Why do so many of these self-professed libertarians spout Kremlin talking points? I don’t see how you make the jump from von Hayek and Friedman to anti-American conspiracy theories and shilling for authoritarians.
They seem to forget, or completely ignore, the fact lots of other countries couldn't care less about not being the aggressor. I get it. But wishing the world was more libertarian isn't going to make it true. I believe we can't afford to act like it is.
The term each DNI has served under different presidents since 2004 is interesting. So are the terms of DCIs prior to 2004. Trump has already gone through 2 this go-around. As much as I oppose Gabbard's appointment, it likely won't be a long term if appointed. Gabbard will likely end up on Fox News as a contributor, along with Hegseth and Noem by 2026. Her military career decisions contradict her political career after running for president in '20. Arguably, being nominated for DNI is a pretty good career trajectory from where she was in spring of 2020. Good report.
Her military service aside, what concerns me is her political start, history.
Tulsi Gabbard has a long history of affiliations with Marxists and Marxist organizations and owes her political start, as a Democrat, to former Hawaiian First Lady Nancie Caraway, a member of this country’s largest Marxist organization, Democratic Socialists of America.
These people do not “magically” change their ideology. They deceive others into believing they have changed. Now she’s a “conservative” Republican?
With her past sympathies toward Russia, Assad, a Snowden pardon, will she help them, as one of their own, in feeding information back to Moscow?
As a retired Army Officer myself, I too watched Ms Gabbard's hearings due to my opinion that she did not have the background nor the experience & any training to hold this position. Maybe had she performed several other duties in intelligence to work her way there, then there is a good maybe to her qualifications. Much had been said from the first Trump administration about his disdain for the briefings, for whatever reason. He may have chose her for this job due to his need to have pure loyalists in each job. Say what you will about Obama; he had folks in these jobs who were not afraid to tell him he was wrong. He was more interested in qualifications and abilities than any other attribute. McBeth did a pretty fair job of maintaining the middle road here and going into the details.
I'd much rather see someone more qualified on the intelligence gathering and analysis front while also being able to assure me that the intel community is taking the needed steps to ensure US citizens' privacy. There's no getting around some collection of this information. If you're gathering all internet traffic in and out of Syria you'll inevitably get some from a US citizen talking to grandma about finals last week. Having confidence that data is deleted would go a long way in restoring faith.
Thank you for this thoughtful essay. As usual, there is a lot to unpack here. My only question is why you referred to her as “Colonel”. You don’t call yourself “Sergeant”.
Do you have secret intel that she is about to open a chain of chicken restaurants?
There are better choices out there.
Why do so many of these self-professed libertarians spout Kremlin talking points? I don’t see how you make the jump from von Hayek and Friedman to anti-American conspiracy theories and shilling for authoritarians.
They seem to forget, or completely ignore, the fact lots of other countries couldn't care less about not being the aggressor. I get it. But wishing the world was more libertarian isn't going to make it true. I believe we can't afford to act like it is.
The term each DNI has served under different presidents since 2004 is interesting. So are the terms of DCIs prior to 2004. Trump has already gone through 2 this go-around. As much as I oppose Gabbard's appointment, it likely won't be a long term if appointed. Gabbard will likely end up on Fox News as a contributor, along with Hegseth and Noem by 2026. Her military career decisions contradict her political career after running for president in '20. Arguably, being nominated for DNI is a pretty good career trajectory from where she was in spring of 2020. Good report.
Her military service aside, what concerns me is her political start, history.
Tulsi Gabbard has a long history of affiliations with Marxists and Marxist organizations and owes her political start, as a Democrat, to former Hawaiian First Lady Nancie Caraway, a member of this country’s largest Marxist organization, Democratic Socialists of America.
These people do not “magically” change their ideology. They deceive others into believing they have changed. Now she’s a “conservative” Republican?
With her past sympathies toward Russia, Assad, a Snowden pardon, will she help them, as one of their own, in feeding information back to Moscow?
As a retired Army Officer myself, I too watched Ms Gabbard's hearings due to my opinion that she did not have the background nor the experience & any training to hold this position. Maybe had she performed several other duties in intelligence to work her way there, then there is a good maybe to her qualifications. Much had been said from the first Trump administration about his disdain for the briefings, for whatever reason. He may have chose her for this job due to his need to have pure loyalists in each job. Say what you will about Obama; he had folks in these jobs who were not afraid to tell him he was wrong. He was more interested in qualifications and abilities than any other attribute. McBeth did a pretty fair job of maintaining the middle road here and going into the details.
If the Colonel is absolutely loyal to Trump and follows orders that’s all that matters.
I'd much rather see someone more qualified on the intelligence gathering and analysis front while also being able to assure me that the intel community is taking the needed steps to ensure US citizens' privacy. There's no getting around some collection of this information. If you're gathering all internet traffic in and out of Syria you'll inevitably get some from a US citizen talking to grandma about finals last week. Having confidence that data is deleted would go a long way in restoring faith.
Only 3 ODNI have had the job more than 2 years.
Your reasoned analysis is refreshing and direct to the point. Keep fighting the good fight.
Thank you for this thoughtful essay. As usual, there is a lot to unpack here. My only question is why you referred to her as “Colonel”. You don’t call yourself “Sergeant”.
Do you have secret intel that she is about to open a chain of chicken restaurants?
Nicely done. You are a good man, Mr. McBeth! Fellow inhabitant of the DMV, always hope I'll run into you some day!
She was picked by Trump, which means she is unfit for office (as are every person who would accept working for Trump).
This was well-done. Thank you.
Happy to subscribe, Ryan