Desk Report,
100 former US diplomats and officials express concerns about Trump’s national intelligence director Tulsi
Nearly 100 former U.S. diplomats, intelligence and security officials have called for a closed-door meeting in the Senate over concerns about Donald Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.
The diplomats and officials called for the meeting amid concerns about Tulsi Gabbard’s lack of experience, allegations that she has “sympathy” for dictators such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and other concerns.
100 former US diplomats and officials express concerns about Trump’s national intelligence director Tulsi
The diplomats and officials expressed their concerns in an open letter. They expressed their dissatisfaction with Tulsi, saying that the former presidential candidate and Hawaii House of Representatives member lacks experience in the intelligence sector. She has embraced popular conspiracy theories about Russia launching a full-scale military operation in Ukraine in 2022. She has also associated herself with Russian and Syrian officials after meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus in 2017.
The letter was signed by former Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, former NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller, former National Security Advisor Anthony Lake, and several former ambassadors, intelligence and military officials, and other senior officials from national security agencies.
The letter was addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (Democrat) and incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (Republican).
The diplomats and officials urged the Senate to “make full use of its constitutional advisory and consent powers, including conducting appropriate investigations, hearings, and regular orders.” They also urged the Senate committee to consider “all available information” in a closed-door meeting to review Gabbard’s ability to “protect U.S. intelligence sources and systems.”
Tulsi and his supporters have previously dismissed similar criticism as propaganda, saying his opposition to intervention in Syria and Ukraine is being misrepresented by political enemies. Tulsi has already identified himself as a staunch supporter of Israel and the “war on terror.”
Nearly 100 former U.S. diplomats, intelligence and security officials have called for a closed-door meeting in the Senate over concerns about Donald Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard.
