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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-HI., nominated Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT., for president of the United States during the second day of the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Gabbard traveled to Syria this week on what her aides described as a “fact-finding” mission relating to her efforts to bring resolution to a war that has torn the country apart and heightened tensions between the United States and Russia.
U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard traveled to Syria this week on what her aides described as a “fact-finding” mission relating to her efforts to bring resolution to a war that has torn the country apart and heightened tensions between the United States and Russia.
“As a member of the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, and as an individual committed to doing all she can to promote and work for peace, she felt it was important to meet with a number of individuals and groups including religious leaders, humanitarian workers, refugees and government and community leaders,” according to a statement from Emily Latimer, a spokeswoman for the congresswoman. “For security reasons, we will not be releasing additional details or comments until she returns.”
Gabbard’s trip also includes travel to Lebanon. She is scheduled to be back in Washington, D.C. when Congress resumes on January 22.
Gabbard has been a sharp critic of U.S. intervention in Syria and attempts to oust President Bashar al-Assad — who has come under fire for human rights abuses and war crimes — maintaining that removing the leader will create a vacuum that will be filled by Islamic terrorist groups.
Gabbard recently introduced the Stop Arming Terrorist Act out of concern that the U.S. has been inadvertently arming groups such as ISIS and al-Qaeda as the government works to aid Syrian rebel groups.
“Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has long been committed to peace and ending counterproductive, interventionist wars,” said Latimer. “She recently introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act, legislation that would stop our government from directly or indirectly supporting groups allied with and supporting terrorist groups like ISIS and al Qaeda.”
Gabbard’s office has been quiet about the trip until now. On Monday, her office told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that Gabbard would not be attending President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Friday because she would be on a “fact-finding trip abroad.” But her office didn’t respond to questions about where Gabbard was until this morning.
She’s not missing anything. If fact that a good absent note to trumpf.
Hate to say it, but Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is on self-seeking quest to preserve relations in the Middle East for the sake of her Middle Eastern decent husband. This mission seems to be more about amplifying the issues of her in-laws over carry out the best interest of her country, the United States of America, as well as constituents who voted her into office, such as myself. She need to stay away from uncharted territory and start thinking about the issues that needs to be brought to the forefront during the 2017 congressional session.
That’s quite a theory. I think you’ve gotten a little too used to our run-of-mill congressional delegation patting each other on the back and voting for whatever DNC leadership tell them too.
I wouldn’t spend much time worrying about convoluted conspiracy theories anyway. Tulsi Gabbard is destined for higher office anyway.
Agree. Might turn out Tulsi will be the first female president of the United States. Hillary is a loser and alleged native American Indian Elizabeth Warren will NEVER get the electoral votes that Trump captured. Unlike Hillary who pretends to dodge bullets at an airport, visiting Syria is NOT the safest place to be “fact-finding” and if Tulsi spends enough time in the combat zone while a Congressman she will actually does have to duck from REAL bullets, giving her more creds she can use to help win a presidential election. The public want’s an independent person like Trump who is not a lap dog to the Democratic or Republican party. Right now Demo leaders like Pelosi, Wasserman-Shulz, Podesta, etc are Pariah’s and in 2020, if the best the Demo’s have to challenge Trump is Biden, Warren or socialist Sanders, they are in deep kim chee. Demo’s need Tulsi but Tulsi does not need the Demos and she can do whatever she wants like this Syria trip and her stock will go up. Bet serious backers in the shadows are quietly advising Tulsi now with the goal of running in 2020 to defeat Trump. Best strategy is to be highly visible and see if she can help as a US representative to stabilize the Middle East without committing massive US troops in the area and if she is successful in that task, four years from now she will be a formidable candidate against Trump Don’t want to sound petty but having a child now is not a good idea and if not done so already, address the dermatological things that required her to spend so much on makeup.
One way trip right?
Once she gets there it will be the usual dog & pony show by the special interest groups. She will believe it, come back to be their lap dog. Happens all the time with our clueless elected bureaucrats.
I am mixed on her. I know that she is criticized for lacking any education, experience or legitimate military or combat experience, for endlessly self-promoting, but she did drive the corrupt Mufi out of office. He has never run successfully again after she shellacked him and unmanned him. He is still bitter. Give her credit for that.
Holy Bananas! Crazy how you criticize without actually criticizing. “I know she is criticized for lacking any education, experience or legitimate military or combat experience.” Way to blame other people? So a college degree and serving in the Iraq War are lacking??? Please stop eating paint chips…
Who gives a heck what you think. Wise up.
No act, even though you’re Trump’s “Head” Man, you really love All-Lies. You can find him on Kuhio every night.
