Republican vice-presidential pick Sarah Palin vowed on Thursday not to “blink” in pursuit of America’s “righteous” war in Iraq and insisted she was ready to step in as president if needed.
But the Alaska governor appeared to stumble as she was grilled on foreign policy in her first high-stakes television interview, which she also used to stake out a hawkish line towards Russia.
She failed to immediately recognise the Bush doctrine, the pre-emptive strike foreign policy centrepiece of the current Republican administration, and admitted she had never met a foreign leader.
Palin was asked in the ABC News interview whether she thought she was ready to step in as president should something befall her running mate, John McCain, if the 72-year-old is elected president on November 4.
“I do … if we are so privileged to be elected to serve this country, we’ll be ready. I’m ready,” she said.
Palin said she did not “blink” when McCain asked her two weeks ago to join his ticket to take on Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and his number two, Senator Joseph Biden.
“I answered him yes, because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can’t blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, that mission that we’re on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can’t blink.
“So I didn’t blink then, even when asked to run as his running mate.”
Democrats have warned that Palin, a first-term governor, is woefully inexperienced and is not qualified to serve a “heartbeat” away from the presidency.
In the interview, the 44-year-old mother of five struggled when asked her views of the Bush doctrine, which states the United States will mount a pre-emptive strike against a looming threat if it deems itself at risk.
“In what respect?” she asked, and then added the doctrine was the Bush “world view” before being prompted by interviewer Charles Gibson.
Palin was also asked about previous remarks that US soldiers in Iraq, who will soon include her son, were being sent on a task from God.
“I believe that there is a plan for this world and that plan for this world is for good,” Palin said in the interview.
“I believe that there is great hope and great potential for every country to be able to live and be protected with inalienable rights that I believe are God-given … and I believe that those are the rights to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
‘Go forth in defence of America’s cause’
Palin also touched on the US mission in Iraq as she officiated at a deployment ceremony for her son Track’s unit, which is set to head to the war zone in the coming weeks.
“I am so honoured to join with you as your governor as our sons and daughters … go forth in defence of America’s cause, and it is a righteous cause,” she said at the ceremony at the Fort Wainwright base.
In the interview, Palin called for Georgia and Ukraine to be admitted to Nato, even at the price of the United States being pulled into an armed conflict in the event of any Russian invasion.
“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.”
Palin also seemed to agree that the US should send troops into sovereign Pakistan after terror suspects if necessary — a position adopted by Obama, but which McCain has criticised.
After a string of foreign policy cramming sessions with McCain campaign operatives, Palin also said that the US could not let Iran get nuclear weapons.
“We have got to make sure these weapons of mass destruction, that nuclear weapons are not given to those hands of [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, not that he would use them, but that he would allow terrorists to be able to use them.
“We have got to put the pressure on Iran,” she said.
Palin has transformed McCain’s campaign since she was taken on ahead of the Republican convention earlier this month, drawing huge crowds and tapping the votes of white women, and helping the party ticket to lead in national polls. — AFP