NORAD: Sarah Palin has no role in guarding U.S. airspace despite claims in Katie Couric interview

[maddezmom]

NORAD: Sarah Palin has no role in guarding U.S. airspace despite claims in Katie Couric interview
BY JAMES GORDON MEEK
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

Tuesday, September 30th 2008, 5:21 PM

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin talks to CBS news anchor Katie Couric in their interview last Wednesday.
WASHINGTON - When Russian bombers approach American airspace and U.S. Air Force fighters are scrambled, Sarah Palin's phone doesn't ring.

The Alaska governor has no command authority over the guardians of U.S. airspace despite her recent suggestion otherwise.

"She doesn't have any role in that process," Air Force Maj. Allen Herritage, spokesman for the Alaska North American Aerospace Defense Command, told the Daily News.

"The authority to launch and respond to a Russian incursion lies with the Alaska NORAD Region commander" - Air Force Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, he said.

Palin said last week that her foreign policy experience includes facing the Russians.

"It's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia, as Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America - where do they go? It's Alaska," Palin told CBS' Katie Couric.

more:http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/09/30/2008-09-30_norad_sarah_palin_has_no_role_in_guardin.html


and you have to read this:

Campaign tries to explain Palin's Putin comment
By MARTHA MENDOZA – 1 hour ago

Gov. Sarah Palin cites vigilance against Russian warplanes coming into U.S. airspace over Alaska as one of her foreign policy credentials. But the U.S. military command in charge says that hasn't happened in her 21 months in office.

~snip~
The spokeswoman for the McCain-Palin campaign, Maria Comella, clarified in an e-mail to The Associated Press that when "Russian incursions near Alaskan airspace and inside the air defense identification zone have occurred ... U.S. Air Force fighters have been scrambled repeatedly."

~snip~
"To be very clear, there has not been any incursion in U.S. airspace in recent years," Herritage said.

~snip~

That zone is where there has been increased Russian bomber exercises — about 20 incidents in the last two years. When Russian bombers enter that expanded area, sometimes called the outer air defense identification zone by the military, U.S. or Canadian fighter jets are dispatched to check them, Herritage said.

Asked about Herritage's statement, Palin's foreign policy adviser, Steve Biegun, insisted the candidate's position was correct. Russia's "old behaviors" of aggressively flying into U.S. airspace have been exhibited recently, he said.

"Governor Palin told me that when Russian aircraft buzz American airspace and U.S. aircraft are mobilized at Elmendorf Air Force Base, she is informed by her National Guard commander," said Biegun, who did not offer any additional explanation for the contradiction
more:http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iAcsX7Yhs3ti5f5TRL92779QzvlQD93H9VNG0

[uppityperson]

1. Glad they got that cleared up. Thanks.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. Sarah takes on the Russians with her 'bear' hands

she may have some white fluffy bears to help her but she can't depend on them now.

[flvegan]

3. I'm facing west right now, so I've got China covered everyone!

:hi:

[Botany]

4. Oh yaa' you betcha fire up the f-16s and get those migs

[maddezmom]

11. Cheney II ordering the shoot down of the all the migs

But, but where is the RED phone?

[PsN2Wind]

5. Just because they haven't seen her out there with her moose rifle

waiting for Putin to get in range doesn't mean she isn't on the job.

[MadrasT]

6. I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you!

:rofl:

[chelsea0011]

7. I've been waiting for this response. It sounded like pure bullshit when she

spoke and now I know it is bullshit.

[tanyev]

13. Now, now. I think we can at least give her the courtesy to call it moose shit.

[trueblue2007]

8. Palin knows she doesn't have command authority. SHE'S A LIAR

She is full of deceit. She is totally exaggerating her role. What a liar.

[maddezmom]

10. She's a liar

But does she even know she's one? She probably believes she is in charge as the executive of Alaska. It's the insanity of Palinese. :hi:

[wtmusic]

9. Yes Sarah, you are VERY important!

Now run and play with your guns.

[LiberalFighter]

12. I'm glad she has been using a bulldozer to dig the hole to bury herself instead of a

spoon.