is a terrific blow to the Trump administration again because of the timing. Because right now, the Iranians are engaged in warfare with us, and, of course, one of the cards that they hold is a terrorist threat here in the United States.

BLITZER: So, you agree with him that Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation?

ANDERSON: Absolutely, Wolf. I believe that they pose no threat, that this is a war of choice, not a war of necessity, and I think that we're going to be doing this for quite, we're going to be talking about this for quite a while, because I don't think that this is going very well for the administration and for our country.

BLITZER: A number of recent polls have shown that Americans are concerned that the war in Iran could either harm U.S. national security or make the U.S. less safe. What questions and answers are you going to be listening for in today's hearing, General?

ANDERSON: I want to hear what the impact of this war is on these other combatant commands. We already know that missiles have been diverted from South Korea to help the GCC defend themselves from the Iranian attacks. I want to know what is the impact. We're using -- we're losing, for instance, a MEU, the 31st MEU stationed in Okinawa as being diverted to the Persian Gulf. What are the impacts of this war in Iran?

Now, I worked in the war plans division in the Pentagon back in the Cold War era when we were resourced essentially to conduct two simultaneous major theater wars. We have since come off that strategy. Now, we have one major theater war and another regional conflict that we can deny or oppose. That's how we're resourced right now.

So, we've diminished our capabilities over the last 20 years or so. What is the impact of this war? I submit to you it is significant.

BROWN: Well, and it comes at a time when you heard President Trump just yesterday float this idea of taking over Cuba, potentially. I mean, does the United States have the resources? Look what happened in Venezuela now the war with Iran and now this Cuba situation.

SINGH: I think everyone, particularly was in the MAGA base, is asking this idea of is the United States going to be the world's policemen? And that was something that Donald Trump and Republicans ran against in 2024 that we're not going to get into this idea of endless wars. And so the idea that we're go now going to, you know, quote, take over Cuba, I mean, what does that look like? You're going to cut off the head of the regime, but then leave it basically intact, sort of what we've done in Venezuela?

I think this president is putting us -- putting Americans into situations where you're already seeing a loss of life within Iran. But, again, why are we entering into these conflicts and not looking for diplomatic solutions? I mean, no one is saying that the Cuban regime is, in any way, humanitarian or has been looking out for Cuban people, but there are diplomatic levers that we can pull with Cuba, Iran, in the Middle East, anywhere in the world.

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And it feels like this president is continuing to rely on the U.S. military to do some of the diplomatic work to lessen the tensions.

BLITZER: You know, it's interesting because Trump used the word takeover of the island, takeover of Cuba. What do you think he's talking about? Really sending in U.S. ground troops to do in Cuba what the U.S. did in Venezuela?

ANDERSON: Well, he conducts schizophrenic diplomacy virtually every day, and he might very well change his mind tomorrow. I would submit to you, he's probably looking at some kind of Maduro takedown. But, I mean, what we're seeing unfortunately in real time is degradation to American prestige and influence. It's happening every day. You look at Europe, they're not supporting this war. Why? Because we didn't come and talk to them about it beforehand. We did not build a coalition like we did in Iraq. I served proudly with 32 other nations when I served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So, I mean, it's very confusing what Mr. Trump is saying about Cuba. And I think our nations, our allies are looking at this and saying, you know, maybe the Americans aren't a reliable partner like they've been in the past, and maybe it's time to start looking at doing more for ourselves and less reliance on the Americans.

BROWN: I just want to follow up, General, with what you said earlier about the concern of the threat to the United States with the war with Iran. You know, there has been a lot of discussion about potential around proxies, sleeper cells in the United States, but we're several weeks into this war and you haven't necessarily seen anything activated. You know, there's been talk about it and there have been previous strikes against Iran where you didn't see that either. What do you make of that?

ANDERSON: I think that they are hunkering down and they're waiting us out. They know that they can continue to provide -- apply pressure in the Persian Gulf, specifically in the Strait of Hormuz for many weeks, perhaps months. And so I think that if there are sleeper cells, they are simply waiting this out, waiting for the right time. It's still poses a significant threat to Americans and we need to look out. And, of course, the resignation of Mr. Kent strikes a real blow in our ability to counter that threat.

BLITZER: All right. Hold on for a minute. I want to go to Kevin Liptak over at the White House right now.

Kevin, I understand you're getting reaction from the White House to this dramatic announcement from the senior official?

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, no official reaction from the White House yet, and. I'll tell you, I think officials are still digesting, you know, this lengthy letter that Joe Kent has sent to the president himself. And, you know, when you look at Joe Kent's biography, I think it will be a little bit difficult for Trump officials to sort of dismiss this outright as someone who has Trump derangement syndrome or who his opposed to the president in other ways, the way they do so many other lines of criticism. You know, this is someone who, one, was appointed by the president himself, but, two, has aligned himself with so many of the president's positions.

You know, he has said, for example, that the 2020 election was stolen from President Trump. He has alleged that the FBI was involved somehow in the January 6th riots on Capitol Hill. So, this is someone who is not, you know, outspoken against President Trump by any means. He ran as a Republican in Washington State twice. You know, this is someone who served 11 tours as a Green Beret in the Army.

And so I think when we do eventually hear from the White House, it will be interesting to see exactly how they characterize this response. This is someone who is from the Trump wing of the Republican Party.

I also think it's going to be interesting to see how his boss, the director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, responds to all of this. This does, I think, put her in a predicament. She is someone who also spoke out against what she called the Forever Wars talk about. You know, the adventurism of a previous iteration of the Republican Party, exactly the sort of thing that Joe Kent is alleging in this letter that the president has sort of fallen into a trap of. And so this could put her in a very difficult position as well.

