“The American intelligence community and their European counterparts are expressing concern about the intentions of US President-elect Donald Trump to nominate Tulsi Gabbard for the post of head of the National Intelligence Service.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
The American intelligence community and their European counterparts are expressing concern about the intentions of US President-elect Donald Trump to nominate Tulsi Gabbard for the post of head of the National Intelligence Service.
Source: Reuters, “European Truth”
Details: As the agency notes, inside and outside the US intelligence network, much of the concern is related to the selection of Gabbard for the post of director of national intelligence, especially given her commitment to Russia.
One intelligence official said the selection of Gabbard has raised concerns among intelligence officials about how strongly she holds some of her geopolitical views and whether she is misinformed.
“Our friends are watching what’s going on as closely as our enemies and are wondering what this all means for the leading player in global intelligence gathering and analysis,” said one former U.S. intelligence official who worked in some hot spots of the world.
Meanwhile, one Western source said there could be an initial slowdown in intelligence sharing after Trump takes office in January, potentially affecting the Five Eyes, an intelligence alliance made up of the US, Britain, Canada, Australia and the New Zeeland.
According to the interlocutor of the agency, US allies are concerned that all of Trump’s appointments are going “in the wrong direction.”
At the same time, a high-ranking employee of European intelligence said that intelligence agencies in the countries of the European Union “will be pragmatic and ready to adapt to changes.”
“So far, there is no panic in the air,” the official added.
A representative of the European defense agency called Gabbard “firmly standing” on the side of Russia.
“But we have to deal with what we have. We will be careful,” the official said.
In turn, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended Gabbard’s nomination, calling her “a revolutionary choice that has a chance to really make positive changes.”
But some other Republicans were more reserved. Asked about Gabbard’s qualifications, Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Intelligence Committee, said: “We will do our job, vet the nominees and make a decision. That is the constitutional duty of the Senate.”
To become director of national intelligence, Gabbard must be confirmed by a majority of the 100-member US Senate, where she could face opposition, the agency said.
Gabbard is scandalously known for meeting with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, criticizing the elimination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, and calling US policy toward Ukraine “the second Afghanistan.”
The media previously reported concerns in the US over Trump’s nominees for Pentagon chief Pete Hagseth, as well as Attorney General Matt Geitz.
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