5 National Security Hurdles Governor Palin Must Clear Posted by Patrick Barry

1. KNOWLEDGE: Governor Palin must demonstrate the knowledge necessary to be Commander-in-Chief.
Governor Palin has repeatedly cited Alaska’s proximity to Russia as a qualification for being Commander-in-Chief.  This despite the fact that Russia isn’t even in the top twenty countries that trade with Alaska and that Moscow is actually closer to Maine than Alaska.  Moreover, when asked about the Bush Doctrine, Palin did not recognize the argument over preemption that dominated American politics and foreign policy circles for years.  She did not even obtain a passport until last year and has shown little interest in international affairs. 

2. PAKISTAN: Governor Palin must explain the McCain-Palin position on eliminating Al Qaeda’s safe-haven in Pakistan.
Pakistan is one of the most critical issues currently facing our country.  Our intelligence community and the Pentagon believe that the safe haven on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border represents the most likely source of another attack on the United States.  Yet incredibly, Governor Palin’s position on this issue appears to be at odds with John McCain’s.  While he has criticized Barack Obama for arguing that the U.S. should take direct action against high value terrorist targets inside Northwest Pakistan, Governor Palin has made remarks suggesting she supports such measures.

3. IRAN: Governor Palin must explain the McCain-Palin strategy for dealing with Iran.
Governor Palin has called Barack Obama’s proposal to engage in diplomacy with Iran without preconditions “dangerous” and “naïve.”  Yet, it is almost the exact same position as the one taken by one of her own campaign’s advisors – Henry Kissinger.  Moreover, Palin has made public statements that would implicitly give Israel a green light to attack Iran – even though such an action would have serious national security implications for the United States and the Bush administration has reportedly opposed such a move.

4. RUSSIA: Governor Palin must explain the McCain-Palin position on Russia.
Instead of carefully avoiding hypotheticals and inflammatory language, Governor Palin recklessly speculated about a possible war with Russia – the world’s second largest nuclear power.  She must clarify her ticket’s positions on Georgia joining NATO and the potential for war with Russia over South Ossetia.

5. VISION: Governor Palin must articulate what her vision is for American foreign policy
Governor Palin has said little about her own foreign policy views and philosophy.  In an interview with Katie Couric she seemed to take a position similar to the Neoconservatives and George Bush’s first term and early second term that we should be aggressively spreading democracy as the main goal of U.S. foreign policy and that this type of approach would help eliminate terrorism.  She must expand on this view and give a fuller description of her general approach to national security.

KNOWLEDGE

1.  Governor Palin must demonstrate the knowledge necessary to be Commander-in-Chief.
Governor Palin has repeatedly cited Alaska’s proximity to Russia as a qualification for being Commander-in-Chief.  This despite the fact that Russia isn’t even in the top twenty countries that trade with Alaska and that Moscow is actually closer to Maine than Alaska.  Moreover, when asked about the Bush Doctrine, Palin did not recognize the argument over preemption that dominated American politics and foreign policy circles for years.  She did not even obtain a passport until last year and has shown little interest in international affairs.   

• Palin cited Russia’s proximity to Alaska as evidence of her foreign policy experience.  In an interview with Charles Gibson, Palin argued that Russia’s closeness to Alaska gave her insight into Russia behavior.  “They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.”  Later, when asked by Katie Couric to explain how Alaska’s proximity to Russia amounted to foreign policy experience, Palin responded, saying “We have trade missions back and forth. We-- we do-- it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where-- where do they go? It's Alaska.”  However, Governor Palin reportedly “balked” at visiting the Russian side of the Bering Strait and cut funding for the Northern Forum, an organization representing regional governments from Russia, Canada, Finland, Iceland, Japan, China, South Korea and the United States.  Russia is not even one of Alaska’s top twenty trade partners.   [Sarah Palin, 9/11/08. Sarah Palin, 9/25/08. Seattle Times, 9/12/08. AP, 9/25/08]

