AP article pans Palin's interview

[FourScore]

Palin tries to defend qualifications in interview

John McCain running mate Sarah Palin sought Thursday to defend her qualifications but struggled with foreign policy, unable to describe President Bush's doctrine of pre-emptive strikes against threatening nations and acknowledging she's never met a foreign head of state...

SNIP

In the interview Thursday, Palin:

_Appeared unsure of the Bush doctrine — essentially that the United States must help spread democracy to stop terrorism and that the nation will act pre-emptively to stop potential foes.

Asked whether she agreed with that, Palin said: "In what respect, Charlie?" Gibson pressed her for an interpretation of it. She said: "His world view." That prompted Gibson to say "no, the Bush doctrine, enunciated September 2002, before the Iraq war" and describe it to her.

"I believe that what President Bush has attempted to do is rid this world of Islamic extremism, terrorists who are hell bent on destroying our nation," Palin said, though added "there have been mistakes made."

Pressed repeatedly on whether the United States could attack terrorist hideouts in Pakistan without the country's permission, she said: "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."

_Said nuclear weapons in Iran's hands are dangerous, and said "we've got to put the pressure on Iran." Asked three times what her position would be if Israel felt threatened enough to attack Iranian nuclear facilities, Palin repeatedly said the United States shouldn't "second guess" Israel's steps to secure itself.

_Called for Georgia and the Ukraine to be included in NATO, a treaty that requires the U.S. to defend them militarily. She also said Russia's attack into Georgia last month was "unprovoked." Asked to clarify that she'd support going to war over Georgia, she said: "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," she said.

_Said she "didn't hesitate" when McCain asked her to be his running mate. "I answered him 'yes' because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can't blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we're on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can't blink. So I didn't blink then even when asked to run as his running mate."

_Contradicted an assertion she made at her former church that "our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God." Asked whether she thought the United States was fighting a holy war, she said she meant to convey that she agreed with Abraham Lincoln's quote that "I would never presume to know God's will or to speak God's words."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080912/ap_on_el_pr/palin_interview

[Eric J in MN]

1. She didn't contradict herself re "task that is from God."

In the video of her speaking in church, she asks the audience to pray that "our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God." It wasn't an assertion that they are.

The issue isn't a contradiction.

It's whether we want our leaders to think of wars in terms of God's will. I don't.

[Thrill]

2. LMAO. I told you guys the media would spin it for her

.

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. No Author on that AP piece........ normally they have an author

unless they are trying to spin....

[d.amber]

4. Victory in war that you can't blink?!

This woman scares me to death. YOu have to wired in way that you can't blink? I don't want this woman anywhere near the button.

You have to think and pause and consider as president. You can't just jump out and say yes or no without even thinking about what you are saying.

Even my daughten is scared of her. She doesn't have a clue.