By Jonathan Allen CQ Staff
Published: 09-12-08
In her first nationally televised interview since being named Republican John McCain ’s vice presidential running mate late last month Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin appeared to be unfamiliar with the term “Bush Doctrine” even as she echoed some elements of the president’s foreign policy.
Palin voiced support for the entry of Ukraine and Georgia into NATO and the concomitant U.S. commitment to defend those nations from Russian aggression should they join NATO said multiple times the United States should not “second guess” Israel’s right to defend itself and declined to rule out unilateral U.S. military action in Pakistan to pursue American enemies in an interview with ABC’s Charlie Gibson.
Asked whether she supported the Bush doctrine Palin hesitated and asked “In what respect Charlie?”
Gibson asked Palin what she thought he meant by Bush Doctrine.
“His world view” she said without elaborating.
After a roundabout answer in which Palin credited Bush with attempting “to rid this world of Islamic extremism” but said “there have been blunders along the way” Gibson defined “his understanding” of the doctrine as a policy supportive of pre-emptive strikes against threats to the United States.
“Charlie 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” Palin said.
The Bush Doctrine first articulated shortly after the Sept. 11 2001 terrorist assault and expanded in late 2002 in advance of the U.S. invasion of Iraq provided the ideological underpinnings for the U.S. pursuit of terrorists worldwide and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
It was by far Palin’s shakiest exchange in a foreign-policy focused interview that was her first real exposure to media scrutiny.
Palin cited her involvement in energy issues in oil-rich Alaska as a national security credential and added that she sees energy as a foundation of national security.
She said she did not hesitate when asked to join the ticket and believes she is prepared to run the country if necessary.
“I’m ready” she said. “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.”
Palin who acknowledged she has never met a foreign head of state issued tough talk for Russia in the wake of its invasion of Georgia.
Palin’s First Interview: “I’m Ready”
“We’ve got to keep an eye on Russia” she said. “For Russia to have exerted such pressure in terms of invading a smaller democratic country unprovoked is unacceptable.”
She said she favors including Ukraine and Georgia in NATO even if that would commit the United States to defending those nations against an invasion.
“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.
She suggested Iran might allow terrorists access to nuclear weapons and stressed support for Israel.
