A former official in the Trump administration: Centcom is escalating the war with Iran and bypassing the White House! Joe Kent, former head of the counter-terrorism office of the Donald Trump administration: With its new action against Iran, the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) is moving in the direction of escalating tensions and bypassing the White House's policy. In a situation where the US vice president is negotiating to end the war with Iran, Centcom's actions are actually in the opposite direction to the diplomatic efforts of the Trump administration. Centcom's action is an invitation to Iran to escalate tensions; This too in a situation where the vice president is trying to negotiate with the Iranians. This approach, known as "policy through operational plans" (CONOP), is a way of bypassing the White House; Without the army openly disobeying the president's order. The Iranians have made it clear that they are not willing to negotiate as long as they face the threat of escalation. The results of the midterm elections had a message that the president should not ignore: the American people do not support this war and want to leave it.