Palin: War w/Russia May Be Necessary

As we and assuredly many others predicted, based on the limited transcript we have, it looks like Charlie Gibson is going to give us a pitifully softball interview of Palin. Shocka.

Still, from the small amount of the interview just released, we do get a startling and scary anecdote from Governor Palin. When asked by Gibson about the situation in Georgia, Palin called Russia's behavior "unacceptable." Fair enough, we agree strongly on that one. What followed, however, was a gem that pretty neatly encapsulates why Palin is so unqualified and so dangerous. Elaborating further on the crisis, Palin indicated that war with Russia may be inevitable if Russia were to go back into Georgia (though, arguably, they have not yet left in accordance with the Sarkozy Truce terms).

When asked by Gibson if under the NATO treaty, the U.S. would have to go to war if Russia again invaded Georgia, Palin responded: "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.

Lovely. So, Palin, is already commencing with the saber-rattling. Is this what America needs? Another reckless presidency itching to go into another war? And make no mistake, while Russia's behavior in Georgia has been nothing short of revolting, we should not have our national leader(s) threatening war with Putin's nation. If the war in Iraq is still not yet completed, how long would it take to overcome such a foolish endeavor? It is not even worth delving into why war with Russia would be incredible madness.

Here, Palin well confirms many of the fears that have already been annunciated by many people. Sarah Palin has zero experience in foreign policy. I still believe, even after cram sessions with the Team McCain study squad that Palin would have a tough time finding Georgia (or maybe even Russia) on a map. No matter. Just two weeks on the national stage, she is already proclaiming that war with Russia could be on the horizon.

Barack Obama and Co. will certainly have a strong urge tomorrow to make hay of this slice of the interview. They will probably want to make Friday's media theme something along the line of:

Palin threatens war with Russia; yet another reckless GOP ticket advocates war; hasn't America experienced enough war and saber rattling over the last eight years?

Like I implored last week:

Resist the urge. The fruit is low-hanging, but it is poisoned. Leave it on the tree. Blasting Palin, no matter how deserving and even personally satisfying, will get Obama nowhere and only keep her in the news. Obama should focus his fire solely and continually on John McCain. And if he wants to talk about this theme, which is risky in itself because Democrats are always more vulnerable to charges of being soft and weak in world affairs, he should make sure it is in the context of blasting McCain, not Palin, and not even McCain-Palin.

I know the urge is there for Axelrod and Plouffe. Heck, my first instinct was to implore Obama to go off on this. But Obama needs to continue to show restraint and move the debate back to Obama vs. McCain. That is how he is going to win.