The atrocities committed by the Assad regime in Syria continue to surface, revealing a depth of barbarity that chills the world. Fresh evidence emerges daily, painting a grim picture of systematic torture, mass graves reminiscent of Nazi Germany, and a calculated campaign of terror against its own citizens. Independent observers and international bodies like the UN are working diligently to document these crimes against humanity, striving to ensure accountability and justice for the countless victims of Assad’s brutal reign. This ongoing effort to collect evidence and testimonies is crucial, not only for historical record but also to prevent such horrific acts from being repeated in the future. The scale of the suffering and the systematic nature of the abuses demand a concerted international response to hold perpetrators accountable.
Simultaneously, a deeply concerning development is unfolding in the United States. Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii and now a Trump loyalist, has been nominated for the position of Director of National Intelligence. This nomination raises serious questions given Gabbard’s past actions and alliances. In 2017, Gabbard embarked on a clandestine trip to Syria, funded by pro-Assad American groups, to meet privately with Bashar al-Assad. Following this meeting, Gabbard publicly downplayed the regime’s atrocities and characterized the opposition forces, who were fighting against Assad’s tyranny, as extremist Islamists. She further called for an end to foreign aid to these groups, whom she accused of attempting to destroy Syria’s ”secular, pluralistic, free society”—a description that starkly contrasts with the documented reality of Assad’s oppressive rule. Gabbard’s willingness to embrace and promote a narrative that aligns with Assad’s propaganda raises serious concerns about her judgment and objectivity.
Gabbard’s support for Assad is not an isolated incident. Her affinity for the Syrian dictator has been evident in her past statements and actions. In 2015, during a visit to the Syrian-Turkish border, Gabbard questioned Syrian refugees about whether they were certain that the bombings they endured were carried out by the Assad regime and Russia, rather than ISIS, seemingly disregarding the fact that ISIS lacked an air force. She also echoed Assad’s claims that reports of torture and mass executions were ”fake news” and dismissed well-documented evidence of Assad’s use of chemical weapons against his own people. This consistent pattern of aligning with Assad’s narrative, even when contradicted by overwhelming evidence, suggests a deep-seated bias and raises concerns about her capacity to objectively assess intelligence.
The common thread connecting Gabbard’s various positions is a troubling alignment with Kremlin propaganda. Whether on Syria or Ukraine, Gabbard has consistently echoed the narratives promoted by the Russian government, often dismissing or downplaying evidence that contradicts those narratives. This pattern raises serious questions about her susceptibility to disinformation and her ability to discern credible intelligence from propaganda. Her embrace of Kremlin-backed narratives, coupled with her apparent disregard for well-documented evidence of Assad’s atrocities, casts a long shadow over her nomination.
As Gabbard faces congressional confirmation hearings in January, the Democratic Party has a responsibility to thoroughly scrutinize her record and question her concerning alliances. It is imperative that these hearings address Gabbard’s past support for Assad and her disturbing tendency to parrot Kremlin propaganda. One potential avenue for exploring these issues would be to invite victims of Assad’s regime, individuals who have experienced the horrors of his prisons and witnessed firsthand the brutality of his rule, to testify before the committee. Their testimonies could provide a powerful counterpoint to Gabbard’s sanitized portrayal of Syria and expose the true nature of the regime she has defended.
The nomination of Tulsi Gabbard for such a sensitive position presents a crucial moment for the United States. The Director of National Intelligence plays a vital role in shaping the country’s understanding of global threats and informing its foreign policy decisions. Given Gabbard’s history of aligning with Assad’s regime and echoing Kremlin propaganda, her nomination should be viewed with the utmost seriousness and subjected to rigorous scrutiny. The Senate’s responsibility in the confirmation process is to ensure that the individual appointed to this critical role possesses the integrity, objectivity, and sound judgment necessary to serve the interests of the American people and defend the nation’s security. Ignoring or downplaying Gabbard’s troubling track record would be a grave disservice to the victims of Assad’s tyranny and a dangerous precedent for future appointments to positions of national security.
