Palin On Bin Laden: "Such A Leader Of This Terrorist Movement"

More excerpts have been released from Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric, this time on the topic of foreign policy. These things take on the feeling of a soldier maneuvering through a minefield, and Palin more or less avoids any major mistake when discussing why the war in Afghanistan has become such a hard slog. But her reference to Osama bin Laden as "such a leader of this terrorist movement," does have the potential to become a cultural mainstay.

"The logistics that we are already suggesting here, not having enough troops in the area right now," Palin said. "The... things like the terrain even in Afghanistan and that border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, where, you know, we believe that-- Bin Laden is-- is hiding out right now and... and is still such a leader of this terrorist movement. There... there are many more challenges there. So, again, I believe that... a surge in Afghanistan also will lead us to victory there as it has proven to have done in Iraq. And as I say, Katie, that we cannot afford to retreat, to withdraw in Iraq. That's not gonna get us any better off in Afghanistan either. And as our leaders are telling us in our military, we do need to ramp it up in Afghanistan, counting on our friends and allies to assist with us there because these terrorists who hate America, they hate what we stand for with the... the freedoms, the democracy, the... the women's rights, the tolerance, they hate what it is that we represent and our allies, too, and our friends, what they represent. If we were... were to allow a stronghold to be captured by these terrorists then the world is in even greater peril than it is today. We cannot afford to lose in Afghanistan."

This portion will air on CBS tonight. In the first part, which aired Wednesday evening, Palin had a bit more trouble discussing John McCain's history (or lack thereof) of pushing for greater regulation of the markets. Asked for specifics, she replied: "I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you."

Couric, nevertheless, offered Palin some praise, saying this morning that her guest was "confident, cool calm and collected under difficult circumstances." But, she added, the vice presidential nominee was "not always responsive when she answers questions and falls back to her talking points."

Comments

[Paul Peete - Huffpost Blogger]

To many here forget that it wasn't McCain who picked Palin. He is merely the puppet of the Bush team of neo-fascists who hope to maintain their control of this country that they now have and hoped to be able to ride her affable nature and eagerness for power to into another election. The American voter has been sufficiently divided into Karl Rove segments that give her a chance to cobble together enough support for them to steal the election and complete their takeover which was slowed in 2006.

[InfiniteShibumi]

You mean the Maverick didn't pick his own running mate? Oh, the horror!

[naeldwyck]

with her cherished "women's rights" which need defending against extremists surely she didn't mean women's right of control over their own bodies, right?

[mgray34]

Never thought I would say this, but I almost feel sorry for her. McDo Do really did her a disservice by picking her when she was not ready yet. This is the true meaning of sexism in its worse form.

[LA2000]

She sounds as lost as any person off the street would answering these questions. It's all so vague. Poorly delivered, mixed up talking points with no insight. And she sounds so shaky and nervous. Whatever possessed her to think she was up to the job?

Good thing for America most "hockey moms" (or dads) don't have the outsized ego to think they could just hop into a presidential campaign and wing it.

[Prot]

I don't get why people keep saying inexperience when it's just sheer ignorance that trumps her readiness for the VP job. I know of another candidate* on the race who is lacking in experience too but shows dominance, knowledge and wisdom on policy matters. I think people should start calling it what it is and not what it's not.

(*If that was not obvious I was referring to Obama)

[zees]

she's too inexperien­ced..maybe given a few years she'd then be a better, more prepared VP candidate. She accepted the job fully knowing she's not ready YET for this. I now feel bad for her but she CHOSE to say yes to being on the ticket and put herself before the country.

[westportmike]

You're right Zees, she is inexperienced. She should never have said yes to McCain, but who among us would have said no? honestly. I've noticed recently she appears to have lost her Zest and confidence and surprisingly I find that kind of sad.

[naeldwyck]

If McCain asked, I would have say no, honestly (and not only because I would not be eligible anyway); except perhaps to deliberately derail his campaign, but I'm pretty sure that's not what Palin has in mind. Obama, on the other hand, would never have been stupid enough to ask me.

[westminster]

is she reading off notes?

[Rosiestar]

It sure looked that way. She must have looked down at her hands at least 5 times.

[westportmike]

Remember people, we are supposed to be sensitive, caring and tolerant people, the cheap shots make us all look small. She's unprepared and in way over her head. She is not the "stupidest bimbo that ever walked on planet earth", not even close.

