During the confirmation hearing for Director of National Intelligence, Senator Mark Kelly attacked nominee Tulsi Gabbard over her past criticisms of US policy in Syria. Kelly asserted that Gabbard was repeating Russian talking points, while Tulsi argued that she was exposing US support for al-Qaeda.

During Thursday’s Senate committee session, Sen. Kelly brought up Gabbard’s frequent criticism of US policy in Syria. He claimed that Gabbard was repeating Russian and Iranian talking points by discussing the US support for terror groups in Syria.

Gabbard fired back at Kelly, explaining why she viewed the policies of supporting terrorists as a personal affront, “as someone who enlisted in the military specifically because of Al Qaeda’s terrorist attack on 9/11 and committing myself and my life to doing what I could to defeat these terrorists.”

“It was shocking and a betrayal to me and every person who was killed on 9/11, their families, and my brothers and sisters in uniform.” She continued, “When as a member of Congress, I learned about President Obama’s, dual programs that he had begun, really to overthrow the regime of Syria and being willing to, through the CIA’s Timber Sycamore program that has now been made public, of working with and arming and equipping Al Qaeda in an effort to overthrow that regime, starting yet another regime change war in the Middle East.”