Sen. Jon Ossoff from Georgia asked a few crucial questions of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard about matters of security and the alleged “imminent threat” posed by Iran. Gabbard’s responses raise concerns about her overall competence for her role.
“I want to call attention again to this fundraising email signed by the president that Sen. Kelly mentioned earlier,” Ossoff said in a hearing with Gabbard. He raised the paper containing an invitation for Trump’s political campaign donors. The participants will be allowed to “receive private national security briefings” in the event.
Ossoff highlighted that there was a photo of Trump at a dignified transfer ceremony next to a coffin of an American soldier who died in action. He mentioned this incident to remind Gabbard of her responsibilities as the director of National Intelligence. It goes without saying, national data should not be sold to the highest bidder.
Gabbard dances around semantics
Ossoff proceeded to confirm a few matters concerning Iran with Gabbard.
“In that opening statement, as submitted to the committee in advance of this hearing, it stated that as a result of last summer’s airstrikes, ‘Iran’s nuclear enrichment program was obliterated. ‘ Correct?” Ossoff asked. To this, Gabbard agreed. She also agreed that the Intelligence Community (IC) shared the same opinion.
“And the opening statement you submitted to the committee last night also stated, ‘There has been no effort since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability.’ Correct?” Again, Gabbard agreed to Ossoff’s line of questioning.
But Ossoff points out that the White House released a statement that said otherwise. It said that there is a need for a “military campaign to eliminate the imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime.”
Ossoff continued his questioning. “Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that there was an imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime?”
Gabbard responded, “The intelligence community assessed that Iran maintained the intention to rebuild and to continue to grow their nuclear enrichment capabilities.”
So, which is it?
Ossoff reminds Gabbard of her job
Ossoff insisted on a response from Gabbard. He asked, “Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that there was an ‘imminent nuclear threat’ posed by the Iranian regime? Yes or no?”
Gabbard attempted to relinquish herself from responsibility. She answered, “Senator, the only person who can determine what is and is not an imminent threat is the president.”
Ossoff corrected her, “False. This is the worldwide threats hearing where you present to Congress national intelligence, timely, objective, and independent of political considerations.”
Gabbard relinquishes her responsibility on the matter, believing that only Trump is fit to respond to the question. But Ossoff reminds her of the very purpose of her position as director of National Intelligence.
“It is precisely your responsibility to determine what constitutes a threat to the United States,” Ossoff said. He also quoted from her statement, wherein Gabbard claims to ‘represent the IC’s assessment of threats.’ Based on the description of Gabbard’s office, it is her job to analyze and assess threats to the United States. Therefore, it makes her inability to answer the question—her attempt to shift responsibility to Trump—all the more appalling.
Gabbard, in the end, still refused to respond directly to Ossoff’s question.
It’s a convenient dodge, but it does not relieve Gabbard from her responsibility as the director of National Intelligence. There are 18 ICs, all of which are responsible for assessing foreign and domestic threats to the United States. Gabbard oversees government agencies that process sensitive data and yet leaves Trump to determine for himself if a threat exists? That nullifies the point of her role.
She and the IC denied the existence of an imminent threat. And yet despite all that analysis, they complicitly agreed with Trump. If this is the case, Gabbard may as well believe that the sky is red just because Trump told her it is.
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