Palin leaves open option of war with Russia

JD Sal

Can't wait to watch this interview. I wonder if Charles Gibson asked about her opposition to abortion even in cases of rape or incest, her outright lie about being against the bridge to nowhere from the beginning, her dubious claim to be against earmarks even though she has sought nearly $200 million dollars in such earmarks this year, her stretching of the truth regarding the pipleline, troopergate, how she demanded that certain books be banned from the library and then tried to fire the librarian when she wouldn't oblige, etc, etc, etc.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080911/ap_on_el_pr/palin_interview

47 minutes ago

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin left open the option Thursday of waging war with Russia if it were to invade neighboring Georgia and the former Soviet republic were a NATO ally. "We will not repeat a Cold War," Palin said in her first television interview since becoming Republican John McCain's vice presidential running mate two weeks ago.

Palin told Charles Gibson of ABC News that she'd favor including Georgia and Ukraine, both former Soviet republics, in NATO despite opposition by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Asked whether the United States would have to go to war with Russia if it invaded Georgia, and the country was part of NATO, Palin 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.

Pressed on the question, Palin responded: "What I think is that smaller democratic countries that are invaded by a larger power is something for us to be vigilant against ... We have got to show the support, in this case, for Georgia. The support that we can show is economic sanctions perhaps against Russia, if this is what it leads to."

She added: "It doesn't have to lead to war and it doesn't have to lead, as I said, to a Cold War, but economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure, again, counting on our allies to help us do that in this mission of keeping our eye on Russia and Putin and some of his desire to control and to control much more than smaller democratic countries."

Palin spoke the same day Putin insisted that Russia has no intention of encroaching on the sovereignty of Georgia, following a brief war that left Russian troops in firm control of two breakaway regions. Putin also aggressively defended the decision to send troops to Georgia, saying Russia had to act after Georgia attacked South Ossetia last month.

On other matters, Palin said she "didn't hesitate" when McCain asked her to be his running mate, a surprise selection that shook up the presidential race.

"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," said the 44-year-old Palin, who has been in office less than two years.

Questioned about whether she felt ready to step in as vice president or perhaps even president if something happened to the 72-year-old McCain, Palin said: "I do, Charlie, and on January 20, when John McCain and I are sworn in, if we are so privileged to be elected to serve this country, we'll be ready. I'm ready."

Gibson also read Palin a comment she made in her former church — "Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God" — and asked whether she thought the United States was fighting a holy war.

Palin said she was recalling Abraham Lincoln's words when she made the comment and said: "I would never presume to know God's will or to speak God's words."

She said she didn't know if her son Track who is headed to Iraq was on a mission from God.

"What I know is that my son has made a decision. I am so proud of his independent and strong decision he has made, what he decided to do and serving for the right reasons and serving something greater than himself and not choosing a real easy path where he could be more comfortable and certainly safer," Palin said.

VictoryGin

i read that and it's terrifying. i really got the sense that she advocates stepping into countries willy-nilly if it's in the name of democracy (but not god, backsteppingly).

speaking of god, it's interesting to see she claims to not know god's will. so when sarah palin wants to dictate what medical decisions i'm allowed to make with my own body, its not even on behalf of god, but on her behalf?! FUCK NO.

my2hands

this lady flat out scares me

CitizenRick

my2hands wrote:

this lady flat out scares me

No kidding! She is out of her religious mind!

edit: spelling error

Dirtie_Frank

CitizenRick wrote:

No kidding! She is out of her religeous mind!

Are all Republicans Religous fanatics to you or just her?

homeratbat

JD Sal wrote:

Can't wait to watch this interview. I wonder if Charles Gibson asked about her opposition to abortion even in cases of rape or incest, her outright lie about being against the bridge to nowhere from the beginning, her dubious claim to be against earmarks even though she has sought nearly $200 million dollars in such earmarks this year, her stretching of the truth regarding the pipleline, troopergate, how she demanded that certain books be banned from the library and then tried to fire the librarian when she wouldn't oblige, etc, etc, etc.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080911/ap_on_el_pr/palin_interview

47 minutes ago

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin left open the option Thursday of waging war with Russia if it were to invade neighboring Georgia and the former Soviet republic were a NATO ally. "We will not repeat a Cold War," Palin said in her first television interview since becoming Republican John McCain's vice presidential running mate two weeks ago.

Palin told Charles Gibson of ABC News that she'd favor including Georgia and Ukraine, both former Soviet republics, in NATO despite opposition by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Asked whether the United States would have to go to war with Russia if it invaded Georgia, and the country was part of NATO, Palin 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.

