Palin, in ABC News interview, says she's ready to be president
She also talks foreign policy in an interview with Charles Gibson, saying Russia could face military action by the U.S. if it invaded a NATO ally.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican candidate for vice president, defended her credentials to become president and took a hard line against Russia in her first extended interview since she was nominated.
If Russia invaded a NATO ally, it could eventually face military action from the United States, she warned in the first of three sessions with ABC News anchor Charles Gibson. The interview, taped today, will be broadcast tonight on "World News With Charles Gibson." Other parts of the interviews will be broadcast on the network's other news shows: "Nightline" tonight and "Good Morning America," "World News" and "20/20" on Friday.
In excerpts supplied by the network, Palin said she favored admitting former Soviet republics Ukraine and Georgia to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, even though Russia opposes such action. If a country was invaded by Russia, she said, that could mean war, but as a last resort.
"Under the NATO treaty, wouldn't we then have to go to war if Russia went into Georgia?" Gibson asked in the excerpts.
"Perhaps so," Palin replied. "I mean, that is the agreement when you are a NATO ally, is if another country is attacked, you're going to be expected to be called upon and help."
"And you think it would be worth it to the United States, Georgia is worth it to the United States, to go to war, if Russia were to invade?" Gibson pressed.
Palin replied that the United States needs to be vigilant, but she argued that steps such as economic sanctions should be considered first.
"It doesn't have to lead to war and it doesn't have to lead, as I said, to a cold war, but economic sanctions, diplomatic pressure, again, counting on our allies to help us," she said.
Russia recently invaded Georgia to protect two Georgian enclaves, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which seek independence from Georgia and have long leaned toward Moscow. Georgia has tried to regain control over the enclaves in the past and Russia has intervened.
GOP presidential nominee John McCain condemned Russia's incursion into Georgia last month, as did his Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, though McCain took the harder line, leaping to Georgia's defense early and often.
Palin's position seems consistent with McCain's. The Arizona senator has called for a reexamination of all relations with Russia and heightened security arrangements with Ukraine. He initially ruled out military action but later seemed to leave the door open.
