Lieberman Helping Palin On Foreign Policy

Independent Senator Is Among Several National Security Experts Prepping Her Ahead Of VP Debate

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Michael Abramowitz and Juliet Eilperin.

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Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman is among several national security experts helping brief Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin on foreign policy issues as she prepares to hit the campaign trail while cramming for a debate with her Democratic opponent, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.), in less than a month, according to officials from Sen. John McCain's campaign.

Lieberman, who was the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee but is now an independent, has helped introduce Palin to officials of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the leading pro-Israel lobby. In a meeting Tuesday, the day before she delivered her prime-time address at the Republican National Convention here, Palin assured the group of her strong support for Israel, of her desire to see the United States move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and of her opposition to Iran's aspirations to become a nuclear power, according to sources familiar with the meeting.

The exchange offered a brief glimpse into the views of the one-term governor of Alaska, who has virtually no record on foreign policy and has not traveled extensively outside the United States. As governor, she made two foreign trips last summer, one of which was to Canada. On the second, sponsored by the Pentagon, she traveled to Kuwait and Germany -- and made a short stop at a "military outpost" in Iraq -- to visit members of the Alaska National Guard deployed there, according to Palin spokeswoman Maria Comella. Comella added that Palin may have visited Mexico on a personal trip.

Campaign officials and McCain foreign policy advisers called Palin a quick study who has sound judgment that will serve her in good stead on national security issues. But privately, some in the GOP foreign policy establishment voiced concern that McCain has turned to a relative neophyte on national security matters at a time when the United States is facing challenges ranging from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to the nuclear activities of Iran and North Korea.

"Her speech wowed the pro-family and anti-tax groups, but can she handle complex foreign and defense policy decision-making?" asked one leading conservative foreign policy thinker who is concerned. He spoke on the condition of anonymity so as not to be publicly critical of the pick.

Democrats offered a more scathing assessment. "As much as Joe Lieberman might be trying to give her an information dump on what he knows, he can't infuse her with the expertise that she's sorely lacking," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.) said in an interview, adding that vice presidents often serve as foreign emissaries during international crises. "The problem with her lack of foreign policy experience is she's running with a man who's 72 years old and, God forbid something happens to him, it's frightening because this is someone who would have the tiller of America's foreign policy."

Noting that the vice president sits on the National Security Council, Wasserman Schultz added: "What advice could Palin possibly offer McCain? There might as well be an empty seat at the table."

Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has avoided attacks on Palin's credentials. "I think she's formidable. She has a great story. She has a great family," Biden said on NBC's "Today Show" on Thursday.

Campaign advisers and other surrogates sought to tamp down concerns about her experience. "Sarah Palin will be part of a team. John McCain is clearly the person with the foreign policy experience and record of accomplishment in Washington that will be paired with her experience as a reformer, as a governor, as an executive," former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney said in an interview with Washington Post reporters and editors. "Together, they will be a very strong and compelling team. But let's not forget, he is the president and she is the vice president. And on the Democratic side, you have a nominee who is of so little experience in foreign affairs, domestic affairs, of any affairs, that I wonder how it happened."

The McCain campaign has tapped Stephen E. Biegun, the national security adviser to then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), to be Palin's principal foreign policy adviser. Campaign aides said Biegun, who is currently a vice president of Ford, is not serving as Palin's tutor but is merely briefing her on details of key issues in a way that is similar to what other candidates are receiving.

"The attempt is not to turn her into a professor of foreign policy but trying to get her up to speed on all the nuances of foreign policy issues that are hot and John's positions," said John Lehman, a former Navy secretary who is one of McCain's advisers. "She's surprised everybody at how current she is on Middle East issues. She doesn't pretend to be a foreign policy expert, but neither is she somebody who hasn't thought about the issues."

As a first-term governor, Palin has not delved into foreign policy in great detail, and she has made only passing references to the subject since her selection. On occasion, she has cast her focus on energy in the context of international affairs. As Alaska's governor, she has spent more time on oil and drilling issues.

"I am thankful for the foundation I have with energy to allow us to become dependent less and less on foreign energy sources -- those sources of course being controlled in some cases by very dangerous, volatile regimes," she said at a Republican Governors Association lunch Thursday. "This is all about energy independence and all about national security."

As an example of Palin's international credentials, the McCain campaign on Thursday provided a list of 15 foreign trade representatives she has met with as governor, including officials from China, Thailand, Norway and Seychelles.

Palin has spoken about Iraq in terms of both policy and her personal connection to the war. During her acceptance speech Wednesday night, she mentioned that not only is her 19-year-old son, Track, headed to Iraq next week with his Army infantry unit, her nephew Kasey is now serving on an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf.

"I'm just one of many moms who'll say an extra prayer each night for our sons and daughters going into harm's way," she told the conventin crowd. But she also mocked Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in her speech for his policy on the war, saying he would undermine the gains the United States has made in the Middle East.

