Part 2/5:
Gabard's background is distinguished by her military service and political experience, but her confirmation process was anything but smooth. Many critics raised questions about her qualifications for the role, citing concerns over her past views on several sensitive issues. Notably, her stance on Russian support for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden became a point of contention, as did her 2017 meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a move that drew widespread criticism and raised doubts about her foreign policy outlook.