Think Progress

Air Force contradicts Palin: No Russian incursions into U.S. airspace during her tenure.

The McCain-Palin campaign recently clarified Gov. Sarah Palin’s (R-AK) remark from last week that “Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America.” The campaign told CBS News, “Russian incursions…inside the air defense identification zone have occurred.” But as the Associated Press reports today, no such incursions have occurred ‘in recent years’:

The air defense identification zone, almost completely over water, extends 12-mile past the perimeter of the United States. … However, no Russian military planes have been flying even into that zone, said Maj. Allen Herritage, a spokesman for the Alaska region of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, at Elmendorf Air Force Base. “To be very clear, there has not been any incursion in U.S. airspace in recent years,” Herritage said.

Responding to Herritage’s statement, Palin’s foreign policy adviser Steve Biegun said that Palin was trying to point out that the “geographical location of Alaska has unique attributes,” unlike “many states in the union.”



29 Responses to “Air Force contradicts Palin: No Russian incursions into U.S. airspace during her tenure.”

  1. Above the Clouds says:

    The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!


  2. Daddy-O says:

    Addressing this absurd notion of Sarah Palin’s foreign policy experience is getting to the point of no return.

    It’s one Rovian talking point that has blown up in McCain’s face–taking a weakness of Palin’s and turning it into a strength. This time, it just didn’t happen.

    Funny, that.


  3. fletc3her says:

    If they’re not afraid of flying over water they could go ahead and fly a more direct route across Canada like the commercial jets.


  4. tom says:

    I am not too concerned about Alaska’s air space.

    I just don’t want the air space between Failin’ Palin’s ears to get anywhere near Washington, D.C.


  5. MapleStreet says:

    Above the Clouds – hope you’re referring to the movie with Brian Keith. so appropriate.

    And if being in a war is a criteria, As I remember it, we’ve had a couple of border wars with Mexico. So therefore an Oilman from Texas would make the perfect president.

    Right ?


  6. belac says:

    Not in recent years but certainly during her reign as Ms. Alaska (second runner-up) their were incursions…
    and as the second runner-up to the Ms. Alaska undoubtedly she had direct figure-head experience dealing with this issue and other complicated questions about world affairs (What one thing do you most want to do for the world as Ms. Alaska?), no?


  7. margerine says:

    Man, I love these advisers. How about we get clarification from the people saying this stuff for once?

    Although apparently “clarification” means something different to them than it does for most other people. There’s no way to read what was said and come up with what Biegun claims. Essentially we’re in a situation where they can say whatever they want because their team will give the “real” version later on.

    It’s really pathetic.


  8. Zooey says:

    Soooo, Putin didn’t rear his head, but Palin did. ;)


  9. Badmoodman says:

    Air Force contradicts Palin: There have been no Russian incursions into U.S. airspace during her tenure.

    - – Gee, ya think? Get Premier Kissoff on the red phone.

    And Palin’s never seen Russia from Alaska either:
    http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/30/you-can-see-russia-from-here/


  10. Michael Lafferty says:

    If it were not so critically important an indicator of Palin’s ability to articulate a though, this matter would be laughable.

    The Alaska Air National Guard has NO fighter wing, and no other assets which could possibly be used to intercept an incursion by any aircraft or ship. The only ‘air space’ involved in this idiotic claim on her part is that which sits between her ears!

    Hey, Governor: are you really as damned STUPID as you appear to be? Note to Senator McCain: give it up. The Palin pick will rise above all others as the moment you and the campaign actually jumped the shark.

    So much for your ambitions…


  11. galmud says:

    from the AP article:

    Herritage said Air Force officials discussed with Palin instances of Russian planes entering the buffer zone and the U.S. response during their annual statehouse briefing in February.

    It could not immediately be determined how many times Palin had been notified in real time of Russian planes having entered the buffer zone. Major General Craig E. Campbell, the adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, did not immediately return calls and e-mails.

    So at most Palin has been notified a few times of Russian airplanes flying in the buffer zone. Based on her silly incoherent answer about the matter I think shes received very little if any information about it.

    Does that qualify as foreign policy experience?


  12. katy says:

    daily, since she made that comment, stephanie miller has me laughing with her jokes about it…

    today she is wishing for a huge MACY’S THANKSGIVING PARADE-type
    PUTIN HEAD BALLOON!

    can you imagine?!


  13. Michael Lafferty says:

    …er, that would be ‘thought’ and not ‘though.’

    My mind slowly turns to mush as I ponder her claims. God (or someone, or something) save us from this candidate, from her ’soul mate’ and running mate, and this entire campaign!

