Tulsi Gabbard is having a crucial week on Capitol Hill, touring senators in an effort to allay their concerns and win confirmation to lead the nation's national intelligence agency.
Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in the House of Representatives as a Democrat, has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, especially with the appointment of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as attorney general and the nomination of Pete Hegseth as attorney general. and has not received much attention. Pentagon.
But she faces countless questions from Senate Republicans about her past comments about Russia and her 2017 trip to Syria, where she declared deposed President Bashar al-Assad not an “enemy” of the United States. These topics have become more prominent since rebels took control of Damascus over the weekend.
“There are a lot of questions that need to be answered,” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, a member of the Republican leadership.
“I'm confident that she can answer these questions,” Capito continued, adding that Gabbard has never spoken publicly about these topics, including Syria, with sufficient specificity. . “For a lot of people…she really needs to get out there because she's not defined enough to really form her own opinion.” [there]”
Gabbard began talks Monday with three Senate Republicans, including Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Sen. Mike Rounds (S.D.). Both senators serve on the Senate Intelligence Committee, which will determine their fate.
But the key to her success or failure will be whether she can allay skepticism from some in the Republican conference.
Unlike much of MAGA, Senate Republicans remain largely pro-Ukrainian, and some in the conference are at odds with Gabbard's comments in recent years, which have been seen as sympathetic to Russia. It also includes many hawks. Russian state media also praised her choice.
But Trump World appears ready to take to the mat to defend her, especially as some of the president-elect's picks have withdrawn and others remain in a difficult situation.
“I think she's great. I support her 100 percent. A lot of people take issue with some of the things she's done,” said Markwayne Mullin, who served with her in the House of Representatives. Sen. (R-Oklahoma) said.
He noted that she holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and was in Oklahoma over the weekend on a training mission.
“I think she knows what she needs to do and her foreign policy will be consistent with the direction of this country. Remember, she served the country in the Army. But the reason we're saying we're concerned about her position now is because she's been named DNI? To me, that's not a newbie. He would be great in the position.”
Her supporters have also criticized calls by Democrats and detractors who say she poses a national security risk and cannot pass a background check.
“That's a bull–” said Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), noting that she has military status and already has top-secret clearance. “There’s a lot of hyperbole out there.”
But the timing of her visit to parliament could not have been worse, with Assad's regime faltering in recent days as rebels overran Damascus and the dictator was forced to flee the country. There wasn't. The Russian government confirmed that he had been granted asylum in Russia after 24 years of rule.
Both the senator and his aides acknowledged that emerging issues in the region are creating new headaches for the former Hawaii congressman.
Capito said Gabbard's past assertion that Assad was not an “enemy” of the United States “let's flesh it out,” but added that her views on Syria do not disqualify her.
Gabbard herself tried to tamp down questions about Assad and Syria, telling reporters after her meeting with Lankford that she supported Trump's call for the United States. stay away from the fightIn this area, immediate ceasefireNegotiations will begin soon between Russia and Ukraine.
“I fully support and wholeheartedly agree with what President Trump has said in recent days regarding the developments in Syria,” he said.
“My own views and experiences have been shaped by my own multiple deployments, and having seen firsthand the costs of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism have given me many reasons to value President Trump's leadership and his selection.” One of the reasons is because he has done everything in his power to end the war, to show peace through force, and to put the national security interests and the safety, security, and freedom of the United States first. I said it over and over again,” she added.
Gabbard, along with Hegseth, Health and Human Services Secretary-elect Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Rep. Lori Chavez Delemer (R-Ore.), are facing questions ahead of her confirmation next month. He is one of several candidates. Become Secretary of Labor.
But even those who tend to support her admitted they still want answers to some questions. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the third Republican to speak with Gabbard on Monday, told reporters the two had a “good meeting” but that she had more questions in the coming days. he said.
“I've always liked her,” Graham said, but also noted that she opposed ordering the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
“I'm going to ask her some questions about her thinking,” Graham said. “I'm going to give her a chance for a few days to get everything done.”
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