U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard discussed U.S. missteps in Iraq and the failure of the Department of Veterans Affairs to clear its backlog of obligations during an appearance on CNN’s "State of the Union" on Sunday.
Gabbard and U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., also a veteran, joined host Candy Crowley on the show for a reflection on the 10th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Gabbard, who served with the Hawaii National Guard in Iraq, said the initial deployment of close to 3,000 Hawaii troops served as a wake-up call for her.
"I was not on the first mandatory deployment roster, but knew very quickly that there was no way that I could stay home in the comfort of my house and in Hawaii and watch my brothers and sisters deploy, and (recognized) the necessity to stand with them as they went off to combat," Gabbard said. "The experience completely changed my life and was a very big motivator in recognizing what are the true costs of war."
Gabbard said U.S. efforts in Iraq were hamstrung by a lack of a clear definition of what would constitute victory.
"We had many different things — we had taking out Saddam Hussein, we had a civil war between the Shia and Sunni, and we had the threat of al-Qaida and terrorists," she said. "Our miscalculation there (was) fighting this unconventional threat — these unconventional terrorists who know no allegiance to a specific flag or a country — with very conventional tactics."
While Cotton argued that the war ultimately was a worthwhile endeavor, Gabbard questioned the costs.
"What does ‘worth it’ mean?" Gabbard asked. "Was it worth it to the lives that were lost there? Was it worth it to the billions of dollars that we spent there?"
Gabbard was more direct fielding Crowley’s question about whether the VA was doing its job.
"No, not to serve every single veteran that is coming in, both the new generation of veterans from those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as those who have served in Vietnam, who have served in Korea and other conflicts in our past," she said. "Without a doubt, we need to do better. We need to do better in Congress to make sure that we as a country are fulfilling our responsibilities to these veterans who have sacrificed so much, and to their families, and to get the respect and services that they have earned. … I think it’s important, and I appreciate Tom’s service and being able to work with him as well as other veterans who are serving in Congress and the U.S. Senate. It really is going to take all of us having a concerted focus, commitment and effort to make sure that the resources are there and that the focus and attention does not wane if it is not at the top of the headlines."
The telegenic Gabbard has assumed a high media profile since her election last year, with political media focusing on her Hindu faith and veteran status. Gabbard appeared on another Sunday talk show, NBC’s "Meet the Press," last week.
