Tonight the world will be treated to the new season of the apprentice Charles Gibson Interview.
I feel it is important that the world gets to understand Sarah Palin and feel comfortable that she is qualified to be POTUS in about 6 months.
So many of the questions that I think Mr Gibson can ask. or Governor Palin can volunteer, that the world would like to know, revolve around foreign affairs. Specifically what her positions are on some current topics, and how she might engage certain real world circumstance. After all, that 3am phone call might really come.
What we do know from her stump speech in Alaska last night is that she thinks that victory in iraq is within sight.
This is a relief because a group called thinkprogess.org has compiled this list of her other positions on Iraq
ON FOREIGN POLICY
Palin Hasn’t Given The War In Iraq Much Thought. Palin told the Alaska Business Monthly, "I’ve been so focused on state government, I haven’t really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place." [Alaska Business Monthly, 3/1/07]
Palin Has Never Been To Iraq. In her only trip overseas, Palin visited Alaska National Guard troops stationed in Kuwait and Germany in July 2007. [AP, 7/25/07]
Palin Believes That The Iraq War Is A Task ‘From God.’ Speaking at the Wasilla Assembly of God church in June, Palin said that "our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God." [Huffington Post, 9/2/08]
Palin Believes The Iraq War Was Fought Over Oil. "We are a nation at war and in many [ways] the reasons for war are fights over energy sources," Palin told BusinessWeek in an interview. [BusinessWeek, 8/29/08]
Palin Didn’t Have A Passport Until 2007. Palin first obtained a passport in July 2007 for her trip to Kuwait and Germany to visit Alaska National Guard troops. Her only other trip outside of the United States was to Canada. A Palin spokeswoman had previously said that Palin had also been to Ireland, although it was actually just a "refueling stop" on her Germany/Kuwait trip. [New York Times, 8/29/08; Politico, 9/2/08]
Since she has never been there, and as recently as 5 months ago hadnt given it much thought, I wonder if Mr Gibson could inquire why she views victory in sight? And what exactly is victory?
On foreign affairs outside of Iraq.
The situation in Georgia and Russia is particularly troublesome.
John McCain supports allowing Georgia to join NATO. NATO by definition HAS to protect any member from attack. Does Gov Palin also believe that Georgia should be allowed into NATO- and how would she have reacted to Russia attacking Georgia recently? Are we able to fulfill this obligation? At Russia's backdoor- while already being overcomitted in the middle east?
I would like it if Mr. Gibson would ask- or perhaps Gov Palin will just randomly offer up her position on Georgia.
Iran
Wow this is a tough one, what do we do about a nuclear armed Iran? They claimed they wanted to wipe Israel off the earth. They have oil and oil contracts with Russia & China- so the UN Security Council isnt going to do anything. A unilateral attack would be very tough. Israel would get dragged into a regional conflict. How do you resolve this?
If Governor Palin addresses this Iran thingie tonight I would feel alot better about her leading the free world in a few months or thereabouts.
While we're at it, we just mentioned China, those pesky Chinese. Did you know they are Walmarts largest supplier? By a lot. Anyway, theres an island near them called Taiwan, if Taiwan wants to declare it's own nationality China says they will invade them. China's pretty tough, Taiwan is pretty close to China - whatcha gonna do?
I think I'm being a little insincere in my questions because I honestly have already decided in my own head (based on really no information, because I wasnt privvy to any) that it's probable that Gov Palin doesn't own any particular insight into solving any of these problems. In all fairness, I think most world leaders are at a loss for real instant solutions.
What I think I'm saying is that I would like some iota of a reason to belive that Sarah Palin is aware of world affairs, has insight, grasps the world condition's and has the judgement needed to navigate through that 3am phone call. Her resume does not address it, thus far her media presence hasn't addressed it. I think she owes it to us to start tonight with this interview to show us exactly why we can sleep at night if these people actually win, and she becomes President in 6-8 months or thereabouts.