Wow. allie, Tulsi has a resume and track record that few women in the world come close to. Please show respect.
Nope Mufi… was too complacent in that election.
But when rail starts being riden, he’ll be back running.
Sorry, but which shellacking are you referring to? The one where Mufi got shellacked in the governors’ race or the one where he got shellacked in the congressional race?
Moo Fee must be a masochist
Who is now trying to overthrow Assad? That was never the policy. Is not now.
Please educate yourself about the issue. It’s widely known and reported that the C.I.A. has been funding, arming and training Islamic extremist “rebels” (who are directly allied with Al Qaeda) for years.
No hon. Obama has been blamed for not doing enough to fund opposition groups. He asked for Assad to step down but little or nothing to make it happen.
You’re mistaken. http://www.atimes.com/us-ends-training-al-qaeda-isis-collaborators/
Ah, remember redline in the sand?
Yes Hon. Obummer spend gobs of money on training “rebels” who never showed up for the fight.
poipoo, perhaps you could cite an article that isn’t an opinion piece….
“Asia Times is not responsible for the opinions, facts or any media content presented by contributors.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA_activities_in_Syria
Who is now trying to overthrow Assad? That was never the policy. Is not now.
Have you ever hear of Barrack Hussein Obama ????
If fact I gotta cut the grass so I’ll miss it too. Headsets on,weed Wacker on beast mode, roooaarrrrr. I catch you guys on Sat.SA comments.
Wow,allie was just here? Like 2 ships that pass in the Night.
@ NB
um…PDA is not allowed here.
You will not be missed, the both of you and klastri too.
She didn’t need to runaway and hide to avoid the enthroning. She could have just said he’s an A–h— and boycotted with the rest.
Wonder how the Dem Elite..Nancy Pussilosi, Hairplugs Schummer feels about Tulsi going…ahem….ROGUE!!! Oh Yeah!
2020 presidential candidate…what party tho?
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!Stop It Keoni! “Hair Plug Schumer”. I love it,good one!
So ? Is that a “Confirmation”?Will Tulsi be attending PE Trump’s Inauguration ceremony? Great! How’s the others doing? How’s “Queen Bee Lazy Mazie”? She and Nancy Pelosi sooooo Loves the “Bling”, I say she’ll be attending. Count her in! Who’s left? What about “See you Later Rail” Sen.Hanabusa? Not too sure about that one either. Now? Brian Schatz who is a whole different Liberal animal compared to the rest ? He is Extreme! I think he too may Pull the “Plug”!
My comment is awaiting moderation.
@ MoiLee
Ha! You’re in a festive mood I see..good for us & the rest of us Deplorables!!!!
Friday!! #MAGA Oh Yeah!!
Whoever runs against her needs to emphasize doing things for Hawaii. Syria, what? Do a fact finding mission to help our public schools, homelessness, food sustainability,and other issues having a direct and significant impact on Hawaii. Syria, really? Think and act like Inouye and Akaka, not the Secretary of State!
She’s done so much locally; it just doesn’t hit the news as much. She secured millions in funding to fight invasive species, she sponsored (and passed) Talia’s law to protect children in the military from child abuse, she secured funding to help local agriculture, she introduced and successfully passed a bill awarding Filipino WWII vets the Congressional Gold Medal award, she tirelessly meets with constituents around the state, etc., etc. Follow her on Facebook – it keeps you updated on what’s going on.
All for show nothing to help the real people in need. Just keep taking care of others not Hawaii.
bogus claim. she gets funding for invasive species (helps our farmers), fight against Dengue, gets funding for homeless and schools, Hawaiian emersion programs, clean water research grants for UH, funding to fight coral bleaching, local Veterans issues like healthcare, jobs bills etc. Easy to find what she does on her website. https://gabbard.house.gov/search/node/hawaii
What has she done locally ? All TALK
She has done absolutely nothing for the people of Hawaii. She is only taking care of #1. Nothing to like about her.
Keeping us out of a War in Syria is helping MY KIDS from having to be fed into the Middle East Meat Grinder.
Go Tulsi!
She’s going over to vet those refugees that Ige wants to import. We need more homeless here.
She’s not my favorite local politician (in fact none of them are my “favorites”) but I have to take my hat off. She may be one of the most artfully cunning people in the House. She manages to both avoid the inauguration, thereby not angering her base of voters and at the same time garner press coverage for her concern with the Syrian situation. Pretty smart.
Yes,cunning. I keep my eye on that one. Plus daddy being a career politician and one that had moved on both sides of the aisle. Where ever the wind blows the dried up leaves gather.
