Palin Challenges Obama on Defense Spending

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Republicans ,; Foreign Policy

(Credit: AP)

Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin shared her foreign policy views in a new Facebook note, expanding on her views about the United States' worldwide military dominance worldwide and its objective of maintaining a role that could be seen as a sort of global police force (something Republicans often criticized Democrats for during the Clinton administration).

Palin wrote that President Obama's policies send "signals to the world that maybe we can no longer be counted on, and that we have other priorities than being the world leader that keeps the peace and provides security in Europe, in Asia and throughout the world."

She blasted Mr. Obama for appearing "reluctant to even embrace American power." She noted that the president said earlier this year, "Whether we like it or not, we remain a dominant military superpower."

Palin writes:

Mr. President, this may come as news to you, but most Americans actually do like it. And so do our allies. They know it was our military might that liberated countless millions from tyranny, slavery, and oppression over the last 234 years. Yes, we do like it. As a dominant superpower, the United States has won wars hot and cold; our military has advanced the cause of freedom and kept authoritarian powers in check.

She also criticized the administration for being willing to "throw billions" at "progressive pet cause[s]," but preaching fiscal restraint when it comes to defense spending. Palin points out the administration has asked Congress to cut spending on defense programs they say are unnecessary, like an extra engine for the F-35 joint strike force fighter jet. She also points out that Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was first appointed by President Bush, has talked about decreasing the number of ships in the Navy. Meanwhile, the president has also asked Congress for more than $30 billion in supplemental spending for the Afghanistan war.

"We should not be cutting corners on our national security," Palin writes.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by pasmalltown July 3, 2010 8:20 AM EDT: What does not cutting corners on national security, Lear Jets and "bendable straws" have in common?

The "Spokesperson" from the "right"........ Will she ever be able to look past the end of her nose?; Reply to this comment


by clvrgirl July 2, 2010 10:27 AM EDT: good to hear that Ex-Gov (or half-baked) Palin is "expanding her views" perhaps she might want to share them in interviews w/out presubmitted questions vs. the same forums that my teenagers use to share their angst w/ the world.; Reply to this comment


by clvrgirl July 2, 2010 8:52 AM EDT: CBS: You're covering Facebook posts of an Alaskan Debutante w/ zilch credibility beyond inciting angry, frustrated Americans. This is in the politics section? Seems it should be placed in "Entertainment" next to Kate Gosselin's tweet on being a good parent.; Reply to this comment


by nearl451 July 1, 2010 11:54 PM EDT: She really ought to challenge the boogeyman or man in the moon.

Honestly, next week Iexpect to read an important story about her arguing with the wallpaper.

Her opinions are so staged and unimportant to anything in the real world. E

ven Lindsay Graham gets it - the Tea Party will serve it's Republican purpose this year then phase out....along with SP!; Reply to this comment


by livelifeatbeach July 1, 2010 10:47 PM EDT: Sarah Palin is in a totally different reality than intelligent, rational Americans. Thank God she has worn out her welcome in most corners of our nation. Go home and bury yourself in snow Sarah, you are so over!; Reply to this comment

by ymchoo July 1, 2010 10:05 PM EDT

Snow White leads The Seven Dwarfs

The GOP will soon be known as the Party of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs with Sarah "Snow White" Palin leading such GOP Dwarfs as Huckabee, Gingrich, Pawlenty, Thune, DeMint, Romney and Ron Paul. When Snow White leads, The Seven Dwarfs follow.

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by merlgrey July 1, 2010 10:28 PM EDT: must not know ron paul very well. paul would never stoop to following palin, or stoop to anyone frankly in the republican party that subscribes to the neocon ways of fear monering and never ending wars including the drug war.

by Susanmg July 1, 2010 9:22 PM EDT

Golly, I wonder how Afghanistan feels about us bombing schools, and killing innocents? Wonder how pleased Iraq was when we invaded and proceeded to demolish THEIR country? We act like that authoritarian power she hates, frankly. We are bullies to the world, not saviors, and she is either too dumb or too clueless to realize that Bush's unfunded wars and money for outdated equipment that the military didn't even want have caused a lot of our current woes. The military -industrial complex has to die...it served its purpose, but its time is past.