One thing that I think is clear is that Trump officials always or never look particularly kindly on people who resign and sort of go out in a very public way. And that's something that I think will probably rub many White House officials the wrong way.

Now, we will see the President in about 45 minutes. He'll be hosting the taoiseach of Ireland for St. Patrick's Day. I think it's pretty likely that he'll be questions about this very high-profile resignation when he's sitting there with the taoiseach in the Oval Office, but awaiting official reaction from the White House and from the president.

BLITZER: Yes, we'll have live coverage of that meeting once the taoiseach arrives at the White House.

Kevin Liptak, thank you very much.

BROWN: Thanks so much, Kevin. We'll be right back as we continue to monitor this hearing on Capitol Hill with top military leaders.

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Stay with us.

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BROWN: Significant news this morning with the resignation of a top U.S. counterterrorism official named Joe Kent. He has been a Trump ally for many years. He was a Green Beret. He lost his wife in Syria due to an ISIS bombing. And he is releasing this letter this morning addressed to the president saying that he is resigning from his position in opposition to the Iran war.

BLITZER: Let me read a little bit from this letter that he wrote to President Trump. This is Joseph Kent, the director of National Counterterrorism Center at the department of -- he works for the director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.

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But he writes this. He says, 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. I support the values and the foreign policies that you campaigned on in 2016, 2020, 2024, which you enacted in your first term 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.

And he added this, in your first administration, you understood better than any modern president how to decisively apply military power without getting us drawn into never ending wars. You demonstrated this by killing Qasem Soleimani and by defeating ISIS.

He goes on and says more, Sabrina, but those are powerful words.

SINGH: I think what's also important here is this is an appointee that was not someone that you could consider not aligned with the president. I mean, this is someone that espoused the MAGA base views and was appointed by, of course, Tulsi Gabbard. And so the fact that he has issued a very public resignation and the fact that he's also said that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States, a case that was made by Donald Trump multiple times and many other officials in this administration, including the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying that Iran posed an immediate threat to the United States. And he's someone that clearly had access to intelligence matters, saying that they did not.

I think you could potentially see other resignations from this administration, people deep within the MAGA base that do not support this war of choice. And, frankly, it is a war of choice. It is something that the president chose to do. And he has said, you know, kind of on his own conscience that he decided to initiate this war as well.

BROWN: Yes. He has said -- he even said that he got Israel on board.

SINGH: Yes.

BROWN: But in this letter, Joe Kent says he believes that this started because of pressure from Israel and its American lobby. I'm wondering, General, what you think about the last -- one of the last lines here. He says, you can reverse course and chart a new path for our nation, or you can allow us to slip further toward decline in chaos. You hold the cards. I'm wondering at this point, several weeks into this war, you have Iran saying that the Strait of Hormuz will never go back to the conditions where it was before. How do you chart a new course?

ANDERSON: He needs to cut his losses, that being President Trump. He needs to cut his losses and shut this down as quick as he possibly can. That would be the best thing at this solution. You know, I'm not sure if he's got the capability and wherewithal they actually do that politically, but, I mean, this is not going well. It is going to get worse.

And bully (ph) for Mr. Joe Kent for having the political courage to stand up for what he believes. You know, this is a guy that's a big time MAGA supporter, has always been, very much like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who you had on your show yesterday. I mean, these are significant resignations from the MAGA world and people need to take note, and I hope that this leads to the resignation of other members of the administration because he is absolutely spot-on target, this is not in the best history of the United States to continue this war, and President Trump needs to shut it down as quickly as he possibly can.

BLITZER: Let me read another sentence or two from his resignation letter. 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.

SINGH: Yes. I mean, we've already seen 13 American service members die in this war. Over 200 have been injured. And their conditions have ranged from very serious to some have been returned to duty. But I think, you know, we've heard Pete Hegseth this time and again, that more Americans could lose their lives.

And I think this letter makes it very clear. Is that worth it? Is that worth the cost? And this is someone that's obviously gone to war on behalf of our country and seeing the cost that it takes not just on the people who are putting their lives on the line but on the country.

And so I think it is really important that not only is he putting this out today but this is someone that is a deep figure within the MAGA base and someone that is aligned with the president and is breaking very publicly with him.

BROWN: And it's personal for him, as you noted, Wolf, that his wife was killed in Syria in 2019 by an ISIS bomber.

You know, I just want to go back to you, General. Clearly, you don't agree with this war. But at the same time Israel is saying that it has taken out more top Iranian officials, including one who has been overseeing a lot of what Iran has been doing and its counterattacks. And I just wonder if you see any progress, any benefit so far from this war in terms of safety toward the United States because of some of the people who have been taken out?

[10:25:03] ANDERSON: First of all, I commend the military performance thus far in the war. I mean, it's been superb. And, look, no one's shedding any tears for Khameini's demise and a new ayatollah and the aggressive nature that they have had towards in the region and been a threat in the region. I mean, I'm all for doing something about the Iranians, but we were not provoked.

And the problem here is that we've -- we're in the middle of a long war, at least a long war for them. I mean, I remember what Henry Kissinger said about Vietnam. He said that, you know, the Americans will lose by not winning and the Vietnamese will win by not losing. The Iranians just want to sustain themselves, stay in power as long as they possibly can, continue to harass the United States, like attacking Baghdad and the embassy there and whatnot, and stay alive long enough so that they can claim victory. And that's what they will do if they do this long enough.

BLITZER: We're going to stay on top of this war in Iran, and we're going to go to the region and speak to our reporters who are watching all of this unfold, risking their own lives in the process.

We'll be right back.

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