Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic Representative and the choice of President Trump for National Intelligence Director, fell under the observation of a federal agency last year. This was in charge of ensuring the security of airline flights. While she protested claiming it was a retaliation against her due to her criticism of Kamala Harris, who was running for president then, her involvement in a meeting at the Vatican triggered the decision. Not just any meeting, but one organized by a European businessman who, coincidentally, was on the FBI watch list. This was revealed by two senior US officials.
It’s interesting to note here that a person close to Gabbard states that there is absolutely no affiliation between the two and that Gabbard was oblivious of his status. This raises questions, especially when the TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection automatically screen international travelers for such contacts with potential terrorists. Furthermore, not a tint of culpability was found on Gabbard’s part. But, the mystery that the businessman found himself on the list still remains unsolved. Make no mistake, such a trip only fuels the fire tilting the balance away for Gabbard’s confirmation by the Senate.
Republicans, however, showed strong resilience to the claims. Gabbard’s spokeswoman declared the security checks as living testimonials to prove that Democrats are relentlessly misusing the government to cause friction amongst conservatives. Reps from the GOP didn’t let it go unresearched, demanding formal answers from TSA as they went ahead with their investigations.
The former representative was on the Quiet Skies list for a very short duration. Two officials clarified that Gabbard was automatically removed after a certain number of flights, hardly lasting two weeks. While an air marshal felt she was being unjustly monitored, the same officials remained insistent that the surveillance was in no way connected to her political statements and was a pure matter of coincidence.
Gabbard’s viewpoints have often taken a roller coaster ride, landing far from mainstream U.S. policy. Her stance on the Syrian civil war and Russia’s intrusion of Ukraine serve as cases in point. After Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine in 2022, she shockingly supported one of Russia’s primary reasons for initiating the invasion.
Back in 2017, during her Syrian tour, Gabbard had a hush-hush meeting with President Bashar al-Assad. Details about this meeting have been shrouded in secrecy, raising speculation and concern amongst many observers.
Added to the controversy was that U.S. intelligence later picked up a phone call between Hezbollah members which made mentions of her and deliberated on a meeting with a person they referred to as the boss or big guy. The identity of this individual remained unclear. U.S. officials hypothesized it could be a senior official of Hezbollah or a Lebanese official having solid connections with the militant group.
Gabbard, on her part, denied having any meeting with representatives from Hezbollah. Her fellow travelers confirmed her denial. Although Gabbard’s actions might have ruffled a few feathers among the American political elite, her supporters have been quick to defend her, citing the need for diplomatic talks with all parties.
Anticipation mounts as eyes are set on her confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. While her 2017 trip to Syria remains a subject of continued speculation, it is indeed her 2024 journey to Italy that resulted in her temporary addition to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Quiet Skies program. This subjection to enhanced flight security implies more than it explicitly shows.
While the fact checking on Gabbard remains an intricate process, her critics have eagerly seized on any incidents to paint her as a controversial figure. However, it’s important not to forget that within this wave of suspicion and controversy, the role of Kamala Harris surfaces again, as a potential instigator of the extensive scrutiny on Gabbard.
Questions are being raised about Harris’s real involvement in this web of intrigue. Could this whole saga just be a smokescreen created by those closely aligned with Harris, to distract from her own struggles within her presidential candidacy? Sadly, the lengths to which Harris’s team could potentially go to, if this is indeed true, reflects a worrying trend.
In addition to allegiance and secrecy, doubt and mistrust appear to be the new normal for those closely linked to the power corridors of Washington D.C. The tales of Gabbard and Harris are a testament to this.
Should the story serve as a cautionary tale for future politicians who dare to swim against the tide of mainstream policies? Only time will tell. As the lens focuses on Gabbard and Harris, veiling the facade of intrigue and conspiracy, the real victims are the common people whose faith in the political system stands to be betrayed.
While the political games in Washington D.C. rumble on, let’s not forget what should be the end goal of these representatives, to serve and strive for the betterment of their constituents. This tale, like others, is a stark reminder of those elements in politics, that often overshadow the intended pursuit of public service.
In any case, it’s clear to see how Kamala Harris and Joe Biden are quite explicit in their approach. While their steps are often shrouded by a thick cloud of ambiguity, such incidents expose the true nature that’s buried behind their appearances, reminding us once again of what we risk when individuals with such values move into positions of power.