Yikes! Tulsi Gabbard to head US intelligence operations

SCREEN CAPTURE / CSPAN

Despite security concerns, Tulsi Gabbard was confirmed as Director of US Intelligence.

OPINION

Most of Donald Trump's controversial nominees to head several federal agencies and departments are terrible, but Tulsi Gabbard named as director of US intelligence stands out as seriously worrisome.

Gabbard, a Samoan American and former Democratic Congressmember representing Hawaii, was confirmed by the US Senate today (Feb. 12) with a vote 52 to 48. The Democrats were powerless to overcome the GOP majority and the Republicans, except for one, blindly voted to confirm her.

Only Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., dared to oppose Trump's nominee. After the vote, ne said that Gabbard "failed to demonstrate that she is prepared to assume this national trust."

"The nation should not have to worry that the intelligence assessments the President receives are tainted by a Director of National Intelligence with a history of alarming lapses in judgment," he added. McConnell was the sole Republican vote against her confirmation.

“During President Trump’s first term, he made clear his fondness for certain leaders of the world that are controversial such as Viktor Orban of Hungary, Vladimir Putin of Russia, and Kim Jong Un of North Korea. So, he ends up picking a person to run America’s intelligence network who shares similarly terrible judgment on critical security matters," said Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill, in a passionate speech prior to  the Senate vote.

Gabbard 43, is a US Army Reservist who ran for the 2020 Democratic nominee for President. She will be responsible for leading 18 intelligence agencies, including the CIA and military intelligence, and managing billions of dollars in budget.

After her poor showing in her 2020 Presidential campaign, Gabbard continued to move rightward in her views finally becoming a Republican and a Trump endorsee.

As director of national intelligence, Gabbard will have access to top secret information, including US covert activities in foreign countries such as Russia and China, the US's primary global rivals. The department was created after the intelligence failures surrounding the 9/11 terrorist attacks exposed gaping holes in US intelligence gathering operations.

During her confirmation hearings, senators questioned her about her past statements expressing sympathy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, often repeating, word-for-word Russian talking points during her campaign and in her public statements, including the claim that Russia had "legitimate security concerns" justifying Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Gabbard faced pointed questioning about her past defense of Snowden, a former security contractor who leaked classified documents revealing the scope of US surveillance programs.

Facing criminal charges for violating the Espionage Act, Snowden fled the US in 2013 and was granted asylum in Russia.

Some senators were noticeably frustrated at Gabbard’s refusal to call Snowden a traitor.

“Edward Snowden broke the law,” she said. “The fact is he also – even as he broke the law – released information that exposed egregious, illegal and unconstitutional programs.”

Gabbard, who generally expresses isolationist views, also traveled to Syria to meet with ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, a visit that drew criticism from the GOP and Democrats because of his widespread human rights abuses during his regime.

Despite major misgivings, the Republicans approved Trump's choice.

"Tulsi Gabbard is infamous for defending despots and other autocratic leaders in the world—including Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad—and traitors to the United States such as Edward Snowden. And her fondness for these oppressive, anti-democratic regimes does not go unreciprocated—they know her (and) they like her,” Durbin continued.

Gabbard also travelled to Syria in 2017 to meet with now-ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, a move that drew bipartisan condemnation given the accusations of widespread human rights abuses under his leadership.

During her confirmation hearings, Gabbard faced pointed questioning about her past defense of Snowden, a former security contractor who leaked classified documents revealing the scope of US surveillance overseas.

Facing criminal charges for violating the Espionage Act, Snowden fled the US in 2013 and was granted asylum in Russia.

Some senators, including a few Republicans, were particularly frustrated at Gabbard’s refusal to call Snowden a traitor.

“Edward Snowden broke the law,” she said. “The fact is he also – even as he broke the law – released information that exposed egregious, illegal and unconstitutional programs.”

Gabbard is infamous for defending despots and other autocratic leaders in the world—including Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad—and traitors to the United States such as Edward Snowden. And her fondness for these oppressive, anti-democratic regimes does not go unreciprocated—they know her [and] they like her,” Durbin continued.

Durbin highlighted examples on the floor of the anti-democratic regimes who are cheering for Gabbard’s confirmation—including hosts of Russian media who believe her nomination will “dismantle America,” and some on Russian state channels have even referred to her as their “girlfriend,” said Durbin. 

"Russian state TV also called her a Russian 'comrade' in President Trump’s emerging cabinet. A pro-Putin propagandist Vladimir Soloviev once called Gabbard “our friend.” Later, when asked if she was “some sort of Russian agent?” Soloviev replied: 'yes.' In a profile in a Russian state newspaper, it said of Gabbard’s nomination: 'The C.I.A. and the F.B.I. are trembling,' noting that Ukrainians consider her 'an agent of the Russian state.'"

Apparently, Durbin's legitimate security concerns were not enough to sway the Trump loyalists, formerly known as the Republican Party.

With Gabbard taking over the intelligence agencies, overseas assets, particularly in Russia, will be fearing for their lives if Gabbard releases their identities.

Putin must be raising a toast of vodka with the confirmation of Gabbard.

Durbin concluded his statement: "Tulsi Gabbard would not be qualified for an entry-level position within our intelligence community. And she is not qualified to lead it. Period. Some of the President’s cabinet nominees are hard to imagine because they are so unqualified. But for the position of DNI—putting someone unqualified in charge is not funny at all. It is life or death dangerous.”

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