Pressed on the question, Palin responded: "What I think is that smaller democratic countries that are invaded by a larger power is something for us to be vigilant against ... We have got to show the support, in this case, for Georgia. The support that we can show is economic sanctions perhaps against Russia, if this is what it leads to."

She added: "It doesn't have to lead to war and it doesn't have to lead, as I said, to a Cold War, but economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure, again, counting on our allies to help us do that in this mission of keeping our eye on Russia and Putin and some of his desire to control and to control much more than smaller democratic countries."

Palin spoke the same day Putin insisted that Russia has no intention of encroaching on the sovereignty of Georgia, following a brief war that left Russian troops in firm control of two breakaway regions. Putin also aggressively defended the decision to send troops to Georgia, saying Russia had to act after Georgia attacked South Ossetia last month.

On other matters, Palin said she "didn't hesitate" when McCain asked her to be his running mate, a surprise selection that shook up the presidential race.

"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," said the 44-year-old Palin, who has been in office less than two years.

Questioned about whether she felt ready to step in as vice president or perhaps even president if something happened to the 72-year-old McCain, Palin said: "I do, Charlie, and on January 20, when John McCain and I are sworn in, if we are so privileged to be elected to serve this country, we'll be ready. I'm ready."

Gibson also read Palin a comment she made in her former church — "Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God" — and asked whether she thought the United States was fighting a holy war.

Palin said she was recalling Abraham Lincoln's words when she made the comment and said: "I would never presume to know God's will or to speak God's words."

She said she didn't know if her son Track who is headed to Iraq was on a mission from God.

"What I know is that my son has made a decision. I am so proud of his independent and strong decision he has made, what he decided to do and serving for the right reasons and serving something greater than himself and not choosing a real easy path where he could be more comfortable and certainly safer," Palin said.

i posted this before in a different thread but i'd still love to know why she said her son is serving for the "right reason" and what exactly then would the "wrong" reason to serve your country in war be?! gibson should have asked her that!! plus when you do watch look how she has 0 clue what the "Bush doctrine" is...she said "what part" then never gave a real answer

CitizenRick

Dirtie_Frank wrote:

Are all Republicans Religous fanatics to you or just her?

No...of course not all...although it is one of the usual traits of a consevative.
Just like not all Liberals are "hippies" or "tree huggers" or "poor people".


In this case though I'm specifically speaking about Palin. She thinks this war is "God's will" and she wants creationism taught in school...enogh said.

JD Sal

my2hands wrote:

this lady flat out scares me

She's like George Bush in a dress. Very scary indeed.

homeratbat wrote:

i posted this before in a different thread but i'd still love to know why she said her son is serving for the "right reason" and what exactly then would the "wrong" reason to serve your country in war be?! gibson should have asked her that!! plus when you do watch look how she has 0 clue what the "Bush doctrine" is...she said "what part" then never gave a real answer

I'm at work and haven't seen the interview yet, but I thought the same thing when I read it - what are the 'wrong' reasons to serve your country? Too bad Gibson didn't ask that question.

Solat13

The thing is all four (Obama, Biden, McCain and Palin) support Georgia's membership into NATO.

Article 5 of NATO is:

The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defense recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.

Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security .

So her statement that the possibility of war with Russia would be an option if it invaded another NATO member would be the official policy of the US no matter who was president unless the US leaves NATO.

my2hands

Solat13 wrote:

The thing is all four (Obama, Biden, McCain and Palin) support Georgia's membership into NATO.

Article 5 of NATO is:

The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defense recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.

Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security .

So her statement that the possibility of war with Russia would be an option if it invaded another NATO member would be the official policy of the US no matter who was president unless the US leaves NATO.

i have seen you sticking up for this Palin character around here lately Joe... i am thinking maybe you have a crush on Mrs. Conservative MILFY

Solat13

my2hands wrote:

i have seen you sticking up for this Palin character around here lately Joe... i am thinking maybe you have a crush on Mrs. Conservative MILFY

I just like playing devil's advocate. I'm voting third party like I have the last 2 elections.

Though Fanch was the first say that she would be the VP nom back in Feb or March. I was probably second a little bit later. I had been following her for awhile.

binger

Solat13 wrote:

The thing is all four (Obama, Biden, McCain and Palin) support Georgia's membership into NATO.

Article 5 of NATO is:

The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defense recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.

Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security .

So her statement that the possibility of war with Russia would be an option if it invaded another NATO member would be the official policy of the US no matter who was president unless the US leaves NATO.

Sure but mentioning sanctions against Russia doesn't give me a good feeling. That and hearing reports that she's claiming executive priviledge concerning her emails smacks too much of Bush. 4 more years of bullshit. I'm not for it.

