Comments on: Overstating Governor Palin’s National Guard Credentials

By: BAW

BAW — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:21:36 +0000

Sarah Palin is over stated. I've heard so many different stories about her that I don't know what to believe. She does love the limelight but I believe she is still a novice. She caters to General Campbell because he has her fooled and he has political motives. He and General Kacus of the Alaska Guard are both self serving politicians who have never been in battle. Too bad the great Guardsmen and women don't have real leaders.

By: Kalani

Kalani — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:17:57 +0000

Palin's worst enemy are those trying to impress people with her position as head of the Alaska Guard. There was an extremely embarassing interview on CBS as a person who obviously didn't know a damn thing about the Guard operations was trying to impress folks with how Palin shined as "Commander-in-chief" of the Alaka Guard. He embarassed Palin — and should be shot.

Truthfully, Palin really hasn't done much with the Guard. According to the Maj. Gen. in charge (soon to be three-star after Palin approved it), he has been delegated responsibility for most of the operational tasks. However, those areas not delegated, he does coordinate with Palin's office. In Palin's first year in office, there were few state taskings for the Guard and in the second year, they were used in different areas for security and aid assists. Palin isn't making a big deal of this — but the Republican PR folks are trying to push it. This is a mistake. In truth, she really has done little with the Guard — as you really need a natural disaster to get her involved…and there was no such need.

The foot-in-the-mouth incompetence of a Republican spokesman in the CBS interview was flat embarrassing. He talked of the Alaska troops deploying as though Palin was somehow involved. Once the troops are federalized, Palin has no control of them.

The Republicans are shooting themselves in the foot by pushing this aspect of her gubernatorial duties. But regardless, I still think she's got a lot going for her — though the Democrats are trying to stab her in the heart at every turn.

By: DMZDave

DMZDave — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:52:43 +0000

It is indeed fair to credit Governor Palin as the commander of the AK National Guard. Unless you have worked in that state political environment it is hard to understand how often the governor gets embroiled in the politics and personalities of their state's national guard. As someone who has, I can assure you that any governor who comes into office is quickly faced with an established "good ole boy" network in their air and army guard units and there are often long entrenched personnel issues and favoritism. For example, in Texas, Governor George Bush completely shook up the Texas Guard when he appointed an Air Guard colonel, Daniel James as the Adjutant General of the Texas National Guard. Danny is the son of 4-star general Chappie James, the nations first Black 4-star and Danny James's appointment shook up the entrenched establishment of the Army national guard in Texas. A few years later, the 49th Armored Division demonstrated incredible professionalism as the first Guard Division to completely run the mission in Bosnia. Obviously that was a result of a lot of good training and Army Guard leadership but the right people were in place in the Army Guard to make it happen and the Governor played a large role in providing leadership and cleaning out the underbrush.

I don't know what Sarah Palin may have achieved in the past 20 months but it seems clear she doesn't suffer fools or "good ole boys" gladly and it also occurs to me that she took the time to go visit the troops and even fire a few weapons with them so she has her priorities right. She sets a great personal example and she has a son who volunteered. She clearly has better defense creds than Barack Obama or Joe Biden who apparently flunked ROTC in college.

By: Getchuself Some Egic

Getchuself Some Egic — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:27:54 +0000

Oh, and I bet that her daughter's boyfriend is ready to sign up. He'll need the money in 3 or 4 months.

By: Getchuself Some Egic

Getchuself Some Egic — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 05:23:25 +0000

I think that this MG Campbell speaks only of the Air National Guard, not the Army National Guard. Hasn't a full BCT of Alaskans been back and forth to Iraq and Afghanistan a couple times?

There aren't many opportunities for anyone in Alaska, other than the opportunity to get the hell out of the state. NG recruiting should be pretty easy.

By: CalmSeas

CalmSeas — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:33:48 +0000

This sounds like a load of crap…if people DO NOT want to join, then no one can be held accountable. More of the "Zero-Defect" mentality that plagues today's military.

There are obviously better opportunities for the younger generation, or they are tired of seeing the body count climb, while politicans continue to run their mouths about the greater good…all the while we continue to treat Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc. with kid gloves.

We should have adopted a scorched earth policy…i.e. "We can either be your best friend, or your worst enemy" as the Marines did in Al Anbar province & look at what province has been turned over to the Iraqis…of course what they will do with it remains to be seen.