Democratic congresswoman who Trump considered for secretary of state says she met with Assad in Syria 

  • Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii said she met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a weeklong trip to Syria 
  • Speaking publicly about the trip Wednesday, she argued that there's no viable peace agreement unless Assad is sitting at the tablle 
  • Gabbard supported Sen. Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primary, but also took a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump during the transition
  • A major in the Army National Guard, Gabbard was rumored to be among those Trump was looking at for secretary of state
  • She argued against 'regime change,' saying that such a strategy has harmed both Americans and Syrians 

By Associated Press and Nikki Schwab, U.s. Political Reporter For Dailymail.com

Published: 18:27 EST, 25 January 2017 | Updated: 14:05 EST, 26 January 2017

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is defending her decision to meet with Bashar al-Assad during a weeklong trip to Syria, saying Wednesday there's no possibility of a viable peace agreement unless Assad is part of the conversation.

Gabbard, a Democrat from Hawaii, said she originally had no intention of sitting down with Assad, according to a statement issued by her office detailing her travels.

But she changed her mind when the opportunity arose.

'I think we should be ready to meet with anyone if there's a chance it can help bring about an end to this war, which is causing the Syrian people so much suffering,' Gabbard said.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, said she met with Bashar Assad during a trip to Syria. She was under consideration to be Donald Trump's secretary of state 

Lawmakers have accused the Assad government of war crimes and even genocide as the number of people killed during the violence in Syria continues to mount. 

The war, now in its sixth year, has killed hundreds of thousands of people, contributed to Europe's worst refugee crisis since World War II and given the Islamic State group room to grow into a global terror threat.

Rebel groups in Syria are bitter over a string of territorial losses, including last month's defeat in Aleppo, Syria's largest city. 

Russia, with its massive air power, and Iran, with thousands of Shiite militiamen in Syria, turned the war unequivocally in Assad's favor.

Gabbard said her trip included stops in Aleppo and Damascus, Syria's capital. 

She also visited Beirut during the trip, which began in mid-January. 

Gabbard said she also met with refugees, Syrian opposition leaders, widows and family members of Syrians fighting alongside groups like al-Qaeda, and Syrians aligned with the Assad regime.

Gabbard said that the U.S. has 'waged wars of regime change' in Iraq, Libya and Syria. 

Yet each has resulted 'in unimaginable suffering, devastating loss of life, and the strengthening of groups like al-Qaeda' and the Islamic State group, she said.

'My visit to Syria has made it abundantly clear,' Gabbard said. 

'Our counterproductive regime change war does not serve America's interest, and it certainly isn't in the interest of the Syrian people,' she continued. 

Gabbard said the House Ethics Committee approved her trip, as required by House rules, and taxpayers didn't foot the bill.

Other members of the delegation that traveled with her included former Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich and Gabbard's husband, Abraham Williams.

Gabbard, a major in the Army National Guard, met last November with Donald Trump shortly after the presidential election. 

She backed Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, who ran as a Democrat against Hillary Clinton.

She met President Trump during the transition and was rumored to be in the running for a cabinet post, including secretary of state.  

She said at the time that she took the meeting with Trump over concern that a wing of the Republican Party known as the neocons would grow in influence once Trump took office.  

She feared that could push the U.S. more deeply into Syria, which could lead to a direct conflict with Russia. 

Comments (0)

Share what you think

No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now