Solat13

binger wrote:

Sure but mentioning sanctions against Russia doesn't give me a good feeling. That and hearing reports that she's claiming executive priviledge concerning her emails smacks too much of Bush. 4 more years of bullshit. I'm not for it.

True, but say Russia invaded a NATO nation like Norway or Denmark instead of Georgia. Would the rest of the world just sit around and let Russia do what they want?

Of course not?

Russia is against NATO membership for Georgia and the Ukraine because it pretty much could get away with what it did to Georgia. If they become members like Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (former parts of the USSR) then they too would be off limits to Russian aggression.

JD Sal

Solat13 wrote:

True, but say Russia invaded a NATO nation like Norway or Denmark instead of Georgia. Would the rest of the world just sit around and let Russia do what they want?

Of course not?

Russia is against NATO membership for Georgia and the Ukraine because it pretty much could get away with what it did to Georgia. If they become members like Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (former parts of the USSR) then they too would be off limits to Russian aggression.

In your hypothetical question, would Norway or Denmark have started the violence against Russia like Georgia did, or would Russia just attack Norway or Denmark without just cause, sort of like the US did with Iraq?

my2hands

i saw ed at blockbuster tonight...

Solat13

JD Sal wrote:

In your hypothetical question, would Norway or Denmark have started the violence against Russia like Georgia did, or would Russia just attack Norway or Denmark without just cause, sort of like the US did with Iraq?

You're right I did use a poor example. But Russia's response to Georgia's initial move was a little excessive. The thing is if Georgia was in NATO, Russia's response probably wouldn't have been as large and Georgia probably wouldn't have tried to reclaim the breakaway provinces and the conflict probably never would have happened.

slightofjeff

I can't wait to watch the full interview either ... although the "war with Russia" thing is a bit misleading.

She said if Georgia were a member of NATO, which the U.S. has been pushing for for some time, we would be obligated to support them if Russia invaded again.

The "Palin says war with Russia" headline is the most sensational possible spin you could put on it.

It's akin to the media reporting the war in Iraq was a mission from God, when she really said nothing of the sort.

Like I said, I'm really looking forward to seeing the rest. We should know as much of these candidates as possible. I hope it is as good and revealing as O'Reilly's interview of Obama.

Wobbie

slightofjeff wrote:

It's akin to the media reporting the war in Iraq was a mission from God, when she really said nothing of the sort.

Oh, really?

GIBSON: You said recently, in your old church, "Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God." Are we fighting a holy war?

PALIN: You know, I don't know if that was my exact quote.

GIBSON: Exact words.

I watched this interview and it was a train wreck.

cubbieblue82

Put it this way people. Do we want a war with Russia over the Ukraine and Georgia?

This goes against both candidates, but I do not think we need to force the issue militarily here.

What is the benefit for us or Europe to enter into a contractual agreement to defend these countries?

Denmark and Norway have no historical connection to Russia therefore it is highly unlikely that Russia would ever attack those nations. These 2 countries are populated by a huge percentage of ethnic Russians. In the "breakaway" regions of both countries, Russians actually outnumber ethnic Georgians and Ukranians respectively.

Let's be honest here, Russia invaded Georgia in part to provoke us and Europe. It's all a game of chess so to speak.

cubbieblue82

PEPPER wrote:

You are spreading untruth!!!!!!

GIBSON: You said recently, in your old church, “Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God.” Are we fighting a holy war?

PALIN: You know, I don’t know if that was my exact quote.

GIBSON: Exact words.

PALIN: But the reference there is a repeat of Abraham Lincoln’s words when he said — first, he suggested never presume to know what God’s will is, and I would never presume to know God’s will or to speak God’s words.

But what Abraham Lincoln had said, and that’s a repeat in my comments, was let us not pray that God is on our side in a war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God’s side.

That’s what that comment was all about, Charlie.

GIBSON: I take your point about Lincoln’s words, but you went on and said, “There is a plan and it is God’s plan.”
What she actually said:

“Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God,” she exhorted the congregants. “That’s what we have to make sure that we’re praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God’s plan.”
Allahpundit rips Gibson.

How is there any difference in meaning between the 2 phrases?

How can you interpret that our leaders our sending our soldiers out as a "task that is from God" as different from God's plan? They're the same damn thing!

slightofjeff

imalive wrote:

Oh, really?

GIBSON: You said recently, in your old church, "Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God." Are we fighting a holy war?

And this is my point exactly. That's not the full quote Palin said in church.

She asked to "PRAY THAT our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God."

There's a difference, and a very important one.

I thought her answer to this question was the best one of the entire interview.