Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Quid pro quo, Governor

Via Think Progress. A timeline on Alaskan National Guard General Craig Campbell and his statements on the claim that Sarah Palin has foreign policy experience because she is commander in chief of the Alaskan National Guard, which has been to Iraq.

August 31 - [Cambpell] said he and Palin play no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations.”

September 3 - “And while the Alaska National Guard operates a launch site for a US anti-missile system at Fort Greely, about 100 miles south of Fairbanks, the Alaskan governor is not in the site’s chain of command and has no authority over its operations, according to Maj. Gen. Craig E. Campbell.” “Campbell also said that Palin has authority over the National Guard’s domestic missions — such as fighting wildfires and rescuing stranded residents, but that she has a limited role in determining how the forces are trained or equipped.”

September 5 - CAMPBELL: "I'll tell you, in the last few days, I've been watching the press, and I've not been very pleased with what I've been seeing about the chastising of the National Guard by having it diminished by the insinuation that a commander-in-chief of the National Guard doesn't really control the military. The National Guard has 500,000 people in it around this great country, serving in states and overseas. National Guards are state military forces run by governors, and Sarah Palin does it great."

September 8 - Sarah Palin promotes Craig Campbell from Major General to Lieutenant General.

Who's been worrying about Palin's fitness to govern? It seems she clearly understands patronage, buying off of critics, cronyism, and message control. Note the brazen, out in the open nature of the grift. She's a perfect modern Republican standard bearer. She's perfectly ready to play politics with the military and it's leadership, just like George Bush. I apologize John, you knew exactly the type of person you were picking.

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