Congressman-Elect Hamadeh Supports Tulsi Gabbard’s Nomination For Director Of National Intelligence
By Staff Reporter |
Congressman-elect Abraham Hamadeh supports Hawaii’s former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence.
Gabbard — a Democrat-turned-Republican — received Hamadeh’s support through a letter signed by himself and over 250 “conservative” veterans. The veterans said that Gabbard’s decision to give up politics and enlist in the military following 9/11 made her fit to serve in Trump’s cabinet.
“Because of the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, Tulsi answered the call of duty, enlisted in the Army, and stepped away from her position as a Hawaii State Representative when she volunteered to deploy to Iraq with her unit,” read the letter. “Instead of using her political status to avoid deployment, Tulsi volunteered to serve in a medical unit in Iraq, directly facing the harsh realities, costs, and traumas of war.”
The veterans also cited Gabbard’s legislative advocacy for improved treatment of veterans, namely her work to address toxic exposures and improve cancer care, describing her as “a rare blend of selflessness, courage, and leadership — qualities desperately needed to reform and strengthen our intelligence community.”
70 percent of the veterans signed onto the Gabbard letter were special operations or intelligence, and over 50 percent were retired, per Fox News.
Gabbard enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2003 while serving in the Hawaii State Legislature. The next year, Gabbard deployed for a year in Iraq as a specialist with the guard’s medical company at Logistical Support Area Anaconda. Gabbard completed her tour in 2005. That year, Gabbard received a Combat Medical Badge for participating in combat operations under enemy hostile fire in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.
In 2007, Gabbard graduated from the Alabama Military Academy at the top of her class and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Gabard went on to serve as an Army Military Police officer, and then was stationed in Kuwait from 2008 to 2009. In subsequent years, Gabbard would be promoted from the rank of captain to major to lieutenant colonel, during which time she was transferred to the California-based United States Army Reserve unit.
Another Arizona Republican, Congressman Eli Crane, signed onto the letter as well. Crane was a member of the Navy SEALs; three of his five deployments were with the SEALs. Crane joined the Navy one week after the 9/11 attacks, and served from 2001 to 2014.
Hamadeh has served in the U.S. Army Reserve as an intelligence officer since 2016, rising to the rank of captain. In 2020, Hamadeh was deployed to Saudi Arabia following the 2019 terrorist attack on Naval Air Station Pensacola.
President-elect Donald Trump announced Gabbard as his nominee last month. Gabbard was a congresswoman for eight years, representing Hawaii as a Democrat before becoming an independent in 2022. It wasn’t until one of Trump’s rallies in October that Gabbard announced she had fully switched over and became a Republican, several months after endorsing Trump.
On Monday, Capitol Hill reporters lobbed questions about Syria at Gabbard while she attended private meetings with senators on the confirmation of herself and Trump’s other nominees.
Gabbard told reporters that she supports Trump’s Sunday remarks about Syria.
“I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” said Gabbard.
On Sunday, Trump issued several posts on Truth Social declaring that Russia’s involvement in Ukraine had left Syria vulnerable to opposition fighters, where they once enjoyed the protection of the federation. Trump further clarified that the U.S. should not get involved in this conflict abroad.
“Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success. Likewise, Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians,” said Trump. “There was never much of a benefit in Syria for Russia, other than to make Obama look really stupid. In any event, Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, [and] THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!”
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