Former NSC Official Dismisses Kamala Harris’s Courage on Iran

A former official of the National Security Council, with experience dating back to the Clinton administration, remarked over the weekend that Vice President Kamala Harris likely would not have had the resolve to order a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities if she were President.

In a post on social media, Jamie Metzl, a critic of former President Trump and a known Harris supporter, acknowledged Trump’s recent military actions but expressed skepticism about Harris’s willingness to take similar bold steps. He stated, “Although I believe electing Kamala Harris would have been better for our democracy and society, I also believe VP Harris would not have had the courage or fortitude to take such an essential step as the president took last night.”

Metzl praised Trump for ordering the recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites—Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz—using B-2 stealth bombers and Navy missiles, claiming “monumental damage” was inflicted. He emphasized the danger Iran poses, citing its long-standing hostility and the regime’s mantra of “Death to America,” which he said reflects its core ideology. “It has been racing toward a nuclear weapon with every intention of threatening the US, its allies, and the Middle East,” he warned.

Metzl, who also served as a Senate Foreign Relations Committee deputy staff director and a UN human rights officer, reiterated that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons presents significant risks. “Iran has been at war with the US for 46 years, with a regime that has murdered thousands of Americans. Its slogan, ‘Death to America,’ is fundamental to its ideology,” he explained. “This escalation reflects how close Iran is to acquiring a nuclear weapon, which they could potentially use to threaten the US and its allies.”

During the 2024 campaign, Harris emphasized Iran as America’s top adversary and indicated all options, including military action, remained on the table. The recent US strikes came shortly after Israel launched preemptive attacks to weaken Iran’s military and nuclear ambitions.