Columnist – John Sammon
Sarah Palin was asked in an interview if the United States would attack Russia if Russia attacked its former province of Georgia?

She said we might… (despite the facts that we usually only fight small really tiny impoverished countries, and that our army is already fully committed in Iraq and Afghanistan, wars that haven’t yet been won, and of course, the unfortunate historical parallels of Hitler and Napoleon when they attacked Russia).

Instead of saying we might attack, an intelligent answer would have been, “why should I speculate? War is an abomination, to be avoided unless there is absolutely no other alternative.”

That would have been an intelligent answer.

We didn’t get that from her.

This former Alaska mayor nobody had ever heard of might have answered further questions on similar subjects in this way.

Interviewer: “Should we attack Bolivia if Bolivia attacked Peru?”

Palin: “Certainly. If we have a defense treaty with Bolivia. Do we?”

Interviewer: “I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

Palin: “Then get one.”

Interviewer: “What about Iran. Would you attack Iran?”

Palin: “Oh, that goes without saying. Iran is a godless country and we have GOD on our side. It would be a mission assigned from GOD. They (Iran) have been asking for it.”

Interviewer: “Yes, but that’s their government. Should the Iranian people, millions of them, women and children, have to also possibly die?”

Palin: “They’re all in it together. I want to bring up one more thing about attacking Russia.”

Interviewer: “Yes?”

Palin: “I have experience in fighting terror because Alaska is close to Russia. I’ve been on the front lines and felt the sting of battle. It’s a lot like a soccer game.”

Interviewer: “I see. Well moving along. What would you do? This is a hypothetical scenario. What would you do if a country such as Pakistan you thought was harboring terrorists? Would you attack Pakistan to enact a regime change? Or would you try to force some kind of concerted consensus or pressure on Pakistan through the UN (United Nations)?”

Palin: “There’s no question. That’s what armies are for. Go in and take ‘em out. It’s a simple world. We just make it look hard. God doesn’t favor the UN. That’s a worthless thing. Do you think that when I had to get my kid to a soccer match, I asked somebody for permission? This is the United States. C’mon!”

Interviewer: “What should be done about the bloodshed and unrest in Africa? In Darfur?”

Palin: “I don’t know anything about that. I’ve been in Alaska. But I wouldn’t rule out military force if the president and God will it.”

Interviewer: “What would you say to charges your campaign has made that Obama doesn’t have the experience to lead and yet you are a relative newcomer to the scene, and will be a heartbeat away from the presidency? Given the fact of Mister McCain’s advanced age?”

Palin: “Oh, that’s easy. He (Obama) has a little experience, just not the right kind, organizing things in neighborhoods wherever he came from. I had to run an entire state (Alaska), the only state that’s like it’s its own separate country. We’re detached from the rest of you, you know. And Russia was right there. That’s a big responsibility.”

Interviewer: “I see.”

Copyright 2008 Sammonsays.

   [Cartoon By: David Horsey]