[Vision2020] Palin Falters on Policy in First TV Interview

[Tom Hansen]

" ... What President Bush has attempted to do is rid this world of Islamic 
extremism, terrorists who are hell-bent on destroying our nation."

Gov. Sarah Palin, GOP Candidate for vice president

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>From today's (September 12, 2008) Spokesman Review -

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Palin falters on policy in first TV interview 

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska – John McCain running mate Sarah Palin sought 
Thursday to defend her qualifications but struggled with foreign policy, 
unable to describe President Bush's doctrine of pre-emptive strikes 
against threatening nations and acknowledging she's never met a foreign 
head of state.

The Republican vice presidential nominee told Charles Gibson, of ABC News, 
in her first televised interview since being named to the GOP ticket 
that "I'm ready" to be president if called upon. She sidestepped on 
whether she had the national security credentials needed to be commander 
in chief.
 
Palin, 44, has been Alaska's governor for less than two years and before 
that was a small-town mayor. McCain has defended her qualifications, 
citing her command of the Alaska National Guard and Alaska's proximity to 
Russia.

Asked whether those were sufficient credentials, Palin said: "It is about 
reform of government, and it's about putting government back on the side 
of the people, and that has much to do with foreign policy and national 
security issues." She said she brings expertise in making the country 
energy independent as a former chairwoman of the Alaska Oil and Gas 
Conservation Commission. "I want you to not lose sight of the fact that 
energy is a foundation of national security," she said.

Palin said other than a trip to visit soldiers in Kuwait and Germany last 
year – "a trip of a lifetime" that "changed my life" – her only other 
foreign travel was to Mexico and Canada. She also said she had never met a 
head of state and added: "If you go back in history and if you ask that 
question of many vice presidents, they may have the same answer that I 
just gave you."

Pressed about what insights into recent Russian actions she gained by 
living in Alaska, Palin answered: "They're our next-door neighbors, and 
you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in 
Alaska."

Foreign policy questions dominated the first of three interviews Palin was 
giving Gibson over two days.

In the interview Thursday, Palin:

•Appeared unsure of the Bush doctrine – essentially that the United States 
must help spread democracy to stop terrorism and that the nation will act 
pre-emptively to stop potential foes.

Asked whether she agreed with that, Palin said: "In what respect, 
Charlie?" Gibson pressed her for an interpretation of it. She said: "His 
world view." That prompted Gibson to say "no, the Bush doctrine, 
enunciated September 2002, before the Iraq war" and described it to 
her. "I believe that what President Bush has attempted to do is rid this 
world of Islamic extremism, terrorists who are hell-bent on destroying our 
nation," Palin said, adding "there have been mistakes made."

Pressed on whether the United States could attack terrorist hideouts in 
Pakistan without the country's permission, she said: "If there is 
legitimate and enough intelligence that tells us that a strike is imminent 
against American people, we have every right to defend our country. In 
fact, the president has the obligation, the duty to defend."

•Said nuclear weapons in Iran's hands are dangerous, and said "we've got 
to put the pressure on Iran." Asked three times what her position would be 
if Israel felt threatened enough to attack Iranian nuclear facilities, 
Palin repeatedly said the United States shouldn't "second-guess" Israel's 
steps to secure itself.

•Called for Georgia and the Ukraine to be included in NATO, a treaty that 
requires the U.S. to defend them militarily. She also said Russia's attack 
into Georgia last month was "unprovoked." Asked to clarify that she'd 
support going to war over Georgia, she said: "Perhaps so."

"I mean, that is the agreement when you are a NATO ally, is if another 
country is attacked, you're going to be expected to be called upon and 
help," she said.

•Said she "didn't hesitate" when McCain asked her to be his running 
mate. "I answered him 'yes' because I have the confidence in that 
readiness and knowing that you can't blink, you have to be wired in a way 
of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we're on, reform of 
this country and victory in the war, you can't blink. So I didn't blink 
then ,even when asked to run as his running mate."

Later Thursday, after her return to Alaska, Palin indirectly linked the 
war in Iraq with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, telling an Iraq-bound 
brigade of soldiers that included her son that they would "defend the 
innocent from the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the 
death of thousands of Americans."

"America can never go back to that false sense of security that came 
before Sept. 11, 2001," Palin said.

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"Jesus was a community organizer and Poncius Pilate was a governor."

- Marilyn Trail, sister of Representative Tom trail (September 8, 2008)


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