Tulsi Gabbard, a former Hawaii representative, was named Donald Trump‘s choice for director of national intelligence, joining a list of contentious nominees for his case that were made public this year.
Being polite with Russia
Gabbard has criticized the Ukrainian conflict and promoted landscapes that are viewed favorably toward Russia.
If President Joe Biden had “acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security issues regarding Ukraine’s membership in NATO,” Gabbard claimed that the military activity by Russia could have been avoided immediately after the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
If Biden Admin/NATO had merely acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns regarding Ukraine joining NATO, which would have resulted in US/NATO forces being stationed straight on Russia’s border, Gabbard said in an X article at the time.
Weeks later, Gabbard said in a blog that Russia, Ukraine, and the United States may “embrace the heart of aloha” by ending the conflict and making an agreement to keep Ukraine “neutral”.
” Dear Presidents Putin, Zelensky, and Biden. By reaching an agreement that Ukraine will remain a natural nation, it is time to put geopolitics away and embrace the spirit of aloha, love, and respect for the Ukrainian people. electronic. no military ally with NATO or Russia—thus…” Gabbard said.
Gabbard’s helpful responses have been played well with Belarusian state media, which previously referred to her as “our girlfriend”, according to the Times. She has also been accused of spreading Russian lies about the conflict, including concerns that Ukrainian bio labs that have been funded by the United States might be able to spread dangerous pathogens, according to Ukrainian officials.
” There are 25+ US-funded biolabs in Ukraine which if breached would relieve &, spread dangerous pathogens to US/world. We must consider action today to avoid disaster. US/Russia/Ukraine/NATO/UN/EU must adopt a ceasefire then around these laboratory until they’re secured &, bacteria destroyed”, Gabbard said in an X article.
Eventually, the former congressman disputed claims that she was encouraging Russian misinformation that claimed such things were being promoted by clarifying that she was not saying bioweapons were being developed in laboratories.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton referred to Gabbard as” the favourite of the Russians” in the Democratic presidential main in 2019.
After her remarks about the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) said she was “parroting fake Russian misinformation” and claimed that “her disloyal lies may also charge lives”.
Meeting with Syria’s Assad
Gabbard’s 2017 journey to Syria to meet with the country’s leader, Bashar as Assad, will also probably emerge as she faces a Senate assurance.
In a website blog at the time, she said the journey was a “fact-finding vision” to” see and hear directly from the Arab people”.
Gabbard claimed in an appointment from January 2019 that she had no regrets about conference with Assad. She met with him thrice, for over two days in full. Although it’s common for American officials to join with allies, Assad’s regime has been a state sponsor of terrorism since 1979.
In a February 2019 interview, Gabbard declared,” Assad is not the army of the United States because Syria does not create a clear danger to the United States”, but declined to say he was a nice person.
Trump’s decision to launch attacks on Syria in April 2017 has drawn criticism in the past for his actions. Gabbard said, at the time, the cuts were “reckless and short-sighted”.
Knowledge of Identity Foundation
Gabbard’s ties to the Knowledge of Identity Foundation, a controversial Hindu group, may also be discussed in a contentious Senate hearing.
The leader behind the Knowledge of Identity Foundation, Chris Butler, has been largely reclusive in recent years, according to a 2022 report from the Independent. A former member of the group told the outlet the group is homophobic, anti-Islamic, and followers are required to worship Butler.
Although Gabbard was raised with the group, some have called it a” cult,” the former congresswoman has largely kept her distance from Butler. In a 2017 account for the New Yorker, Gabbard said she “had several different religious instructors, and continues to”, and he was not more important than other religious teachers. According to the report, she had formerly referred to him as her “guru dev.”
The former congresswoman was raised alongside followers of Butler and attended informal schools run by others in the Knowledge of Identity Foundation, according to the report from the New Yorker.
Lack of experience
Gabbard’s lack of experience with the intellect sector could be another obstacle.
Gabbard served on the international politics and military service boards, among others, while serving in the House from 2013 until 2021. She demanded that the United States drop the charges against Julian Assange and Edward Snowden while serving in Congress.
Gabbard served in the Hawaii National Guard and was a condition senator before joining the US Congress. During her company, she was sent to Iraq.
Outgoing Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA ) expressed her concern over Gabbard’s nomination to be director of National Intelligence, calling it appalling.
In a series of X content, Spanberger wrote,” I saw the men and women of the U.S. intelligence community who put their lives on the line every day for this state,” and I am shocked at the choice of Tulsi Gabbard as head of DNI. ” Not only is she ill-prepared and incompetent, but she engages in crime ideas and covers up to rulers like Bashar-al Assad and Vladimir Putin”.
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” As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I’m very worried about what this election means for our national security. Spanberger urged my Democratic backbenchers to communicate out, adding that.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL ) and veteran Fox News host Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense are among Trump’s upcoming list of surprising Cabinet picks. Trump’s takes will have to be confirmed by the Senate, which is set to have a 53-47 Republican lot in the next Congress.
