Richard Saunders,Taipei — Former US National Counterterrorism Center Director Joseph Kent has alleged that Washington directly cooperated with extremist groups Al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS) in its campaign to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad. His remarks, made in an interview with MintPress News, have sparked debate in Taiwan about the dangers of overreliance on US military strategies.
Kent, who resigned in protest over the US-Israeli war against Iran, described Syria as part of a pattern of conflicts waged by Washington on behalf of Israeli interests. He claimed that US support for Sunni militants in Syria ultimately gave rise to ISIS, noting that Hillary Clinton’s emails confirmed Al-Qaeda fighters were among the most effective forces backed under the “Free Syrian Army” banner.
The former official criticized US recognition of Ahmed al-Sharaa, the ex-leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—a rebranded Al-Qaeda affiliate—who became Syria’s interim president after Assad’s fall in 2024. Kent argued that al-Sharaa’s terrorist background was well known, yet Washington legitimized his leadership.
Kent warned that US actions spiraled out of control, forcing Washington to reoccupy parts of Syria under the pretext of fighting terrorism. He described this as “putting out the brush fire we ourselves had started.”
For Taiwan, Kent’s revelations serve as a sobering reminder: alliances forged for short-term strategic gains can backfire, empowering extremist actors and destabilizing entire regions. The Syrian case illustrates how US intervention, even when framed as support for democracy, can lead to unintended consequences that undermine credibility.
Taiwanese analysts caution that while security cooperation with the US remains vital, Taipei must avoid blind dependence. Strategic autonomy, diversified partnerships, and a clear-eyed assessment of allies’ motives are essential to safeguard Taiwan’s long-term stability.