"Victory in Iraq is finally in sight; he wants to forfeit," she said. "Terrorist states are seeking nuclear weapons without delay; he wants to meet them without preconditions."

As recently as March 2007, however, Palin indicated that she was not immersed in the details of America's war effort. In an interview with Alaska Business Monthly, she said: "I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. I heard on the news about the new deployments, and while I support our president . . . I want to know that we have an exit plan in place."

One of Palin's few meetings this week with outside groups was with AIPAC, a sign of how politically important it is for the GOP ticket to demonstrate its support of Israel. "We had a good, productive discussion on the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship, and we were pleased that Governor Palin expressed her deep, personal commitment to the safety and well-being of Israel," AIPAC spokesman Josh Block said. "She also expressed her support for the special friendship between the two democracies and said she would work to strengthen the ties between the United States and Israel."

[metroduck75]

As a Hillary Democrat, I am THRILLED to see that Obama is trailing McCain.

I will NEVER forgive him for trashing Hillary and Prez Clinton..... and how DARE him not to vet Hillary as VP even though Hillary won MORE votes than he did.

I want him to LOSE!!!!

Party Unity My A$$

[royalia]

RE: "THIS MAN IS HIDING HIS MIDDLE NAME HUSSEIN**
THIS MAN IS HIDING THAT HE HAD GREAT EDUCATION AT MADRASS SHOOL OF HATE IN AN ARAB COUNTRY"

I will start with these two comments, but I have no doubt that all your others are bunk too. He went to a secular school in a predominantly Muslim country for a year or two. He was a child when he went to this school. And Indonesia is not Arab, idiot. And he may not be flouting his middle name, but then...which of the candidates talks about their middle name on daily basis or...ever? He may indeed wish to keep his middle name out of the newspapers and off the t.v. because guess what? Then those who cannot think rationally will believe that he is Muslim and will team up with the Islamists to conquer the U.S. for Saudi rule. If you look at the history of the Bush/Saud/Bin Laden Family connections, then tell me again about your fear of Obama. Read "House of Bush, House of Saud". It''s very eye opening about your boy Dubya.

[starleo146]

If the media would shut up abut her, and not give her all this publicity she would be on the next day talking to everyone don''t you worry they want her out there. If they keep this up we will all be sick of her its a Britany Spear thing LOl If Joe Lieberman is teaching her as good as she loves the Jews this ought to be interesting

[rodneyt74]

If it took her 6 years to get a 3 year degree in Journalism, how long is this going to take to learn world affairs.. And have we ever had a president that had only had a degree in journalism???

[clovisbuford]

The presidential race might be close to call but senate wise and house wise , republicans are in as dire straights of increasing their minority as they have ever been . Lieberman''s only chance to keep feeding at the government trough is Mccain . The democrats will have a large enough advantage after nov. He will lose his chairmanship and access to campaign funds. Knowing that, Lieberman rolled the dice . its in his best personal interests to support mmccain ..Now liebermann is another "country first " supporter as long as it supports his personal trough access. Delegated to minor role in his comitee position , knowing he is gonna lose his next election , he has to find another ship to flee to .. the good ship lollypop , with capn mccain.

[armydog2]

now this is a scary thing!

[navvet2]

Good for Joe! He''s a great guy. I hope he is selected for Secretary of State in the McCain administration.

[firststate]

Should she get a pass from having to answer the same hard questions a man would have to answer because she is a woman? I agree that her children''s personal lives aren''t relevant, but a potential vice-president should answer legitimate judgement and policy questions.

[ninjaattack]

If Mayor Palin is so qualified and has the experience to be vice president, then why is she being tutored by Lieberman

[davewrite1]

Lieberman, who was the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee but is now an independent, has helped introduce Palin to officials of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the leading pro-Israel lobby. In a meeting Tuesday, the day before she delivered her prime-time address at the Republican National Convention here, Palin assured the group of her strong support for Israel, of her desire to see the United States move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and of her opposition to Iran''s aspirations to become a nuclear power, according to sources familiar with the meeting.

Note:

Jerusalem is composed of two distinct sections: West Jerusalem and East Jerusalem. West Jerusalem, which is inhabited almost entirely by Jews, has been part of Israel since Israel was established (stolen by Zionists on religious premise) in 1948. East Jerusalem, which has a large Palestinian Arab population and recently constructed Jewish areas, was held by Jordan between 1949 and the Six-Day War of 1967. During the war, East Jerusalem was captured by Israel, which has administered it since. Israel claims that Jerusalem is its capital, but Palestinians dispute the claim and the United Nations has not recognized it as such. Jews, Christians, and Muslims consider Jerusalem a holy city, and it contains sites sacred to all three religions.

Assuredly, this will fuel more war, hatred, and terrorism.

