Palin briefed by Director of National Intelligence
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/23/art.palin.un.gi.jpg caption="Sarah Palin was briefed by the Director of National Intelligence prior to her meeting heads of state today."]
NEW YORK (CNN) - Before heading out for a trio of well-publicized meetings with foreign dignitaries on Tuesday, Sarah Palin received a national security briefing from the Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Michael McConnell, who met with the governor this morning in her New York hotel.
Palin’s top foreign policy adviser informed reporters of the meeting at a small briefing following Palin’s visits with Afghan president Hamid Karzai, Colombian president Alvaro Uribe and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
The adviser, Stephen Biegun, formerly a senior official on the National Security Council under President Bush, characterized the intelligence briefing as “routine” and said it was the sort of meeting that “is standard for candidates for the vice president and president.” Biegun said several officials were present to brief Palin.
Palin then departed her hotel for a series of motorcade trips around Manhattan, visiting with foreign leaders for the first time in her career.
“These are relationships that she intuitively understands are very important for the next President and Vice President of the United States,” Biegun said of the meetings.
In those get-togethers, Palin kept the focus primarily on energy issues and the growing influence of Russia, according to Biegun. Palin found Kissinger particularly engrossing - their meeting had been scheduled to last 30 minutes, but the two met for nearly an hour and a half.
“In talking to Dr. Kissinger,” Biegun said, “she certainly had a lot of questions about how the United States can develop a cooperative relationship with Russia, what are some of the unique challenges to the current state of Russia's political development, and having been in particular, some of the recent developments we've seen with Russia - backsliding democracy, Russia’s incursion into Georgia.”
Asked about her meetings with Karzai and Uribe, Biegun said Palin “liked them very much” and “established a great personal rapport.”
With Karzai, Palin chatted for half an hour about John McCain’s desire to send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan. With Uribe, she listened for about 20 minutes as the president discussed the country’s security situation and its handling of the FARC guerillas.
According to Biegun, “rather than make specific policy prescriptions, she was largely listening, having an exchange of views, and also very interested in forming a relationship with people she met with today.”
Biegun, who is helping prepare Palin for her debate with Sen. Joseph Biden on October 2 in St. Louis, would not say what specific topics the governor was concentrating on in her study sessions.
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Dear Republicans:
FYI, if you have to play Make-a-VP with your candidate (prep them with scripted speeches and cast them in front of heads of states), chances are you shouldn't be running them. Also, I hope you guys have had fun over the past near-decade because you guys won't be back in power for a LONG TIME. Thanks for the roller-coaster ride, but we've had enough. We are going to take our country back.
PS: Joe Biden is going to annihilate Sarah Palin during the debate. Just be aware. Or would that be sexist?
- BOJO '08
I am sure the meeting started with a map so Palin learns where Colombia and Afghanistan are.....
She got also read the book 'VP for Dummys/
Olivia,
We're not mean. We're intelligent, and hence, scared as hell of stupid people in power, whether or not they have the backing of "Him."
While it's probably legal, I question whether resources of the US Government should be used to educate someone who is not at all prepared to hold a high government office. Briefing is acceptable, but Ms. Palin is about ten years short of when briefing would be effective.
Voters don't let the Republican's force this doomed ticket on America. When will common sense come in, or are we gluttons for punishment? Vote Nov. 08 Obama/Biden 08
Well, now that Palin has met these leaders, McCain will think she is qualified to be President of the World.
Palin for World President!! Palin for World President!! Palin for World President!!!
I'm sure EVERYTHING she said was scripted for her..word for word! This was just totally orchestrated by the RNC to help make her look "worldly". HA!
mrs.liar(palin) is a joke of our country......
I guess that the McSwindle campaign can tout her Foreign Policy experience now.
I'm confused. Are we watching a person wanting to be VP or a student? Shouldn't she have spoken with the people who will vote for her, FIRST, rather than the other way around? Is McCain having a senior moment with this? Help a citizen out, PLEASE!
Palin will be an expert on foreign policy before she leaves NYC. How can she not be, from her hotel room window, she can see Chinatown, Little Italy, Spanish Harlem, Orthodox Jews in Williamsburg, and maybe on a clear day see the Ukrainian community in Brighton Brach.
