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CNN anchor Jake Tapper and former director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent traded barbs over media coverage of Operation Epic Fury and Iranian state-promoted propaganda.<\/p>\n
Kent, who abruptly left his position in the United States intelligence community over President Donald Trump\u2019s military operation in Iran, spurred the back-and-forth when he commented on the ongoing rescue mission to retrieve an airman from behind enemy lines in Iran.<\/p>\n
\u201cPraying for the rescue of our downed pilot & the safe return of our Special Operators going in to get him back. USAF PJs & CSAR Air crews are top notch,\u201d Kent posted<\/a>, but also shared a report from Drop Site News that parroted Iranian propaganda that suggested the United States was actively attempting to kill the downed airman rather than rescue him.<\/p>\n Iranian state-linked Tasnim News, citing a military source, claims U.S. forces are bombing areas in southwest Iran where a missing pilot may be located, alleging Washington has \u201clost hope\u201d of recovery and is attempting to kill him.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Tapper pushed back<\/a> early on Monday, one day after an elaborate rescue mission had succeeded in safely extracting the weapon systems specialist, saying, \u201cFormer National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent sharing Iranian state-linked outlet nonsense claiming, falsely, that the U.S. was trying to kill the then-lost U.S. pilot. Aged rather poorly, I think it\u2019s fair to say.\u201d<\/p>\n Kent responded by claiming that Tapper was promoting the war and that Iranian media was \u201cindependent,\u201d and said that anyone \u201ccheering on wars\u201d should be questioned.<\/p>\n \u201cTapper\u2019s purpose, like the entire corporate media, is to promote this foolish war & attack anyone who points out how this war isn\u2019t in our nation\u2019s interest. Read independent media, Iranian media & US media \u2013 always question those cheering on wars & always pray for our troops,\u201d he posted<\/a>.<\/p>\n The CNN anchor disputed Kent\u2019s characterization, saying that neither he nor CNN were in the business of promoting any war. \u201cWe cover it, critically.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMoreover, I wasn\u2019t attacking Mr. Kent. I pointed out that he had promoted false information suggesting the U.S. was seeking to *kill* the missing U.S. pilot. Wild stuff,\u201d Tapper concluded.<\/p>\n Kent had previously<\/a> called for far more aggressive treatment<\/a> of Iran, but pivoted and quickly announced his departure from the Trump administration after the president took action.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n