Letter: In defense of Joe Kent, a war hero

Ozzie Gonzalez shares a firsthand account of his time working for Joe Kent, emphasizing Kent’s military background and principled stance on foreign policy controversies.

Camas resident Ozzie Gonzalez says he’s happy to see Joe resign in response to what will go down in history as a great foreign policy blunders and from an administration that betrayed its supporters

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

I started working for Joe Kent my last semester in college. I was initially only paid a stipend of $1500 per month (once my position became a paid one). At the time COVID unemployment was paying more. I didn’t have to work for him, in fact the following 2 1/2 years of my life would have been easier and more enjoyable if I hadn’t.

I chose to work for him because I saw in him, like many others did, someone who genuinely cared about this country. Joe’s not a kook or conspiracy nut. He’s intimately familiar with the complex mix of cultures and peoples in the Middle East. Someone also has to be highly intelligent to not only survive 11 combat deployments there, but be awarded 6 bronze stars.

Joe’s opposition to NeoCon adventurism has always been clear and well articulated. This war in Iran does not serve American interests. China is unaffected, they’ve been receiving their oil shipments. Russia is empowered now that sanctions have been lifted to stabilize oil prices. That means the war in Ukraine is further from ending. The American CENTCOM stockpile is depleted and there are 2500 marines sailing towards the strait.

Iran’s regime was at the negotiating table and after last year’s strikes against them, they warned the US of feint strikes near our bases that they had to carry out to save face. No Americans were harmed. That’s not behavior from a regime that poses an imminent threat to US citizens.

The Israel lobby has been using WMDs as a pretense for an attack on Iran for 10 or more years. It’s the same lie we were told about Iraq. We are not bound to support an unjust religious war between secular-zionists (Netanyahu is not a religious Jew, nor are 45% of Jews in Israel) and Shia Muslims in Iran. It’s not something we are obligated to as US citizens or as Christians. As a Catholic, I look to Pope Leo XIV, who is mourning the death of a faithful priest in Lebanon at the hands of an Israeli tank that intentionally fired on his home.

Trump’s administration has been one disappointment after another. From the 600,000 students from the CCP to the failure to comply with the law regarding the Epstein file release. I’m happy to see Joe resign in response to what will go down in history as a great foreign policy blunders and from an administration that betrayed its supporters.

We don’t talk anymore, I don’t know what he will do next, but I would vote for him for just about anything.

Ozzie Gonzalez
Camas