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

[chitown8]

If I go by this interview this Bailout will provide more jobs and helping healthcare reform!


Save the cheerleader save the world!

[exPatPatti]

Why are my within-the-rules comments not being posted when the tro//s are posting all over the place?

[lokipuck]

Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
FIVE HOURS LATER!!

[exPatPatti]

She called Osama "such a leader of this terrorist movement" oh no she didn't. She will have the terrorists rallying around her statement! Does she even THINK before she opens that overly-lipsticked pie hole?

I heard someone say today they were voting McCain-Pain because "she is pretty, a mom and can shoot a gun."

And they were dead serious.

We're toast.

[sharri]

I still hear from many people that think Obama is a Muslim. People who were not going to vote until she came along and they got a fanatic Christian to vote for.

[bdaved]

I have heard Governor Palin speak coherently, with ease and confidence, when she talks about something she knows about, is familiar with, and has strong feelings about. When I see her struggling like she does in these interviews I get the impression she is trying to act like she knows things she doesn't. People do this all the time when they're trying to make an impression on someone; it's human nature and it doesn't make her a bad person. But that ain't what I want to see in my vice president, and when somebody's trying to pull the wool over my eyes on matters of substance I just don't like it.

[stevea66]

When I was 19 I had to debate the head of forensics (public speaking) at my university. We tied. And I'm not even that smart. Palin wouldn't last 10 minutes with ME. How in the hell would she even have an intelligent conversation with another world leader? Check for an ear piece during her debate - it's the only way she stands a chance.

[hockeeman48]

You guys just don't get it. Who cares how she acts with a media rep. What we in small town and middle America care about is the fact that she is one of us. She knows our values and we love her. Go Sarah.

[lokipuck]

So, what are these "values" that only small town and middle America possess?

[stevea66]

I, too, have tried to have conversations with some Palin fanatics. I just don't get what they see. But I guess it's ONLY what they see, because it's not what they're hearing, for God's sake. I keep hearing things like, "I'm a mother, too." "She gets hunters." "She's a woman." Wouldn't it be embarrassing to be an American if these two are elected? I'm already embarrassed, but jeez!

[sharri]

I nominate Olivia from are you smarter than a 5th grader

any second

[DemMD]

O MY GOD!!!!!!!

This is the first time I'm watching this interview, I didn't watch it earlier because I was like "It can't be THAT bad." I'm absolutely dumbfounded, completely speechless. There's NO WAY she can debate B ! d e n. How would that even be remotely possible?!?

[Kajaan]

you are all missing the point....
i see the look on Katie Couric's face and the caption that i read above her head is "DOES YOUR BRAIN HEAR WHAT YOU MOUTH IS SAYING?"..­...see for yourself..­.the look in on Katie Couric's face!!!
she has fast become my other best talking head after Jack cafferty !!!!

[karma namdak]

Now that's funny! And so true!

[ChiGuy]

A high school freshman trying out for the debate team could do a better job at this stuff than Palin.

[sharri]

I have tried to have an intelligent conversation with a few mc/ p supporters.

i have said pretend you're telling me about them for the first time, convince me. all I end up with " marriage is a union between a man and a woman" I ask what about health insurance, the homeless etc.. and am told they can't get past the gay marriage thing.....­.......
God help us

[lokipuck]

I am starting to believe that religious 'fundamentals" are exercising their right to be stupid.
All along I had given them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they were lonely, needed to feel a part of something or were brainwashed from a young age.
Nope. Just dumb as rocks.

[drolleen]

This woman sounds like she is on some chemical. Students in my class need to give talks. They need to research a topic and present their position. If they did not prepare AND are hung over they sound like Palin. Scary.

[stevea66]

Oh, my God. My 10 year old is more articulate than Palin! Seriously.

Not only that, but she said the surge in Iraq has brought us victory. Yea. Okay. Whatever you say, Pa-lyin'.

[superba]

I've seen third-graders giving more complicated book reports than this fool of a woman was called on to answer. "Cool, calm and collected?!" Are you kidding?! She looked like she was about to keel over from the strain. I thought it was impossible for any public speaker to be less graceful than George W. Bush, and wow, was I wrong.