Proud Gabbard stands up
I was so proud Tulsi Gabbard went to Standing Rock last year to protect our water resources and share Hawaii’s aloha spirit with the Standing Rock Sioux.
Her recent trip to Syria is another example of Tulsi walking the walk. We here in Hawaii often feel like we’re too far away to make a difference, but Tulsi is committed to being a part of the solution. I watched her video talking with an Aleppo priest about how their church had been destroyed —not by Syrian government forces — but by terrorist groups fighting to overthrow the government.
For years the U.S. has been directly and indirectly arming and funding militant groups working with ISIS and al-Qaeda to overthrow the Syrian government. I support Tulsi’s Stop Arming Terrorists bill and urge everyone to reject the neocon/neoliberal cries for war and consider the cries for peace Tulsi brought back from the Syrian people.
Ana Castillo
Kealakekua Bay
Gabbard’s trip worth it
Tulsi has always been a warrior for peace and she is a rare, sane voice in Washington opposing the neoconservative and neoliberal warmongers who push U.S. policy to overthrow another foreign government.
Now, in Syria, she is seeking a different outcome and her questions are valid. Have we forgotten that overthrowing the Iraqi government caused hundreds of thousands of deaths, millions of refugees, and strengthened al-Qaeda and created ISIS? Are we ignoring lessons from U.S. intervention in Libya that plummeted it into a failed state, leaving a power vacuum for ISIS and other extremists to occupy — resulting in genocide and mass dislocation of Libyans?
The bottom line is that regime-change wars, including the one currently being waged in Syria, create more harm than good. Tulsi recognizes this truth, and is fighting to achieve peace by circumventing an unnecessary war.
Tara Waller
Papaikou
Gabbard should represent Hawaii properly
Tulsi Gabbard’s Sept. 27 op-ed clearly states her support for Syria’s President Assad. Assad has been accused of many massacres and severe human rights violations against his own people. His assault on the Syrian people began with his violent response to the “Arab Spring” protests in 2011, in which Syrian people demanded democratic reforms and the release of political prisoners.
In response, Assad opened fire on protesters and arrested students and human rights activists. Tulsi Gabbard was elected to represent Democrats in Hawaii. Does her support of Assad reflect the values of the Democratic Party of Hawaii?
Genie Wery
Waimea