As a single member of Congress and a member of the minority party in the House, has she even been authorized by the Committee to do a fact-finding expedition? Under what authority is she going to Syria? Maybe the real reason is that she just doesn’t want to be in D.C. after Trump refused to giver her a job in his Administration.
i used to like her but her agenda is only for herself and nothing but herself so help me god………..
Is she any different than any other of our wonderful pols. At least she hasn’t been caught paying her bar bills with a P card.
I am in awe of how awesome this woman is. Clear thinking, courageous, moral. Go Tulsi Go!!
Tulsi for whatever reason was selected and is being groomed by the powers that be just as Obama was. You will continue to see her gain prominence in the coming months on the national scene. An eventual run for some high office is very likely in the very near future. The only question is what price she will have to pay.
Tulsi is smart so she understands that she is not the only one being groomed. The people who run things do not put all their eggs in one basket and promote and groom a number of
individuals all at the same time. Only the strongest and those willing to do anything get to the top.
Agree. She has the combination of smarts, guts and motivation to take it to the next level. I for one think she is one of only a handful of politicians than can be trusted.
Imua Tulsi!
The powers that be do not like it when someone goes off script and challenges the status quo as Tulsi has done. Consequently, she does not have the backing of the power players.
Former Demo “power players” like Podesta, Wasserman-Shulz, Pelosi, etc are PARIAHS after Trump defeated Hillary and Wikileaks published some of their internal emails.
Yep but I hope it is not the same powers that promoted Killary.
I have respect for Tulsi. She’s a dem that puts partisanship aside and has served her country with honor. Comparing her to HRC is like apples and oranges, I think she would be a much better & way more likable candidate for the first female POTUS in 8 years from now.
Agreed. I’m looking forward to President Gabbard too.
She’d have to be a senator first to gain more name recognition. Look how Dennis Kucinich failed just as a Congressman.
She’s totally overrated. Never going to be POTUS!
Why is it that if you’re a Federal worker in the DC area on inauguration day you get a free holiday? But, at least she has an excuse for cutting class that day!
Congress is not in session.
Good thing no details were revealed of her trip. Wouldn’t ISIL have loved to kidnap her for ransom or worse.
Agree with those that shared that she needs to represent and advocate for local issues here in Hawaii rather than junkets to Syria for international issues that support her agendas. Other than her own biased web reviews, there is nothing significant that she has done to help resolve the great problems here in this State (Cost of living, Housing, choke neck traffic, Ineffective Federal and State govt. agencies, Sub-par public education etc.). All the ooh’s and ahh’s are misplaced…she is an eye catching, headline grabbing, maverick but IMO a sub-par Representative.
And who is paying for this trip. I am sure she has protection with her and not alone. Sweetie girl take care of us here.
Great way to avoid attending the inauguration. This fact finding excuse is lame.
Does she like Putin too?
Just happens to be outatown on trumpy day?
Go find the helo that dropped the barrell bomb on D’s position. Syrians only killing civilians and everone but isil that day. After they finushed bombing the bastards xame out od no where. What a waste. But good for Gabbard hope she gets back safely.
so, gabbard can’t trust the daily intel briefs obama receives from the vaunted u.s. intel communities and determined the state department information on syria, gathered under clinton and kerry’s watch, is faulty and unreliable?
gabbard’s immediate departure to the syria war zone, at significant risk to her life, demonstrates her belief that current u.s. intel and information in the mideast, syria in particular, is massively untrustworthy and unreliable.
gabbard is seeking accurate intel and information needed now to rectify obama’s failures in syria.
she considers this dangerous intel gathering mission so important that she is willing to miss one of the most important days of the three branches of government, the installation of a new president.
Hadn’t it occur to all of you that Tulsi may have been sent there by the President Elect?
That is funny. Actually she is shopping. Next trip to Thailand for cheap plastic surgery. This girl is ambitious. Unwise to be gone friday. Our state may get some payback. Rail? Defundind? Please?
This Tulsi Gabbard way of saying, I am boycotting President Donald Trump inauguration. You can her name to the sour grapes Democrats list of House of rep not attending.
Sure she is on a fact finding mission to Syria… A bunch of balony Tulsi!! Why now? Why not attend the inauguration.
Guest of Assad? I am sure the president of Syria loves Tulsi’s “no regime change” philosophy.
Gabbard refuses to say who is funding her trip.
Food Truck free parking Tulsi……..sorry people, but that’s all she really can hang her hat on for all of her time in political office. The truth hurts sometimes but after all the hoopla that’s all there really is. Nothing but air.