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by Perish1 July 1, 2010 9:45 PM EDT: Tell that to Obama. You know, the liar in chief who talked about pulling us out and is increasing and sounding just like Bush and all democrats when not running for re-election. He is even sanctioning UAV missile attacks in more nations now including Pakistan and Yemen. And what is he doing or stopping now? What a total lying pile of cr&*p he turned out to be. Right Susanmg?


by Sheilamd July 2, 2010 10:28 AM EDT: We know how it feels to have innocent citizens, civilians killed. We also know that the terrorists who killed them are based in the region where we are fighting. I hope there is no need for a reminder that the cause of our battle is terrorism. Nobody wants to see innocent people killed, but when you're fighting an enemy that does not have the courage to even wear an identifiable uniform, it happens. We lost thousands of people on that morning of 9 11, so we know the anguish involved. However, we don't want it to happen again. Do we? As far as I can see it is the cowards who attacked us, who hide behind the people and do not identify themselves to spare the people who are killing the innocents in Afghanistan. We're doing what must be done to save our own children. Furthermore, the fine young men and women who are fighting this battle for us deserve more than your comments suggest about them.

by Perish1 July 1, 2010 7:51 PM EDT

I usually agree with Palin, but, I don't here. I think that it is time to pull back from world involvement like GW Bush wanted to do during his first campaign and before 9/11 dragged us into the war on terror. I don't see the need to maintain so many Navy ships in a world where nuclear proliferation means that an entire carrier task force can be wiped out in a blink of an eye by even a nation like Pakistan.

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by kmmann July 2, 2010 1:20 AM EDT: Anyone would be fooling themselves if they truly believed that Obama was going to be able to go in there and pull everyone out. He has the right mind for what we need going into a new world. I laugh when I see someone clearly trying to work for the people and everyone keeps him under a microscope and anylizing everything he does. The games they play in congress are the true crimes. Research the bank industry bailout. The people spoke and won until they went behind doors and approved it anyways. As for Palin. She is ignorant. The only thought she has is what the Republican's have her say. She is a puppet trying to win the people. Stand up and get demand some real answers from congress.

by stn_sage July 1, 2010 7:50 PM EDT

CBS, publishing the nearly daily ramblings of this GOP politician,
does not, will not, exactly enhance your journalistic reputation!

Do you understand this? At some point, she will drag you down with her,
like the made-up Iraq reports by CNN, dragged them down!

I'd think about it.

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by bassinapple July 1, 2010 10:31 PM EDT: Just the opposite is true. Most Americans think there is a liberal slant to the mainstream media. By covering Palin it disproves that notion. As far as being dragged down, all you have to do is look at Fox News rating to see how uneducated that statement is.

by gahanson July 1, 2010 7:35 PM EDT

This isn't really new, her Facebook posting was essentially what she said at Freedom Fest in Norfolk VA last weekend. I guess you missed that event, because you were probably busy writing about her speakers fee or some other nontroversy.

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by Susanmg July 1, 2010 9:18 PM EDT: She said it on Facebook WEEKS ago, too. She repeats a lot. Wonder how she'll get around her bowling alley lies from the weekend? Lie #1...she did not attend her daddy's bowling league in Idaho, because they moved when she was an infant. #2 She never hung out at the community alley after b-ball games in high school because Wasilla didn't have a bowling center until she was in college. But, hey, why let facts get in the way? It's just indicative of the way Palin approaches everything: say whatever will garner the most applause from your base, and never appear with a reporter who might call you for a lie. Never. Meanwhile, she plays the poor me picked on by the media baby.