Republican Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin on Thursday said the United States shouldn't "second guess" steps taken by Israel to secure itself, adding that a nuclear weapon in the hands of Iran is dangerous and the United States must "put the pressure" on the Islamic Republic. Palin statements came during an interview Thursday with Charlie Gibson of ABC, her first major interview given since she accepted the vice presidential nomination in late August.
Palin did stumble when asked if she supported the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive attacks on states that threaten the United States, seeming at first unsure of what Charlie Gibson was referring to, then saying "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," before adding "there have been mistakes made."
Palin also 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," in response to Gibson's questions on whether the United States should go after terrorist hideouts in Pakistan without securing the country's permission first.
| Another correct citation of the Hague Convention ... |
Palin has been beset by criticism that she is not ready to be president should something happen to McCain, with the majority of criticism falling on her lack of foreign policy experience. The Alaska governor and former mayor of the small town of Wasilla acknowledged the criticisms during the interview saying the fact that she hadn't traveled abroad much and had never met a foreign head of state only illustrated the fact that she is not a long time Washington insider. |