Washington: The first Hindu Congresswoman, Tulsi Gabbard has said that she does not regret her 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has been accused of using chemical weapons to attack civilians in his country`s years-long civil war.
Gabbard, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, informed that American leaders must meet foreign leaders "if we are serious about the pursuit of peace and securing our country". She was earlier criticized for voicing disbelief that the Assad regime was behind the chemical weapons attacks.
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Gabbard further said that, "No, she think that it is, it continues to be very important for any leader in this country to be willing to meet with others, whether they be friends or adversaries or potential adversaries if we are serious about the pursuit of peace and securing our country and the only alternative to having these kinds of conversations is more war," "
Gabbard also drew a comparison between her meeting with Assad to President Donald Trump`s summit with North Korean leader Kim-Jong un in 2018.
The US, France and Britain last year ablaze over 100 missiles at Syrian chemical weapons facilities, with Washington threatening further airstrikes if Assad did not arrest the use of chemical warfare. Syria`s government had dismissed the allegations. Talking about the partial government shutdown, Gabbard said that her party`s leadership was not blameless for the impasse, accusing both sides of posturing and refusing to compromise.
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