Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is under fire for her comments about the U.S. military strike on Syria. That’s to be expected. But Gabbard should stand strong, because she is right. This country needs more leaders like her, who say what many
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is under fire for her comments about the U.S. military strike on Syria.
That’s to be expected. But Gabbard should stand strong, because she is right.
This country needs more leaders like her, who say what many of us are thinking but don’t have the courage to say out loud for fear of what others will think. This country needs leaders like Gabbard who does not always do what is considered politically correct. She speaks her mind and takes stands for what she believes is right, even when it may cost her support. We need people who look at what’s happening and question authority because so many don’t or won’t. That’s why so many in Hawaii voted for her and she has such strong support here.
Here’s what Hawaii’s representative said that caused an uproar:
“It angers and saddens me that President Trump has taken the advice of war hawks and escalated our illegal regime change war to overthrow the Syrian government. This escalation is short-sighted and will lead to more dead civilians, more refugees, the strengthening of al-Qaeda and other terrorists, and a direct confrontation between the United States and Russia — which could lead to nuclear war.
“This Administration has acted recklessly without care or consideration of the dire consequences of the United States attack on Syria without waiting for the collection of evidence from the scene of the chemical poisoning. If President Assad is indeed guilty of this horrible chemical attack on innocent civilians, I will be the first to call for his prosecution and execution by the International Criminal Court. However, because of our attack on Syria, this investigation may now not even be possible. And without such evidence, a successful prosecution will be much harder.”
That doesn’t sound crazy. Some, however, see it as support of Assad, someone accused of war crimes. Gabbard earlier this year went on a secret trip to Syria and met with Assad, much to the displeasure of others in Congress. Why did she do this? Because she believed there was a chance it could lead to the end of war there. Imagine, someone taking action that they believed could result in peace. Again, that doesn’t sound crazy.
But for Gabbard’s latest comments, former presidential candidate and Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean tweeted “This is a disgrace. Gabbard should not be in Congress.”
We disagree.
We need more people like Gabbard in Congress.
Her record, her military career, her success, speaks for itself. The 36-year-old Iraq War veteran was first elected to the state Legislature at age 21 and, a decade later, won a seat in the U.S. House, becoming the first Hindu elected to Congress. She is smart, tough and yet, compassionate. She is often referred to as a warrior.
What she is not is someone who falls in line with the politically correct when she sees a wrong. Asking questions about the use of military force, which Gabbard did, is absolutely something our elected leaders should be doing.
We are not saying the Trump administration was wrong when it bombed Syria. There are times military action is needed and the time for diplomacy has passed. We are saying Gabbard is right to question whether it was necessary.
