Former CIA Director John Brennan has raised concerns about the potential actions of former Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) if she is confirmed to a cabinet position under President Donald Trump.
Brennan suggests that Gabbard might deliberately withhold crucial intelligence from the president, a move he believes could jeopardize national security.
As reported by Mediaite, President Trump, following his November election victory, nominated Gabbard to serve as the Director of National Intelligence. Gabbard, during her tenure as a lawmaker, gained recognition for her anti-interventionist stance on foreign policy. In a discussion on MSNBC with former RNC Chair Michael Steele, Brennan expressed his apprehensions, not only about Gabbard but also about Trump's newly appointed CIA chief, John Ratcliffe. Brennan warned that both individuals might withhold information from the president that could be "detrimental" to the nation's security.
Brennan elaborated on the critical role of intelligence briefings in shaping national security policy. "Well, when there are national security council meetings that the president chairs in the White House Situation Room, usually the first person to speak would be the director of national intelligence and the director of CIA," he explained. He emphasized the importance of these briefings, stating, "And so if that intelligence basis, that briefing is going to be skewed or is going to be lacking some very important critical information, the policy decision that ultimately comes out of it is also going to be baseless." Brennan underscored the potential risks, noting, "And also, you know, its going to be potentially threatening to our national security."
The implications of Brennan's assertions are significant, particularly in the context of ensuring that national security decisions are made with comprehensive and accurate intelligence. The integrity of the intelligence process is paramount, and any deviation from this standard could have far-reaching consequences.
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