Colonel Nathan McCormack, a top Pentagon advisor on Israeli affairs, has been swiftly removed from his position after calling Israel a “death cult” and making derogatory comments about Jewish people on social media.
Key Takeaways
- Colonel Nathan McCormack was terminated from his position as Levant and Egypt branch chief at the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s J5 planning directorate due to anti-Israel social media posts.
- McCormack’s controversial comments included calling Israel a “death cult” and criticizing “Netanyahu and his Judeo-supremacist cronies.”
- The Pentagon has emphasized that McCormack’s views do not represent the Department of Defense’s position.
- This incident occurs amid ongoing tensions in the Pentagon regarding resource allocation between the Middle East and Asia-Pacific theaters.
- The termination highlights the strict conduct expectations for high-level military advisors, particularly regarding impartiality in sensitive geopolitical matters.
Pentagon Removes Senior Advisor Over Anti-Israel Rhetoric
The Department of Defense has removed Colonel Nathan McCormack from his influential position advising the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Israel-related matters. McCormack, who served as the Levant and Egypt branch chief at the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s J5 planning directorate, was terminated after his anti-Israel social media posts came to light. His position gave him significant influence over policy recommendations regarding one of America’s closest allies in a region of critical strategic importance. The removal represents a clear message from the Pentagon about acceptable conduct for those in sensitive advisory roles.
Controversial Social Media Activity Exposed
McCormack’s social media posts contained deeply problematic rhetoric that directly contradicted the balanced perspective expected from military advisors. In his posts on X (formerly Twitter), the colonel referred to Israel as a “death cult” and criticized “Netanyahu and his Judeo-supremacist cronies.” These statements not only demonstrated clear bias but also employed language considered antisemitic by many standards. Such inflammatory rhetoric is particularly concerning coming from an officer responsible for providing objective analysis on Middle Eastern affairs to America’s top military leadership.
“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,” said McCormack.
McCormack also endorsed questionable casualty statistics from Gaza, writing: “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 in Gaza.” This statement undermined the official U.S. position, which has consistently questioned Hamas-controlled health ministry figures due to their unreliability and propaganda value.
Pentagon Reaffirms Commitment to Objective Advisory
The Pentagon’s swift action demonstrates the seriousness with which the Department of Defense views breaches of conduct, especially those that might compromise America’s relationship with key allies. A Joint Staff official emphasized the importance of America’s alliances in an official statement following McCormack’s removal: “Our global alliances and partnerships are vital to our national security, enhancing our collective defense, deterrence, and operational reach.” This reaffirmation of America’s commitment to its allies’ signals that the Pentagon will not tolerate advisors who display clear bias on matters of international relations.
Broader Context: Pentagon’s Internal Divisions
McCormack’s termination occurs against a backdrop of significant internal divisions within the Pentagon regarding America’s Middle East policy and resource allocation. Top Pentagon officials remain split over the extent of U.S. military support for Israel, with implications for President Trump’s second-term foreign policy objectives. Gen. Michael Kurilla, chief of U.S. Central Command, has advocated for increased resources for Israel, while Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby has prioritized maintaining focus on China and the Asia-Pacific region.
“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 Sean Parnell, Pentagon chief spokesman.
The case has now been transferred to the U.S. Army for further investigation and potential additional disciplinary actions. Military experts suggest McCormack could face more severe consequences beyond the loss of his Pentagon position, potentially including reduction in rank or other administrative penalties. The incident serves as a stark reminder that military officers, particularly those in sensitive advisory roles, are held to stringent standards of professionalism and impartiality, regardless of their personal views on complex international situations.
