ABC’s Charlie Gibson asked a lot of tough and pointed questions of Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin. This subliminalog covers the section on her willingness to go to war with Russia over Georgia. Should the United States try to maintain the territorial integrity of Georgia?
GIBSON: Let's start, because we are near Russia, let's start with Russia and Georgia.
The administration has said we've got to maintain the territorial integrity of Georgia. Do you believe the United States should try to restore Georgian sovereignty over South Ossetia and Abkhazia?
PALIN: First off, we're going to continue good relations with Saakashvili there (John and him are really tight). I was able to speak with him the other day and giving him my commitment, as John McCain's running mate, that we will be committed to Georgia (My son Track is ready to go there as soon as he finishes two tours in Iraq). And we've got to keep an eye on Russia (Cold War fear tactics). For Russia to have exerted such pressure in terms of invading a smaller democratic country, unprovoked, is unacceptable and we have to keep...(That’s what Saakashvili says)
GIBSON: You believe unprovoked.
PALIN: I do believe unprovoked and we have got to keep our eyes on Russia, under the leadership there (it's different for George Bush). I think it was unfortunate (it was okay invading Iraq). That manifestation that we saw with that invasion of Georgia shows us some steps backwards that Russia has recently taken away (lie the United States invading Iraq) from the race toward a more democratic nation with democratic ideals (to control Arab oil).That's why we have to keep an eye on Russia (when they do it it's bad, we’re doing “God’s task”).
And, Charlie, you're in Alaska. We have that very narrow maritime border between the United States, and the 49th state, Alaska, and Russia (I know geography too.) They are our next door neighbors. (Pretty good huh?) We need to have a good relationship with them. They're very, very important to us and they are our next door neighbor. (I think I said that already)
How does Alaska being close to Russia give you insight into what’s happening in Russia?
GIBSON: What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?
PALIN: They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska. (Yes we know, we can read a map too)
GIBSON: What insight does that give you into what they're doing in Georgia?
PALIN: Well, I'm giving you that perspective of how small our world is and how important it is that we work with our allies to keep good relation with all of these countries, especially Russia (they’re our neighbors). We will not repeat a Cold War (Hot war with really big guns). We must have good relationship with our allies, pressuring, also, helping us to remind Russia that it's in their benefit, also, a mutually beneficial relationship for us all to be getting along (knife held at the throat).
We cannot repeat the Cold War. We are thankful that, under Reagan, we won the Cold War, without a shot fired, also (Communism fell because economically it doesn’t work and it imploded on an economic basis). We've learned lessons from that in our relationship with Russia, previously the Soviet Union (See? I even remember the old name.).
We will not repeat a Cold War. We must have good relationship with our allies, pressuring, also, (It think I said the exact same thing before two paragraphs earlier) helping us to remind Russia that it's in their benefit, also, a mutually beneficial relationship for us all to be getting along ( I almost went there once, it’s only 2.5 miles away you know? Did I tell you they’re our neighbor?).
Should Georgia and Ukraine become part of NATO?
GIBSON: Would you favor putting Georgia and Ukraine in NATO?
PALIN: Ukraine, definitely, yes. Yes, and Georgia (Yeah that sounds like a great idea because I was told to say that).
GIBSON: Because Putin has said he would not tolerate NATO incursion into the Caucasus.
PALIN: (Who’s Putin?) Well, you know, the Rose Revolution (Georgia), the Orange Revolution (Ukraine), (Bush steals campaign from Gore by arguing potential government instability if fight continues in court, causing Gore to cave on basis of fear), those actions have showed us that those democratic nations, I believe, deserve to be in NATO.
Putin thinks otherwise. Obviously, he thinks otherwise, but... (we’re willing to risk a nuclear confrontation over it).
Would you then go to war with Russia if they went into Georgia?
GIBSON: And under the NATO treaty, wouldn't we then have to go to war if Russia went into Georgia?
PALIN: 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 (We need to make more babies so we have enough soldiers, that’s why I’m against abortion).
But NATO, I think, should include Ukraine, definitely, at this point and I think that we need to –(Go to war for profit) especially with new leadership coming in on January 20, being sworn on ("on", "in", what’s the difference?), on either ticket, we have got to make sure that we strengthen our allies, our ties with each one of those NATO members (Invite Russia).
We have got to make sure that that is the group that can be counted upon to defend one another in a very dangerous world today (include Russia for world-wide safety).
GIBSON: And you think it would be worth it to the United States, Georgia is worth it to the United States to go to war if Russia were to invade?
PALIN: What I think is that smaller democratic countries that are invaded by a larger power is something for us to be vigilant against (Korea – 55,000 dead; Viet Nam 109,000 dead; Invasion of Grenada 19 dead; Invasion of Panama 24 dead; Operation Desert storm – Iraq 358 dead; War in Iraq 4,721 and counting; War in Afghanistan 513 and counting). We have got to be cognizant of what the consequences are if a larger power is able to take over smaller democratic countries (possible world war).
And we have got to be vigilant (against inciting war). 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 (1.75 liter of Smirnoff hits $30).
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 (which creates tensions, i.e. Cold War), diplomatic pressure (like George W. Bush leadership?), again, counting on our allies to help us do that in this mission (unilaterally like Bush) of keeping our eye on Russia and Putin (fear mongering) and some of his desire to control and to control much more than smaller democratic countries (like US to control Middle East Oil).
His mission, if it is to control energy supplies (like we want to do), also, coming from and through Russia (we’re neighbors, we should be able to have theirs too), that's a dangerous position for our world to be in, if we were to allow that to happen (before we do it).
William S. James, Peacenick 1967 - Present
