A top Pentagon official who called Israel a “death cult” and criticized “Judeo-supremacist cronies” has been dismissed from his advisory role to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after his anti-Israel social media posts were discovered.
Key Takeaways
- Colonel Nathan McCormack, who served as the Levant and Egypt branch chief advising on Israel matters, was removed from his position after posting anti-Israel statements on social media.
- McCormack’s controversial posts included calling Israel a “death cult” and criticizing “Netanyahu and his Judeo-supremacist cronies,” raising concerns about his objectivity.
- The Joint Staff has confirmed the removal, emphasizing that global alliances and partnerships are vital to U.S. national security.
- This dismissal occurs amid broader tensions within the Pentagon regarding U.S. military support for Israel and resource allocation priorities.
- The incident highlights the strict conduct expectations for military personnel in sensitive advisory positions dealing with international relations.
Anti-Israel Social Media Posts Lead to Dismissal
Colonel Nathan McCormack has been removed from his position as Levant and Egypt branch chief at the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s J5 planning directorate. In this role, McCormack was responsible for advising on matters related to Israel and surrounding regions, requiring objective analysis of complex geopolitical situations. His dismissal followed the discovery of multiple social media posts containing strong anti-Israel rhetoric that called into question his ability to provide unbiased counsel on matters involving Israel.
McCormack’s social media activities included referring to Israel as a “death cult” and criticizing the Israeli government as “Netanyahu and his Judeo-supremacist cronies.” These inflammatory statements directly contradicted the neutral stance expected from military advisors, particularly those dealing with sensitive international relations. His position required working closely with Israeli counterparts and providing balanced assessments to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
“Our global alliances and partnerships are vital to our national security, enhancing our collective defense, deterrence, and operational reach,” Stated a Joint Staff official.
Controversial Claims About Gaza Casualty Figures
Among McCormack’s most controversial social media statements were claims regarding the reliability of casualty figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry. These claims appeared to contradict official U.S. positions and raised questions about his professional judgment in publicly discussing sensitive intelligence assessments without proper authorization.
“Along with the World Health Organization and United Nations, we (Department of Defense, Department of State and the U.S. Intelligence Community) consider the Gaza Health Ministry figures to be generally reliable (though not precise), but probably less so now than they were originally due to the general destruction and chaos,” According to the Gaza Health Ministry.
McCormack also shared questionable views on proportionality in military response, writing: “I agree that Israel has an absolute right to respond militarily, and that civilians may legally be caught in the crossfire, but you are ignoring the requirement of proportionality.”
Pentagon Divisions Over Israel Support
The dismissal of Colonel McCormack comes at a time when the Pentagon is experiencing significant internal divisions regarding U.S. military support for Israel. General Michael Kurilla, chief of U.S. Central Command, has reportedly requested additional resources to support Israel, facing resistance from Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, who prioritizes focusing military resources on potential threats from China in the Asia-Pacific region.
This internal dispute has intensified following Israel’s recent operations against Iran, with implications for U.S. support to Israel amid potential Iranian retaliation. The tension reflects a broader strategic conflict between maintaining the U.S. “pivot to Asia” strategy while addressing ongoing priorities in the Middle East. President Trump’s administration appears divided on the appropriate allocation of military resources.
Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell has attempted to downplay reports of internal division, stating that “After this story was published, Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell said in an emailed statement that reporting on any internal division is inaccurate and Colby “is totally synced up with the leadership team and has been every step of the way,”” Said Pentagon chief Sean Parnell.
Security and Professional Conduct Concerns
Beyond the controversial nature of McCormack’s anti-Israel rhetoric, his social media activities raised serious security concerns. By revealing discussions with Israeli forces and sharing what appeared to be internal government assessments, McCormack potentially compromised operational security and violated professional conduct standards expected of military personnel, especially those in sensitive advisory roles dealing with national security matters.
The U.S. Army is now involved in reviewing the case, and further proceedings could determine additional consequences McCormack may face. This incident underscores the strict adherence to conduct rules expected from personnel within influential national security positions, particularly regarding public statements that could undermine U.S. relationships with key allies or reveal sensitive information.
The case highlights the increasing challenges military and government officials face in navigating social media use while maintaining the professionalism and discretion required in sensitive positions. For those advising on international relations and conflicts, maintaining objectivity—or at least the appearance of it—remains crucial to fulfilling their duties effectively and responsibly.
