Summry: A prominent neocon continues the campaign to convince us that Alaska’s proximity to Russia gives Gov Palin foreign policy experience. This post, third in a series, discusses why this is important, and that regarding it as funny might turn out to be gallows humor.
Sidebar message: Whatever your views, please make them heard in this election. Vote. Donate time and/or money. Write and talk about the issues.
After McCain selected Palin, I asked McCain believes we are stupid. Is he correct? — and what this tells us about McCain. McCain’s team immediately began working to convince us that Palin is qualified. We examined the first salvos in the 2nd post, Alaska is near Russia, and Gov Palin’s other foreign policy experience. One of those on the firing line was Mrs. McCain.
Some readers have suggested that using Cindy McCain’s views “to slam Sarah Palin is a new low” (source) — as if her remarks about Gov Palin’s foreign policy experience were of minor importance — casual, even personal thoughts. Not so. Mrs. McCain’s remarks have been repeated by many prominent conservatives, suggesting a deliberate campaign. Examples:
- Michael Barone (article is here, Wikipedia bio here), a senior writer for US News and World Reports and frequent guest on FOX news.
- Jonah Goldberg, article is here, Wikipedia bio here), author and Editor-at-large of National Review Online, frequently appearing on TV.
This campaign continues, with other “names” working the same message. In skilled hands the truth of a proposition has little effect on its value as propaganda, as we may discover in November.
Our subject for today: “Sarah Palin’s experience“, by Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., Center for Security Policy, 2 September 2008 — Excerpt:
… Napoleon is said to have declared that “Geography is destiny.” That certainly is true of Gov. Palin.
Her state is adjacent to Russia, a nation that has in recent years demonstrated a rising aggressiveness towards its neighbors. The targets are not just the relatively weak and formerly enslaved countries on its littoral like Georgia – the scene of a bloody invasion last month aimed at toppling the elected government there. Moscow has also conducted simulated strategic bombing runs with Soviet-era long-range, nuclear-capable aircraft. These offensive missions are designed to penetrate U.S. northern air defenses in a manner reminiscent of the most provocative of Kremlin behavior during the Cold War.
As it happens, the best of those defenses – including a squadron of America’s state-of-the-art interceptors, the F-22 Raptor – are stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage. Governor Palin would not only be intimately familiar with that facilities’ vital role in protecting U.S. territory. She would also appreciate its importance in the projection of American power in Asia and beyond as much of the nation’s long-range transport aircraft supplying our military operations around the world transit through Elmendorf. Every Commander-in-Chief should have such insights.
Speaking of geography, Alaskan territory is also along the trajectory of ballistic missiles launched eastward out of Stalinist North Korea. For that reason, among others, Alaska’s Fort Greely was selected as the site for the principal U.S. ground-based defense against such missiles.
As that state’s governor, Sarah Palin would know more by osmosis – if nothing else – about the necessity for U.S. anti-missile systems than either Messrs. Obama or Biden.
… At present, one can only infer Sarah Palin’s grasp of the danger posed by today’s principal enemy: adherents to the brutally repressive and seditious program the Islamists call Shariah …
Just ignore the whole subject; have a laugh and a drink
Laughter is a common reaction by those not buying this story. Like Robert Dreyfuss in “Sarah Palin, Foreign Policy Expert“, The Nation, 2 September 2008. If you find Gaffney’s analysis believable, please read Dreyfuss’ essay. While justified IMO, Dreyfuss misses the point of the exercise. It is desirable for subjects not affected by the message to disregard it, rather than it motivate them to act. Laughter is the opiate of the “chattering classes.” Let them laugh, so that they then have four years to cry.
Why this is important
The Republican Party’s message here (narrowly defined) is delusional nonsense. The very act of selling it makes us weaker, promulgating negative information — memes that cloud our minds, sowing confusion. Instead of debating the many serious issues facing us, working them through to a consensus, America must collectively sort though the two story lines about the qualifications of a potential President.
Whatever Obama’s qualifications, they were discussed and tested during the past 8 months — with millions of voters rendering judgment. Now, in the last two months — when we should be playing our role in setting national policy for the next 4 years — we discuss the executive experience gained by a part-time mayor of a tiny village plus 20+ months as governor.
To gauge the seriousness of this media campaign, consider the author, Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.
Per Wikipedia, he is the founder and president of the think tank Center for Security Policy, as well as a contributor, contributing editor, and columnist for a number of publications, including the Washington Times, National Review Online, WorldNetDaily, and Jewish World Review. He is a leading neoconservative. … Gaffney is the lead author of War Footing (Naval Institute Press, 2005), a a founding member of the Set America Free Coalition (dedicated to reducing dependence on foreign oil), and member of the current iteration of the Committee on the Present Danger.
Look at his organization, the Center for Security Policy (CSP). Here is the Wikipedia page. The CSP received $ 6,237,624 in grants from 1988 – 2006 (inclusive) from the 39 conservative philanthropies in Media Transparency‘s database.