• Despite claims by the McCain campaign, Sarah Palin has had little experience working with the Alaska National Guard. The McCain Campaign has called Sarah Palin’s role commanding Alaska’s National Guard “foreign policy experience,” with Senator McCain himself stating: “She has been with her troops, the National Guard that she commands, who had been over there and had the experience. I’m proud of her knowledge of these challenges and issues.”  But, in a recent interview, Alaska National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell “said he and Palin play no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations.”  [Politico, 9/07/08. John McCain, 8/31/08. AP, 8/31/08]

• Sarah Palin claimed she has kept an eye on Russian incursions into American airspace, but her claim has been debunked by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). In her interview with Katie Couric, Palin said, “It's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia, as Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America - where do they go? It's Alaska."” But, “[t]he Alaska governor has no command authority over the guardians of U.S. airspace despite her recent suggestion otherwise.  ‘She doesn't have any role in that process,’ Air Force Maj. Allen Herritage, spokesman for the Alaska North American Aerospace Defense Command, told the Daily News.  ‘The authority to launch and respond to a Russian incursion lies with the Alaska NORAD Region commander’ - Air Force Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, he said.”  [New York Daily News, 9/30/08]

• Sarah Palin could not recognize the Bush Doctrine, a term which dominated foreign policy debates for years.  When asked her opinion on the Bush doctrine, the Bush Administration’s national security strategy that propagated the concept of preventive war waged against non-imminent threats, Sarah Palin first replied quizzically, “In what respect, Charlie?” In a brief exchange between Gibson and Governor Palin, which made clear that Palin did not understand the meaning of the Bush Doctrine, Gibson had to explain it to her, saying: “The Bush doctrine, as I understand it, is that we have the right of anticipatory self-defense, that we have the right to a preemptive strike against any other country that we think is going to attack us. Do you agree with that?” She replied “Charlie, 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.” The Bush doctrine, contained in the Administration’s 2002 National Security Strategy, was recognized as the greatest shift in U.S. foreign policy in a generation, and more importantly, served as the foundational justification for the invasion of Iraq. [ABC News, 9/11/08. White House, 09/2002. Washington Post, 6/28/04]

• Palin applied for first passport in 2006; Showed scant interest in foreign relations as Governor of Alaska.  “Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin got her first passport in 2006 and has visited just four countries.”  “According to Alaskan officials and Alaska political analysts, Palin has demonstrated little interest in expanding the state's trade ties with neighboring Canada or Russia compared with some of her predecessors.” [Boston Globe, 9/3/08]

PAKISTAN

2.  Governor Palin must explain the McCain-Palin position on eliminating Al Qaeda’s safe-haven in Pakistan.
Pakistan is one of the most critical issues currently facing our country.  Our intelligence community and the Pentagon believe that the safe haven on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border represents the most likely source of another attack on the United States.  Yet incredibly, Governor Palin’s position on this issue appears to be at odds with John McCain’s.  While he has criticized Barack Obama for arguing that the U.S. should take direct action against high value terrorist targets inside Northwest Pakistan, Governor Palin has made remarks suggesting she supports such measures.

• The nation’s 16 intelligence agencies agree that Al Qaeda has regenerated its ability to strike at the United States through its bases on the Afghan-Pakistan Border. “We assess the group has protected or regenerated key elements of its Homeland attack capability, including: a safe haven in the Pakistan Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), operational lieutenants, and its top leadership.” [National Intelligence Estimate, 7/07]

• In Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ estimation, the greatest threat to the U.S. homeland lies in Western Pakistan.  Last week, Robert Gates said that if you asked him “where the greatest threat to the homeland lies,” he would say, “It’s in Western Pakistan.” [Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, 9/23/08]

• Senator Obama advocates striking high-value terrorist targets in Pakistan with or without the permission of the Pakistani government. “They are plotting to strike again…  If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will.” [Washington Post, 8/02/07]

