World News Korner

Sarah Palin takes to Facebook to defend Alaska National Guard program and attack the President. Oddly enough not a whisper about the recent sex scandal.

The above graphic was posted on Palin's Facebook page last night along with this post:

We’re very proud of all our U.S. military forces! That includes our National Guard units, which can't be taken for granted as they're needed more than ever in these tumultuous times. When provided with good leadership, the Guard can always be counted on to complete successful missions and assignments in defense of our nation. All supporters of our military look forward to being encouraged by a President who will respect the Guard and elected officials who will prioritize budgets to strengthen all our fighting forces. Of specific concern is the ratcheting down of units, qualified personnel and equipment, and this particular issue I cite is due acknowledgement by state and national leaders, asap. I look forward to politicians' response to this, as it's coming from the guys carrying the load in the Guard.

Her ghostwriter then links to a letter sent out to various Alaskan politicians, written by former Staff Sergeant Russell Throckmorton, pleading with them to protect the Guard's Long Range Surveillance program as well as C Company which is apparently in charge.

At the end of the letter Throckmorton writes this:

C Company has a unique set of capabilities, which are essential to protecting Alaskans. Eliminating LRS could damage the belief in Alaska’s homeland defense, and be detrimental to the Guard’s recruiting and retention efforts.

If you found that you recognized the term "recruiting and retention efforts," that is undoubtedly because of the recent scandals surrounding the unit responsible for recruitment and retention.

However there appears to be no evidence that Throckmorton or C Company are in an way directly involved with that scandal. (Though Throckmorton was involved with an anti-drug program affiliated with the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race called, oddly enough, "Stay on Track." Probably just another bizarre coincidence.)

I would imagine that Palin's feigned interest in this program is solely about getting her name attached to a military interest and positioning herself as an advocate for protecting the military against the perception that President Obama plans to gut it and therefore leave America defenseless against, well according to the graphic, the Russians.

However considering the current distrust by many in the state of the Guard due to allegations of rampant incompetence as well as sexual misconduct, it would seem risky for Palin to connect her name to them at this time. Even though it offers her the somewhat vague opportunity to attack the President as well.

After all sexual misconduct and rampant incompetence seem like things from which Palin would strive extra hard to remain distant, for quite a number of reasons.

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