From the CSP’s “about us” page.
The Center for Security Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan national security organization that specializes in identifying policies, actions, and resource needs that are vital to American security and then ensures that such issues are the subject of both focused, principled examination and effective action by recognized policy experts, appropriate officials, opinion leaders, and the general public.
The Center was founded in 1988 and has worked to great effect since then in the establishment of successful national security policies through the use of all elements of national power – diplomatic, informational, military, and economic strength. The philosophy of “Peace through Strength” is not a slogan for military might but a belief that America’s national power must be preserved and properly used for it holds a unique global role in maintaining peace and stability.
Please share your comments by posting below (brief and relevant, please), or email me at fabmaximus at hotmail dot com (note the spam-protected spelling).
For more analysis of McCain’s choice of VP
- Zenpundit — who has collected many links on the topic!
- Also drop by Sic Semper Tyrannis, the blog of Patrick Lang (Colonel, US Army, retired) — esp note the comments, which typically run from good to excellent.
- “What is McCain Thinking? One Alaskan’s Perspective.“, by AKMuckraker, posted at Mudflats, 29 August 2008 – A seemingly fair look at Palin.
- Most esp, see National Review Online’s The Corner — a stream of wildly enthusiastic posts.
- “Palin the irresponsible choice?” David Frum, National Post, 29 August 2008 — A conservative dissents from the enthusiasm about Palin.
- “Palin touts stance on ‘Bridge to Nowhere,’ doesn’t note flip-flop“, Anchorage Daily News, 31 August 2008 — IMO a fair review of her record as Gov.
- “No Experience Necessary“, Michael Kinsley, Slate, 31 August 2008 — “How Sarah Palin made the GOP change its mind about presidential qualifications.” Best article so far, IMO!
Skimming #4, the NRO site, is fascinating. Pure identity politics: she’s one of us, we love her. They like her for who she is, not what she can do. Almost zero discussion of her training, experience, or ability to function as President. Strange, very strange for conservatives. And it shows the moral bankruptcy of the Republican Party.
Not about Palin, but useful analysis: “Foreign Policy and the President’s Irrelevance” by George Friedman on Stratfor, 5 Feb 2008
Please share your comments by posting below (brief and relevant, please), or email me at fabmaximus at hotmail dot com (note the spam-protected spelling).
My Posts about the Candidates
1. How the Iraq and Vietnam wars are mirror images of each other (7 February 2008) — Now we have McCain, the leading Republican Presidential candidate, talking of an open-ended commitment to victory in Iraq.
2. What do blogs do for America? (26 February 2008) — As our problems reach critical dimensions and our economy sinks into what is (at best) a severe recession, our national leadership will likely move into the hands of someone with astonishingly little capacity to govern.
3. A look at the next phase of the Iraq War: 2009-2012 (1 March 2008) — What is next in Iraq? None of the leading candidates have expressed any intention of leaving Iraq – except in the distant and vague future. McCain intends to fight so long as (or until) we suffer few casualties, then stay for a long time (perhaps a hundred years, as McCain said here and here) ). On the other hand, Obama has been quite explicit…
4. Our metastable Empire, built on a foundation of clay (3 March 2008) — We can elect leaders with vast ambitions (foreign for McCain, domestic for Obama), but can no longer afford them.
5. How long will all American Presidents be War Presidents? (21 March 2008) — The Presidential campaign rolls on in the seventhyear since 9/11, with the only debate about the Long War being in which nations America should fight. We see this even the speeches of the most “liberal” candidate, Senator Barack Obama.
6. American history changes direction as the baton passes between our political parties (18 May 2008) – Importance of the November 2008 political landslide.
7. President Obama, an Muslim apostate? (2 June 2008) — Nope.
8. Is Obama running for the office of Chief Shaman? (6 June 2008) — Weirdness from our next President.
9. Does America need a charismatic President? (15 july 2008)
10. More about charisma, by Don Vandergriff…(#2 in the “getting ready for Obama” series) (16 July 2008) — About charisma: know it before you buy it!
11. Obama might be the shaman that America needs (17 July 2008) — At what point does criticism of Obama’s charisma and rhetoric become criticism of leadership itself — and blind faith in technocratic solutions so loved by policy nerds? Michael Knox Beran crosses that line in “Obama, Shaman“, City Journal, Summer 2008.
12. Obama describes the first step to America’s renewal, 8 August 2008 — Obama’s statement about America may be the simple truth; this may be why so many find it disturbing.
13. A powerful perspective on the candidates for President of the US, 28 August 2008 — John Derbyshire expresses what I have said about the candidates dreams of saving the world.
14. McCain believes we are stupid. Is he correct?, 30 August 2008
15. Alaska is near Russia, and Gov Palin’s other foreign policy experience, 1 September 2008
For interesting articles about the candidates from other sources, see About the candidates for President of the United States.
