Gabbard overcame initial skepticism from some Republican senators about her nomination, underscoring Trump's grip on the party.

Summary

The Senate confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence in a 52-48 vote, with only Sen. Mitch McConnell breaking GOP ranks to oppose her.

Critics, including Democrats and some Republicans, raised concerns over her past meeting with Syria’s Assad, sympathetic comments on Russia, and prior support for Edward Snowden.

Gabbard reversed her stance on key intelligence policies during her confirmation.

  • ZaktorEnglish
    1·
    4 hours ago

    Her whole deal during the Obama administration was criticizing him on Fox News for not calling terrorism “Islamic” enough and not doing enough drone strikes.

    Bad enough US has not been bombing al-Qaeda/al-Nusra in Syria. But it’s mind-boggling that we protest Russia’s bombing of these terrorists. (tweet)

    Al-Qaeda attacked us on 9/11 and must be defeated. Obama won’t bomb them in Syria. Putin did. #neverforget911 (tweet)

    “In short, when it comes to the war against terrorists, I’m a hawk,” Gabbard told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald in 2016. “When it comes to counterproductive wars of regime change, I’m a dove.” (source, HTH original no longer online)

    • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
      1·
      2 hours ago

      Good point. She seems to want the US to kill more nongovernmental targets.

      So, no more regime changes per se, but a lot more propping up unpopular regimes. I could see this resulting in a much expanded droning campaign in Syria to keep the new government in power.

      I’ll temper my excitement, she’s worse than I thought even if she’s better than many of the ghouls that Republicans usually choose.