[mitch5511]

Any previous Hillary supported who is now voting for McCain/Palin isn''t doing it because of the issues. It''s all about gender and NEVER EVER really supported Hillary''s position on the issues.

Very disingenuous and shows lack of character!

[x-republican]

Great, that''s what we need, another puppet commander in chief who doesn''t know the Shiites from the Sunnis. McCain is not getting any younger, folks, so you are looking at our next commander in chief. Truly frightening to realize that McCain would put our nation at risk like this, just so his party could win the election by capitalizing on the female ticket craze that Hillary started. How is this putting country first?

[liberalme]

You can''''''''t deal with people who murdered 3,000 of your people with a TONGUE LASHING!

You can''''''''t deal with Communist Russia without everything you got pointed at them! They don''''''''t listen well to **** ant RHETORIC! Motivational Sunday morning speaking to Russians is like throwing water on a GAS FIRE!

OBAMA DOESN''''''''T GET IT!

- Posted by OBungler

Then why did Bush go to Iraq to get Bin Laden? oops

According to you we should just go around and bomb everyone who isn''t like us.

At the moment--Bush is the biggest terrorist in the world!!

[obungler]

AGAIN!!!

GOOD! I''''m glad Lieberman is helping Palin bone up on Foreign Affairs...I bet she''''s a quicker study than Barak Obama, WHO JUST DOESN''''T GET IT!

You don''''t deal with your countries'''' enemies from WEAKNESS!

You can''''t deal with people who murdered 3,000 of your people with a TONGUE LASHING!

You can''''t deal with Communist Russia without everything you got pointed at them! They don''''t listen well to **** ant RHETORIC! Motivational Sunday morning speaking to Russians is like throwing water on a GAS FIRE!

OBAMA DOESN''''T GET IT!

[firststate]

She deserves the chance to spend time with her son before he deploys, but the campaign really needs to allow access by the mainstream press afterwards. There are legitimate questions to which the American people have a right to answers before putting her a heartbeat away from taking over as president from a 72 year old cancer survivor. She can tell the press that her children''s personal lives are off limits. She absolutely has that right, but ducking the press would make her look weak and talking only to the "journalists" from Fox would make her appear both weak and hiding something. She was strong enough to be elected governor, she can handle the press. If not, maybe she should stay in Alaska.

Lieberman is a better choice to advise her on foreign policy than her running mate. At least Lieberman knows the major players in the middle east, the basics of their relationships and about nations that haven''t existed for years. Hopefully she''s a quicker study than he, although it does make one wonder why mcbush didn''t choose someone who already knows something about the world as his vice-presidential pick. On the surface it seems his choice belies his pledge to name someone ready to be president.

She doesn''t have to answer, but since sermons a candidate attends are so important, does she agree that Israel has to deal with terrorism because the Jewish people haven''t accepted Christ?

[sandy19731]

But how can Liberman possibly help Palin?

He is a senator with no executive experience.

[bobmarisol]

I am a big time liberal, and I support Senator Obama''s policy of allowing doctors to terminate the life of babies that somehow survive the abortion process.

But for the first time in my life, I am voting Republican. I was disgusted by the way Democrats and the media treated Hillary just because she was a woman. And now they are doing it to Palin.

What the sexist media and the Democrats dont seem to understand is that every time they make sexist remarks and question Palin just because she is a woman, another feminist like me crosses over to her side.

Posted by FemiNazi1
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I always said that women, even liberal ''feminazis'' like this lady, would flock to Palin once they realized how sexist the Democrats and the media are.

Guess I was right!

There goes Obama''s voting base!

[mydiatribe]

GR-RR-R-REAT! We know NOW IF there is ever a Sarah Palin Presidency at sometime in the future, she will support our great ally ISRAEL without equivocation!

[obungler]

GOOD! I''m glad Lieberman is helping Palin bone up on Foreign Affairs...I bet she''s a quicker study than Barak Obama, WHO JUST DOESN''T GET IT!

You don''t deal with your countries'' enemies from WEAKNESS!

You can''t deal with people who murdered 3,000 of your people with a TONGUE LASHING!

You can''t deal with Communist Russia without everything you got pointed at them! They don''t listen well to **** ant RHETORIC! Motivational Sunday morning speaking to Russians is like throwing water on a GAS FIRE!

OBAMA DOESN''T GET IT!

[clovisbuford]

Lieberman is a realist , he got defeated in his own primary . so then he ran with republican money and the endorsement of GW over his own "republican " opponent sides ed lamaont. He has attacked obamma which he said he would never do. his ship is cast , if mccain does not win , he is toast . His chairmansip is over in Nov. He couldnt win dog catcher in his own state next time he runs in the senate (whether mccain wins or not ) so that leaves a mccain cabinet post ( i think interior) they regulate gambling and casinos , and god bless if there was a ever a place for a janus faced , double dealing, double dipped coc* sucke* from his home state that would be a place to start. :)