[notb observer]

No, I'm sorry, this is a person running for VP of the USA. She is an adult. She has 5 children of her own. She was town mayor and is now state governor. She said herself not too many months ago that she did not know what the vice-president did. Then she accepted the nomination without hesitation when it was offered to her.
This is not the kind of considered, thoughtful and informed decision making that we must expect from someone running for the 2nd highest office in the land !! She should have declined respectfully, and she certainly had enough legitimate reasons to choose from.
Her decision to accept was either completely arrogant if she knew she was not prepared, or ridiculously infantile if she did not.
Either way, she demonstrated to any reasonable person that she is not responsible enough to assume the post, and certainly not capable of filling in as president. I feel no pity for her. She dove into this arena with eyes wide shut. Let the press and public rip her apart mercilessly, just as she mercilessly hunts animals for sport. She needs to be dropped down several pegs in order to learn to respect her country and her fellow citizens, who she has grossly abused by accepting the VP slot.
End of story !

[brantl]

"She is not the "stupidest bimbo that ever walked on planet earth", not even close."

Close enough that she never should have made it past mayor of the "Mayberry" of Alaska, don't you think?

[nanton29]

You know if this country was not in this crisis , and if I was not preoccupied with what could happen to my 401k and my future after 27 years in my job, I would have been having a blast with Sarah Palin. However this is no longer a joke. McCain gave us Palin and now he and the republican leadership is prepared to allow this country to face a financial meltdown. The exact provisions in the bailout package that they objected to today in this meeting with Bush, will be acceptable to them next week after this country nears imminent collapse, just so that he McCain will come riding in on his horse as if to the rescue. That way, they can claim McCain as a savior and hopefully propel him onto victory in November. But as we say in the vernacular ' don't even try that' , we have wised up to them. McCain can pack his bag and take Ms Sarah with him. Not this time. ' Country first' my big toe.

[cluelessinSD]

Well my bank was seized today (Wamu) all I can think is, Good thing I have less than 100 grand in the bank.

[boophus]

Mine too but I am keeping only the money to cover my internet paid bills in my account. They say nothing will change as far as customers but hey I can't wait 6 months to get back our checking account money or however long it would take a broke FDIC to print money to replace it. We're stockpiling a little cash pile at home in case. Of course then inflation could take off and that little pile would be worth what.... maybe a loaf of bread.

I keep telling my self "fear is the mind killer" and try to stay feisty and angry. Doing a lot of shadow boxing and dart throwing at a picture of Palin and McCain. I already totally shredded one of the Shrub.

[crat4ever]

"In what respect, Charlie?"

[naeldwyck]

Do you think there is a secret plan to only allow interviews to journalists with two-syllable names, first syllable with an -a- sound, ending -ie?

[In-The-Middle]

BTW, what does "Field Dress a Moose" mean?

[bdaved]

To field dress a freshly-killed game carcass is basically to remove the internal organs. You get the carcass ready to cool down, get the contents of the digestive system that're going to start creating nasty gases out of there. There are organs you may want to save for later like the liver, maybe the heart. Lots of cutting and pretty messy and one reason I never did care much for hunting. Later, when you're better set up for it with a way to lift the carcass you remove the hide and do some basic butchering. A moose is a very heavy animal and when you kill one you've got a lot of work ahead of you.

[notb observer]

After you kill the animal, you have to "prepare" or "dress" it. Depending on the particular animal, this can involve skinning and removal of the internal organs, thus generally cleaning it up. This is done on-site (e.g.: in the field). The "field dressed" animal is then pretty much ready to be hung up (to drain its blood and cure the meat if needed) and then it can be butchered into cuts.
An now you understand why this is such an essential qualification for a VP candidate to have !

[quindy]

It means that when you kill the moose you know how to remove the insides. You don't carry the moose or any other animals with their insides to the tagging station. It's a lovely job.

[MikeyG]

Field dressing means to cut it's abdomen open and remove all the now-useless and damaged (by the bullets) internal organs before they start to leak and rot, whick would spoil the meat. This also makes the carcass lighter and easier to get out of the woods.

In other words, it changes a magnificent creature that was peacefully munching on some shrubbery into a sad, steaming pile of rotting guts.

[MM5]

She is so completely out of her league...even more inarticulate than Bush if that is possible and clearly has no idea what she is saying.

[cycle3man]

Sarah Palin announce the launch of
a line of perfumes, ‘Caribou Dung’.
The slogan: “One whiff and you can
see Russia from your back yard,”

[bantrybay]

Not onlu is Palin not responsive, she is a magpie, repeating the same old prepared responses. If it were not so sad, it would be funny. How sad America is to even believe anyone believes she is capable.?

[repubsrbad]

Please, I don't want a "Palin-isms" calender. I've had 8 different ones from Bush. Please no......