Readers Respond

Gabbard should be confirmed for intelligence post

Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard needs to be confirmed as the new director of national intelligence (“Trump’s Cabinet picks are set for Senate hearings. Here’s the schedule,” Jan. 24). She has the character and proven track record of independent truth seeking that is necessary to give President Donald Trump the nation intelligence evaluations necessary for foreign and military policies that will protect the United States.

Gabbard has countered disinformation and lies generated by the intelligence bureaucracies that have supported terrorists and getting involved unnecessary and costly wars. She has spoken out against the unlawful spying of American citizens by those agencies. She has also spoken out against the persecution and prosecution of independent journalists and whistleblowers including Julian Assange and Edward Snowden who have exposed these unlawful actions.

The veteran has been outspoken against “the military industrial complex” and their corruption of our intelligence agencies that has resulted in unending wars to enrich the major stockholders of “defense related” companies to the detriment of our nation and its citizens.

Many of the former government officials whose lies have resulted in the disastrous policies of the past and the unending wars, particularly in the Middle East, are the most vocal opponents of her nomination.

Gabbard warned years ago that the United States policy was to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad through “Timber Sycamore,” a classified weapons supply and training program run by the Central Intelligence Agency and supported by the United Kingdom and some Arab intelligence services. Unfortunately, the policy she opposed has now resulted in the installation of a government ruled by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that now enforces Sharia laws at the expense of Syrians, particularly women and people of other religions.

The U.S. policy of arming radical Islamic terrorists has been going on for decades. The same policy created the al-Qaeda, the extremist Islamic group lead by Osama bin Laden that launched the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks against the United States. — Martin Glaser, Catonsville

Inauguration Day: Not a proud moment

Inauguration Day 2025 was nothing to celebrate.

You see, I was the person in that inflatable Donald Trump suit. As I walked up and down 7th Street in front of the Capital One Arena, supporters and hopeful attendees of the inauguration trailed along beside me, shouting profanities (“Symbol of unity? Inauguration news coverage illustrates differences that pull country apart,” Jan. 20). As I was being interviewed by a reporter, a few ran in a circle around us, yelling, “Don’t interview that a—hole,” until the reporter finally gave up.

People who claimed to support American values called out, “Are you a man or a woman? Do you even know?” That was followed by, “I see French nails and eyeliner so it must be a woman. Or a ‘tranny!’” A few times, three or four men would encircle me and yell profanities, persisting until I inched my way toward a soldier or policeman.

I watched from the little clear plastic window that allowed me to see my surroundings, stunned at the hate directed toward me — toward someone exercising her Constitutional right to protest. And I was stunned at the noticeable presence of American troops in our nation’s capital.

Because, you see, that’s what my protest was really about. I wasn’t just protesting Trump’s election, although I totally oppose a 34-time convicted felon who incited people to commit treasonous acts. I was protesting the fact that our nation’s capital was locked down with heavy steel fences and concrete barricades and armed troops to protect against a possible replay of Jan. 6.

When it was over, many of us breathed a collective sigh of relief and claimed success: the inauguration had taken place and there had been a peaceful transfer of power. But there was no success in this. Our nation’s capital was locked down, silent and wary, rightfully fearful of violence from its own citizenry. And that will likely be the case at all future inaugurations: We will expect violence, we will wait with anxiety and we will hold our breath and only exhale when what we have completed a peaceful transfer of power, a moment taken for granted before.

This is not cause for celebration.

— Dawn Fichtner, Largo

Editor’s note

The Baltimore Sun is seeking nominations for its 10th annual Business and Civic Hall of Fame, recognizing individuals who’ve fostered transformational change in the Baltimore region. Email nominations by Feb.10 to [e-mail] with a brief description of the nominee’s accomplishments and background. We will announce the 2025 inductees in March, and honor them with an event and special newspaper section in June.