I'll Take "Apocalypse-Inducing Foreign Policies" for $200, Alex

[SidneyCarton]

Oh that kooky Sarah Palin! With the number of posts I've done dedicated to her in the last several weeks, you would either assume I'm a major groupie, or that I should just assign an entire category of my blog to her. But seriously folks, she does seem to be the gift that keeps on giving. For example, this afternoon, I get home and see the following headline on Yahoo! News: "Palin Leaves Open Option of War With Russia." If ever I have seen a headline practically begging for commentary, this was the one.

In truth, Gov. Palin's position on this is slightly less apocalyptic than might be assumed at first glance. She would consider war with Russia if it invaded Georgia, and Georgia was already a NATO member. This in and of itself is neither an extreme nor an outlandish position. Indeed, were Georgia a NATO member, then the Russian response to Georgia's ill-conceived attack on South Ossetiya would have necessitated our declaration of war against Russia, indeed we would be required to do so, in order to fulfill the treaty obligations made to an ally. Nor would we be alone in that obligation, for EVERY NATO MEMBER WOULD BE REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO THE HOSTILITIES WITH US.

However, while Gov. Palin's assessment of our treaty obligations were either Ukraine or Georgia NATO members essentially correct, her position as to whether or not these nations should be NATO members is outright insane. In response to Charles Gibson's question on that subject, she responded that she would favor the inclusion of both former Soviet Republics into the alliance despite former Russian President, and current Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's vehement opposition and unabashed hostility at such an action.

Just to clean up the mess from all the spin, let's be clear: Governor Palin is not in favor of going to war with Russia on behalf of Georgia or Ukraine unless we are bound by treaty obligation to do so, but she is heavily in favor of making us take on those treaty obligations which would make such a war possible. Add to that mix a possible McCain Administration which would be riddled with the same Neocons who crafted the oh-so-peaceful Bush foreign policy, a President whose unbridled dislike of the Russians is well known, and allies such as the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, whose penchant for military adventurism has already left his nation in ruins through hasty and ill-conceived wars, and we have a recipe for ruin. For those readers who are unclear as to the likely outcome of a NATO-Russian war, perhaps the following graphic will be illustrative:

:nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke::nuke:

For most politicians, entering into a conflict that would not only annihilate your own nation, but a sizeable part of the human race as well, is a decision to avoid like the plague. But Sarah Palin is not most politicians. An avowed member of a religious movement that actively seeks the end of the world as a desirable method of hastening the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Palin may well see an apocalyptic nuclear war with Russia as the perfect springboard with which to launch the rapture. Isn't two major wars in eight years enough? Can we really seriously consider, at this crucial time, candidates whose foreign policy seems destined to bring about our effective destruction? Ideas such as those voiced by Governor Palin on foreign policy are not merely unwise, they are madness.

[Skwmom]

1. Thanks for the laugh (loved the title).

[SidneyCarton]

2. We aim to please.

n/t

[RagAss]

3. Excellent ........ k&r

[SidneyCarton]

4. Always glad to oblige.

n/t

[SidneyCarton]

5. Kick

For the morning crowd.