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

[Candyx]

Sad...she is not ready for prime time and the Mccain camp should be ashamed of themselves for putting her out on the stage like that. The debate next week will have to be basic question and answer if not she will flop. She really doesn't know the lesson. Sorry.

[sharri]

it's not sad for her. it's sad for us. Her and the camp knew or should have known what the is. She didn't blink and they showed a level of arrogance that I thought only Hugo Chavez possessed.

[sharri]

"what the game is"

[DebbieinPhx]

O....
M,.....
G......

...Are you KIDDING me? Are you FREAKING kidding me? She can't even speak correctly!!!!! I'd be more understanding of this problem if English was her second language, but to the best of my knowledge, Alaskans DO speak English...­.. What In The World could ANYONE be thinking, by supporting her as a viable Vice Presidential Candidate???????? She's a disaster..­....

I need Tylenol...­.. lots and lots of Tylenol now. Kuddos to Katie Couric, she has a much, MUCH stronger stomach than I.... yeesh.

[athenasword]

Amen to the Tylenol (advil for me thanks) At first I thought "wow, Katie, you were great and managed to keep a straight face". Now I would have to ask WHY did you keep a straight face.

[Js420]

i couldnt finish watching this...thi­s is saaad. Go home & be a mom

[VivaComputers]

One has to wonder, does Sarah Palin believe anything that comes out of her own mouth? It seems rather forced in my humble opinion ...

[DebbieinPhx]

My thought is she's trying to mouth a mish mash of hastily memorized talking points and a hap-
hazard attempt has been made to try and clean up her diction, which as anyone who has worked on something as difficult as trying to literally change the way they ennuciate or in any way seriously modify their patterns of speech, for any reason knows...it is EXTREMELY difficult, and is a long, long term process. My thought is it is something that takes many, many months if not years to pull off. But to attempt this in a matter of a couple weeks or days... not possible.. you'd get... well, Sara Palin. A confused, unintelliglbe, disasterous mess.

[Candyx]

you can't believe what you don't know...and you know the answer...s­he doesn't know the lesson

[mercury613]

Katie my dear, YOU are much more qualified to be Vice President of the U.S. than Sarah Palin is.

[metogamekun]

*heavy sigh*

[jja]

The PTA called.

They want their "leader" back.

[Candyx]

not after this inteview

[haveitoldyoulately]

Katie Couric must be jumping up and down knowing she is smarter, and more informed, then the candidate for VP of these United States

I give Katie credit for not laughing in this woman's face.

[mercury613]

Probably the only reason Couric didn't laugh in Palin's face is that she was frustrated because the woman DIDN'T ANSWER A SINGLE QUESTION SHE ASKED!!!!!

I don't understand how anyone can think Palin is fit to be VP.

[momforbetterworld]

I can't believe Katie Couric did not say right out loud: Sarah Palin is dumb. I can't believe she did not have the courage to speak up as a journalist.

[Balloonman]

Remember for some, "SHE IS ONE OF US." And if these good folks weren't so busy skinning rabbits and hauling hockey pucks to practice they might be doing some heavy politics too.

[athenasword]

The question is WHY did Katie just not laugh. Charlie too. This lady is woefully unprepared and Tina Fey, Wanda Sykes, Letterman, National Enquierer are the only ones who will say it plain.

[TongoRad]

McCain has to go down as the most craven, heartless coward to ever run for president. How dare you insult us by choosing this dimwit as your running mate.

[mongus]

What?

What the hell kind of an answer was that, for the second most powerful person in the free world?

We need to be scared, very scared of this 'airhead'.

Republicans and others who are not sure who they will vote for, are you sure you want this 'dolt' a heartbeat away from the presidency?

May God help up us in this election.

[foolchild0]

"The Bin Laden" LOL!

[haveitoldyoulately]

Is that like "The Donald" (Trump)

[DereksDontRun]

They hate us for women's rights? Sarah wants to deep six the centerpiece of women's right's: Roe vs Wade. Oh my! What a scary small minded person.

[Eaglegunner]

Let me get this right, most Americans would vote for a stone cold illiterate & Naval dunce to run their country rather than educated 'Elites'? I'm at odds here please someone explain...­. i'm guessing that 99.9% of the American Adult populace are more informed than this lady and yet a career politician chose this lady as his VP pick....

Can't anyone over there say 'the Emperor is not wearing any clothes'???????????

[fdraiden]

yea-you sound really informed. not, not, not!

[gman1232]

Katie...yo­u're being awful nice in your description of what it was like to interview her.

[alexis d]

I know, right?! And you could see from the look on her face while she was interviewing Palin that she Could. Not. Believe. This. $h!t.

[Mozart123]

Who will answer the phone at 3am in the McCain/Palin administration? No one, they'll be in their bunkers.