• The Bush administration has moved to strike terrorist safe havens in Pakistan, bringing it in alignment with Senator Obama’s position.  “President Bush secretly approved orders in July that for the first time allow American Special Operations forces to carry out ground assaults inside Pakistan without the prior approval of the Pakistani government, according to senior American officials…The new orders reflect concern about safe havens for Al Qaeda and the Taliban inside Pakistan.”  This change in course is similar to the one proposed by Barack Obama last year.  [NY Times, 9/10/08. Barack Obama, 8/1/07]

• McCain attacked Obama for his willingness to strike at Al Qaeda targets in Pakistan, accused Obama of “confused” leadership.  John McCain attacked Barack Obama, wondering “Will we risk the confused leadership of an inexperienced candidate who once suggested bombing our ally, Pakistan?”  On Larry King, McCain was asked “If you were president and knew that bin Laden was in Pakistan, you know where, would you have U.S. forces go in after him?” McCain responded “I'm not going to go there.  And here's why, because Pakistan is a sovereign nation.” [MSNBC, 2/20/08. Larry King Live, 7/28/08] 

• But Sarah Palin’s public remarks seem to support of Barack Obama’s positions, not John McCain’s.  Sarah Palin has repeatedly promised to do whatever it takes to strike at al-Qaeda in Pakistan: “I believe that America has to exercise all options in order to stop the terrorists who are hell-bent on destroying America, and our allies. We have got to have all options out there on the table.”  Later, when asked by a voter whether she would want to “cross the border” into Pakistan, she responded “If that’s what we have to do stop the terrorists from coming any further in, absolutely, we should.” [ABC News, 9/11/08. ABC News, 9/28/08]

IRAN

3.  Governor Palin must explain the McCain-Palin strategy for dealing with Iran.
Governor Palin has called Barack Obama’s proposal to engage in diplomacy with Iran without preconditions “dangerous” and “naïve.”  Yet, it is almost the exact same position as the one taken by one of her own campaign’s advisors – Henry Kissinger.  Moreover, Palin has made public statements that would implicitly give Israel a green light to attack Iran – even though such an action would have serious national security implications for the United States and the Bush administration has reportedly opposed such a move.

• Sarah Palin, in lockstep with John McCain, blasted Barack Obama for being willing to engage in tough negotiations with Iran.  “Barack Obama is so off-base in his proclamation that he would meet with some of these leaders around our world who would seek to destroy America and that, and without preconditions being met. That's beyond naïve. And it's beyond bad judgment.” [Sarah Palin, 9/25/08]

• In recent public remarks, one of McCain and Palin’s own advisors appeared to endorse the Obama strategy for dealing with Iran.  McCain-Palin advisor, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, seemed to agree with Barack Obama’s strategy for Iran: “Well, I am in favor of negotiating with Iran… But I do not believe that we can make conditions for the opening of negotiations.” [Former Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, 9/15/08]

• Sarah Palin said the U.S. should never second-guess an Israeli decision to attack Iran.  “We shouldn't second guess Israel's security efforts because we cannot ever afford to send a message that we would allow a second Holocaust, for one. Israel has got to have the opportunity and the ability to protect itself. They are our closest ally in the Mideast. We need them. They need us. And we shouldn't second guess their efforts.” [Sarah Palin, 9/25/08]

• Such a decision carries serious security repercussions, and is already opposed by the Pentagon and most in the Bush administration.  Haaretz reported that the Bush Administration has on numerous occasions sent signals to the Israeli government opposing any military intervention and has specifically made clear that it would not grant overflight rights over Iraq to the Israeli military.  “U.S. National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen both visited here[Israel] in June and, according to the Washington Post, told senior Israeli defense officials that Iran is still far from obtaining nuclear weapons, and that an attack on Iran would undermine American interests. Therefore, they said, the U.S. would not allow Israeli planes to overfly Iraq en route to Iran.”  [Haaretz, 8/13/08]

RUSSIA

4.  Governor Palin must explain the McCain-Palin position on Russia.
Instead of carefully avoiding hypotheticals and inflammatory language, Governor Palin recklessly speculated about a possible war with Russia – the world’s second largest nuclear power.  She must clarify her ticket’s positions on Georgia joining NATO and the potential for war with Russia over South Ossetia.