Palin will be an expert on foreign policy before she leaves NYC. How can she not be, from her hotel room window, she can see Chinatown, Little Italy, Spanish Harlem, Orthodox Jews in Williamsburg, and maybe on a clear day see the Ukrainian community in Brighton Beach.
"National security briefing" in a hotel?! Since this setting is so insecure it is clear that little of substance in the way of intelligence could be discussed. This sounds like either a social occasion (I'm Sarah, who are you?) or an attempt to create the false impression that she's coming up to speed at this late date.
Beats going to Iraq on the Fantasy Tour to bolster his (Obamo "The Chosen One) foreign credentials.
Change We Need!
Yep, and my VP pick has 37 years of no change.....
It's comical to see how you morons on the left are truly terrified of Sarah Palin. While Senator Biden looks like one of the lost Stooges, Sarah is meeting with the leaders of the world readying herself for the vice presidency. She'll eat Biden up at the debate while he spews forth some of his famous gaffes in trying to defend "Ears" as well as the Democratic party.
Ms. Palin is,of course, a terrible choice for VP.It is scary that she is being given any serious intelligence briefings.However, it is more alarming that John McCain (whom I once respected) would select such a person to lead America should anything befall him.I can only surmise that A.)He wants to be President more than he loves his country or B.) He is – as some have suggested – suffering from a mental lapse.In any event,I am worried that the same folks who gave Bush/Cheney a second term may hand the Presidency to McCain/Palin.
If she had all the experiance that John McCain says Why does she need the grooming on foregin relation? Also they did not trust her to interact with the leaders just photo op.
Sara Palin cheerleader with no game.
The Power of 5 – Those in favor of Obama need to try to get at least 5 new vcoters registered before the cutoff date or make sure you get 5 people who did not vote last election to vote at this election. Otherwise, don't be surprised if we will be seeding Ms. Cheerleader in the White House. There are reports out there that some whites will not vote for Barack because he is half black. Sad, but its probably true. Sign up 5 NEW VOTERS NOW!
The word for today is: God must love some of you "obamaidioits", since he made so many of you on the Blogosphere unless you all are paid liars and defamers of two good Americans named John Sidney McCain and his running mate.
Now for Barrack Hussein Obama. That rings sort of scary for me and sort of funny if you know what I mean.
Let's call a spade a spade… his name is Mr. B. Hussein Obama. He brings cotton candy with no substance to the table of world affairs. He scares me and i can see him as commander in chief with no resume. He is risky and I don't gamble with my country or my values.
On the other hand Mr. McCain brings hope and thinks our best days are just around the corner.
There you go... She is the expert now? The world is laughing at us really...
All these negative comments from people supporting Obama, who has zero experience, for president. Are you people for real. Do you ever look in the mirror.
EDW
A law degree from Harvard guarantees a brainwashing in left-wing ideology, 12 years in politics means a lot of palm greasing and four years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where you don't show up means nothing! As for the Obama campaign, it demonstrates the above!
I repeat:
Governor Palin has an intuitive gift of listening and relating to people. Her political sense is inherent!
This makes her the best candidate America has had in a very long time!
Bill Clinton had some of Palin's gifts when he came on the national scene as a young governor from little old Arkansas!
Governor Palin is this generation's Margaret Thatcher! Don't underestimate her!
Former democrat and Hillary supporter for McCain/Palin 08! they are the authentic reformers! 🙂
On one of her stump speeches yesterday I heard Palin say she had a few questions for the media. NO! The media, and the American people have a few questions for YOU.
The thought of a Palin presidency is scaring me. Seriously scaring me!
Maary in Texas if more banks tank and the economy falls apart you willl be applying for food stamps before Obama comes into office. As to Palin, well she has 40 more days on international relations that took Obama and Biden to study for years. It took Condolezza Rice a Ph.D. to become an foreign relations expert and many years of experience to get where she is. Palin sees Russia from her window and that negates years of experience and studying. As a former Republican I can only say: VOTE DEMOCRAT IT CAN NOT GET WORSE ONLY BETTER.