‘Uniquely Qualified’: Soldiers Who Served With Tulsi Gabbard Tell Senate Why They Back Her For DNI

Men and women who served with Tulsi Gabbard in the United States Military are backing her nomination for Director of National Intelligence.

Letters obtained by The Daily Wire sent to the United States Senate show around 20 men and women who served with Gabbard praising her “unwavering commitment to safeguarding our military’s most precious resource, the young men and women of the Armed Forces.” The Senate Intelligence Committee will likely vote on Gabbard’s confirmation on Tuesday, POLITICO reported Monday.

“What stands out most about Lieutenant Colonel Gabbard is her commitment and genuine care for her Soldiers and their families,” wrote Christopher B. Creaghe, a colonel in the U.S. Army who was Gabbard’s Brigade Commander in the United States Army Reserve. “It was always apparent that nothing was more important to her than the Soldiers in her charge. In times of need, she was always there for her unit and their families.”

“At the end of her tenure as battalion commander, several of her subordinate officers and Soldiers wrote heartfelt messages to me requesting her time as their commander be extended,” he added. “I have never seen that kind of support for a commander in my 24 years of service.”

A slew of other letters echo the same sentiment toward Gabbard.

“Tulsi Gabbard is uniquely qualified for this position, because of her service to her state and nation, extensive combat deployments, and being elected to positions at the state house and federal congressional levels,” wrote Joe Logan, a retired major general in the U.S. Army. “Her ability to gather information, understand intelligence assessments, and synthesize this data into new and innovative solution sets for the U.S. and our allies and partners is audacious and will serve our nation well.”

Brigadier General Walter R. Ross writes that Gabbard “embodies the qualities essential for this pivotal role,” describing how she has a “rare talent for inspiring and energizing those around her, instilling a sense of confidence and fostering an environment where every team member feels both valued and empowered to excel.”

“Given the multitude of pressing threats our nation currently faces — from geopolitical tensions and cyber threats to domestic instability — it is imperative that the U.S. Senate expeditiously confirms LTC Tulsi Gabbard as the DNI,” he wrote. “Her exceptional qualifications, coupled with a proven track record of leadership and unwavering commitment to safeguarding our national interests, render her the unequivocal choice for this critical position.”

Iraq War Veteran Bear Handlon, a Navy SEAL and founder of “Born Primitive,” wrote that Gabbard has “seen firsthand the costs of war.”

“I proudly support Tulsi’s nomination, and I humbly ask that partisan politics do not play a factor in the decision to confirm her nomination,” he wrote. “Protecting America is not a Republican or Democratic issue, and I know Tulsi will be fully committed to protecting ALL Americans during this pivotal moment in American history.”

Hawaii Army National Guard Colonel Phoebe Inigo draws on Gabbard’s service in the military and her two tours to the Middle East, describing Gabbard’s “unwavering dedication to our nation and its security.”

“Her leadership skills, honed through various challenging assignments, have equipped her with a deep understanding of intelligence operations and the complexities of national security,” wrote Inigo. “LTC Gabbard possesses a strategic mindset and the ability to analyze multifaceted situations, making swift decisions that prioritize the safety and welfare of our country.”

Writing for Newsweek, Gabbard made the case for why she is the right choice for DNI.

“Ensuring the safety, security and freedom of the American people is a mandate of leadership that rises above partisan politics,” she wrote. “If confirmed, my commitment to the President, to Congress, and to the American people is this: I will do my very best to find the truth, no matter where it leads, and share the truth with President Trump, his advisors, and to Congress. I promise to provide unbiased, timely, and accurate intelligence for those making decisions to protect the people of our country.”

She also explicitly addressed concerns about her posture towards Edward Snowden, which gave some senators pause during her confirmation hearing. She said that her four-point plan to prevent future Snowden-like leaks includes “proper oversight to make sure there are no illegal or unconstitutional intelligence collection programs,” “minimizing access to highly sensitive intelligence through security clearance and classification reform, which has bipartisan support,” “informing every person in the workforce about all legal options for whistleblowers, including the Inspector General, Ombudsman, and the Senate Intelligence Committee,” and “establishing a direct hotline directly to me for whistleblowers.”

“I am honored by the trust President Trump has put in me in nominating me to lead our intelligence community,” concluded Gabbard. “I am the right person for the job.”