• Sarah Palin dove right into a dangerous, hypothetical discussion on Russia; said U.S would risk war over NATO expansion.  Asked by Charles Gibson if she would fight a war with Russia to integrate Georgia and Ukraine into NATO, Palin responded, “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.” [Sarah Palin, 9/11/08]

• The Palin-McCain message toward Russia has been reckless and confrontational.  Following Russia’s response to Georgian attacks, John McCain stated: “I know I speak for every American when I say to him today, we are all Georgians.”  Sarah Palin called for “economic sanctions” and “diplomatic pressure” so that the U.S. could perform a “mission of keeping our eye on Russia.” [John McCain, 8/12/08. Sarah Palin, 9/11/08]

• Russia maintains the 2nd largest supply of strategic nuclear weapons in the world.  [NTI, 2008]

• 5 former Secretaries of State recently criticized the McCain and Palin’s plans to confront and marginalize Russia.  Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger stated that “We have a number of common issues that we have to settle, if possible, with Russia.”  Kissinger was joined in this assessment by others, including Former Secretary of State Jim Baker who said “Look at it in a strategic context and not tactically…we have some big-picture issues that we need to be conscious of when we think about our future with Russia, and we ought to cooperate with them where we can…” [Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, 9/15/08. Former Secretary of State Jim Baker, 9/15/08]

• Secretary of Defense Robert Gates: U.S. Should avoid confrontation with Russia.  “The United States spent 45 years working very hard to avoid a military confrontation with Russia,” Gates said. “I see no reason to change that approach today.” [Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, 8/14/08]

VISION

5.  Governor Palin must articulate what her vision is for American foreign policy
Governor Palin has said little about her own foreign policy views and philosophy.  In an interview with Katie Couric she seemed to take a position similar to the Neoconservatives and George Bush’s first term and early second term that we should be aggressively spreading democracy as the main goal of U.S. foreign policy and that this type of approach would help eliminate terrorism.  She must expand on this view and give a fuller description of her general approach to national security. 

• Palin’s foreign policy worldview revolves around aggressive talk about democracy promotion:

“[W]e will make every effort possible to help spread democracy for those who desire freedom, independence, tolerance, respect for equality. That is the whole goal here in fighting terrorism also. It's not just to keep the people safe, but to be able to usher in democratic values and ideals around this, around the world.” [Sarah Palin, 9/25/08]

“And I do believe, though, that this war against extreme Islamic terrorists is the right thing…to fight for our country, for democracy, for our freedoms…Charlie, those are freedoms that too many of us just take for granted.” [Sarah Palin, 9/11/08]

“I see the United States as being a force for good in the world. And as Ronald Reagan used to talk about, America being the beacon of light and hope for those who are seeking democratic values and tolerance and freedom. I see our country being able to represent those things that can be looked to … as that leadership, that light needed across the world.”  [Sarah Palin, 9/25/08]

• Palin’s remarks include much of the same logic that George Bush used to get us into the Iraq War.  In an important speech to the American Enterprise Institute a month before the war President Bush made the case that toppling Saddam Hussein would spread democracy throughout the Middle East and fight terrorism.  “The safety of the American people depends on ending this direct and growing threat. Acting against the danger will also contribute greatly to the long-term safety and stability of our world. The current Iraqi regime has shown the power of tyranny to spread discord and violence in the Middle East. A liberated Iraq can show the power of freedom to transform that vital region, by bringing hope and progress into the lives of millions. America's interests in security, and America's belief in liberty, both lead in the same direction: to a free and peaceful Iraq.”  [George Bush, 2/26/08]

• Palin’s remarks echo those of prominent Neoconservatives, such as William Kristol and Robert Kagan.  Kristol said, “American power should be used not just in the defense of American interests but for the promotion of American principles.”  Kagan made similar comments, saying “American power, even deployed under a double standard, may be the best means of advancing progress.”  [William Kristol, 5/18/03. Robert Kagan, 4/17/03]

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