(DailyAnswer.org) – Former CIA Counterterrorism Director Bernard Hudson recently endorsed Lt. Col. Tulsi Gabbard for the role of director of national intelligence (DNI) under President-elect Donald Trump. In his op-ed for the National Review, Hudson praised Gabbard as an independent thinker who can rebuild trust in the nation’s intelligence system.
Hudson highlighted Gabbard’s extensive background in public service. She has served in the Hawaii state legislature, spent four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, and held a key position on the House Armed Services Committee. Additionally, she was vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. Beyond politics, Gabbard has over two decades of military service, including a combat deployment to Iraq. Hudson stressed that her military experience gives her a deep understanding of both patriotism and the sacrifices required in times of war.
What sets Gabbard apart, according to Hudson, is her willingness to challenge conventional thinking. He noted her criticism of the Obama administration in 2015 for avoiding the term “radical Islamic terrorism,” even as groups like ISIS gained power. Such stances, he argued, reflect her courage to address tough issues, even if unpopular.
Hudson also defended Gabbard against accusations of being a Russian sympathizer, pointing out that she holds a top-secret clearance as an Army Reserve lieutenant colonel. He described claims that she supports hostile leaders like Bashar Assad as misleading. In 2017, Gabbard visited Syria, arguing against U.S. intervention in the ongoing civil war. Hudson pointed out that her concerns were later echoed by Washington’s foreign policy elite, who shifted away from prioritizing regime change in Syria.
Hudson argued that Gabbard’s independent approach is exactly what the intelligence community needs. He cited past failures, such as flawed intelligence justifying the Iraq War and incorrect assumptions about stability in Libya and Afghanistan, as examples where a skeptical voice could have made a difference. The DNI, he emphasized, must be willing to challenge groupthink to ensure accurate intelligence.
In his conclusion, Hudson called Gabbard’s critical thinking a strength, not a flaw. He urged the intelligence community to welcome her leadership and embrace the kind of scrutiny necessary to maintain public trust.
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