Victims of Terrorism Endorse Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence

As the Senate prepares for confirmation hearings, Tulsi Gabbard has received a strong endorsement from those who understand the horrors of terrorism firsthand. A group consisting of a former al Qaeda hostage, his parents, and the parents of an ISIS victim has publicly backed Gabbard’s nomination as Director of National Intelligence (DNI), emphasizing her commitment to national security and her military experience.

Among those endorsing Gabbard is Theo Padnos, who was kidnapped and tortured by al Qaeda’s Nusra Front in Syria from 2012 to 2014. His parents, Nancy Curtis and Michael Padnos, also signed the joint letter, along with Carl and Marsha Mueller, whose daughter, Kayla Mueller, was held hostage and murdered by ISIS in 2015.

“[Gabbard] has been compassionate towards terrorism’s victims. She has been a fierce advocate for bringing its practitioners to justice.”

It further criticizes past U.S. foreign policy failures, stating that Gabbard stood with hostage families when the government failed to provide them with vital information or assistance.

This endorsement comes at a critical time, as terror groups in Syria are resurging. The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last month has left vast regions under the control of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Turkish-backed group with direct ties to al Qaeda and ISIS.

The letter warns:

“Now that the individuals who helped to build up ISIS and al Qaeda in Syria have taken charge of the country, we expect terrorists there to have a much freer hand in the future.”

With extremists growing their online recruitment efforts, the threat to Western nations is increasing. The letter cites a recent attempted terror attack in New Orleans as evidence that the United States needs strong leadership in intelligence immediately.

Despite her strong national security background, Gabbard’s nomination has drawn opposition from some in Washington. Critics have questioned her 2017 meeting with Assad, though her supporters argue that her pragmatic approach to foreign policy makes her uniquely qualified to assess threats and protect American interests.

With growing instability in the Middle East and rising global terrorism, Gabbard’s confirmation as DNI could not be more urgent.

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