President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Tulsi Gabbard, who has supported Greece’s causes and spoke against Turkey’s policies, to serve as director of national intelligence.
The former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii has shifted her political allegiance in recent years, going from a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 to a stalwart Trump supporter and conservative media personality.
If confirmed for the role, Gabbard would oversee all 18 of the nation’s intelligence agencies.
In a statement Wednesday, Trump highlighted Gabbard’s background as a former Democrat, saying, “she has broad support” from both political parties. Her political turn means she’s not likely to gain support from Democrats.
“I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength,” he said.” “Tulsi will make us all proud!”
Tulsi Gabbard on Greece
In 2019 Tulsi Gabbard was honored by the American Hellenic Council of Southern California with the Pericles Award, presented to a political leader who has been a supporter of the issues that concern the Hellenic American community.
Michael Dukakis introduced Gabbard as one of the few people who’s challenging our foreign policy under both parties.
Gabbard “a proud member of the Congressional Hellenic Caucus,” visited Greece and had the opportunity to meet with government leaders, and leaders in the military and visited some of the refugee camps.
“Greece is on the front lines [of migration]. The country is carrying the greatest burden of the cost of wars with the refugees who are fleeing their countries,” she said. “What I saw and I felt was a great generosity and warmth of spirit coming from the people of Greece,” she added.
“What I saw during my short visit there is how in almost unprecedented ways the United States and Greece are working together in our mutual interests of both of our countries and working towards peace and prosperity for our people and the region.”
The newly-appointed CIA chief told the audience at the time stressed the need for Greek American organizations to raise issues to leaders in the US who may not be aware of the relationship between the two countries and the potential that exists.
Turkey “is a NATO ally in name only”
The strengthening of relations between Greece and the US can only occur when we acknowledge some of the challenges that we face in the region, she stressed.
“One of the foremost is the role that Turkey plays in countering the security interests of the region and of the United States to a point where it’s clear, in my view, that they are a NATO ally in name only,” she said.
The acknowledgment of the ecumenical patriarch’s international status, Turkey’s ongoing occupation of Cyprus, the aggressive maneuvers in the Aegean Sea, as well as direct and indirect support coming from Turkey to terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda in Syria, should also be addressed.
” I’ve been outspoken in Washington and in Congress against Erdogan’s threats of attacks, against the Kurdish people in Syria who have been our most effective and trusted allies in the fight against ISIS there.
“Yet Turkey continues to threaten U.S. interests and our allies in the region, including U.S. forces in Syria, the Kurdish YPG, Greece, Israel, and Cyprus,” Gabbard said.
She also noted that she signed on as a co-sponsor to House Resolution 220, which recognizes and condemns the Armenian, Greek, and Assyrian genocide.
On the continued occupation of Cyprus by Turkey, Gabbard stressed: “This military occupation must end. Cyprus must be reunified. We must continue to push for real negotiations to bring that about. Turkey needs to act like a partner for peace in the region.”