Democrat Tulsi Gabbard warned Defense Secretary Ash Carter that Barack Obama could start a “devastating nuclear war” with Russia.



Gabbard told Carter Russia’s presence in Syria and Obama’s confused strategy increased the chance of a confrontation with the nuclear power.

National Review reported:

Carter got a hint of just how difficult it may be to sell Congress on such legislation when Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D., Hawaii) suggested that Obama’s policies, combined with the fact that Russia supports Syrian dictator Bashar Assad while Obama has called repeatedly for Assad’s ouster, could lead the U.S. into a nuclear war with Vladimir Putin’s regime.

“Russia’s installation of their anti-aircraft missile-defense system increases that possibility of — whether it’s intentional or even an accidental event — where one side may shoot down the other side’s plane,” Gabbard told Carter. “And that’s really where the potential is for this devastating nuclear war.”

Carter characterized the U.S. disagreement with Russia as a diplomatic problem, not a military danger. “We have a different view, a very different view from Russia about what would be constructive for them to do in Syria,” he said. “That’s not the same as the United States and Russia clashing.”