    Are we there yet?


  14. wilytrax.com says:

    Maybe she’s been seeing the same thing Dennis Kucinich has been talking about.

    http://www.wilytrax.com


  15. lurker says:

    The question to scarah should be: When you became Gov. did
    you go to CIC bootcamp? What training in your life gives
    you insight on the military? Perhaps the easier question
    would be: When you shoot a moose do you go for the kill shot, or do you “wing’em” so you can track them until they “bleed out”?


  16. drago says:

    Like a broken record…

    McCain-Palin are LIARS, HYPOCRITES and FRAUDS.


  17. Game of Life says:

    Air Force contradicts Palin: There have been no Russian incursions into U.S. airspace during her tenure.

    But her airspace they have.

    HAHAHAHA


  18. tanglewood says:

    This revelation hardly comes as a surprise. She has lied and inflated her job description ever since she was nominated.

    O/T: Why doesn’t anyone seem to be monitoring Lou Dobbs? He has been saying some very crazy and inflammatory things lately. Last night he claimed that the US Chamber of Commerce is behind the big push to free the $7 billion for Wall Street and big business. Yet, there has been no story about this in the media? I know he hates immigration and Obama but what the hell is his story?


  19. EugeneDebs says:

    wilytrax.com Says:

    Something stupid. Sure she is mistaking UFO’s for Russian fighter jets. THAT fills me with confidence.


  20. 5th Estate says:

    Palin would HAVE to know that there have been no Russian incursions into Alaska’s airspace or anywhere near it. The Canadians would also know this.
    Palin LIED
    The McCain campaign LIED.
    The McCain Campaign is now try to COVER UP their lies and the lies of Palin.

    It’s great that a couple of people in the MSM have been pressing Palin and McCain for specific answers to specific questions, but WHEN are they going report all the lying as LYING?


  21. LibertyLover says:

    Wow. A Republican candidate caught in a lie… No one could have predicted that….


  22. spencers mom says:

    If there had been an unauthorized breach of USA airspace by Russia, it would have been national news. Even in a week when Britney flashed her naughty bits. Again.

    ‘nough said.

    PEACE


  23. 5th Estate says:

    Oh I’m reminded of something…

    A couple of months back the McCain campaign launched their “McCain Aces” program where McCainbots could earn ‘points’ by proving that they’d managed to cut and past talking points into liberal blog threads ( such as here at TP)–for which one of their fabulous prizes was a McCain Aces graphic that they could especially access to download and then print out, once they had accrued enough ‘points’ ( 25 I think).

    The special access graphic read ‘McCain Aces; at the bottom with an ‘overflight’ of five fighter jets in ‘arrow’ formation silhouetted against a sky-blue background.

    Funny thing… the jet silhouettes are of Russian-made Mig 29 “Fulcrum” fighters.

    ( and the other funny thing is that you could just right click on the graphic and “save-as” and then print out your special access McCain Aces graphic without having to prove you’d annoyed a bunch of liberals on a blog thread.)

    If the McCain campaign has been seeing Russian planes in American airspace maybe it’s because they’ve been staring at their own lame and pointless McCain Aces graphic for too long.


  24. Game of Life says:

    Damn, damn, damn!

    I was ready to read the first link of this thread…then goosey moosey opened her mouth:

    “Sarah Palin: I see the United States as being a force for good in the world. And as Ronald Reagan used to talk about, America being the beacon of light and hope for those who are seeking democratic values and tolerance and freedom. I see our country being able to represent those things that can be looked to … as that leadership, that light needed across the world.”

    What did she just say about Sen. Biden’s age? her inbred cootie clapping “audience” roared with laughter. she was practicing her turns when her “idol” contra-ronnyboy was prez.

    GTFOOH really GTFOOH

    What is with these assh? I don’t get it.

    It’s like one degree of separation with these imbeciles.

    I tell ya, she better not start acting like full b1tch during the debates; one long drawn-out campaign ad filled with dander and snarks… All questions Sen. Biden ask are fair game. The only question off limits from Sen. Biden is asking her if Aunt Flo paid her a visit recently (well maybe not.)

    Back to the cartoon reading.


  25. Doc Rock says:

    Call Mulder & Scully: The Truth is Out There!


  26. sbobker says:

    I don’t believe a word Palin says. I’m not even convinced her real name is Sarah. However, I wouldn’t put ant money on North American Aerospace Defense Command’s word either. During the Cold War we routinely sent flights up over Norway and into Russia. They go in until the Russian radar spotted them, took an electronic picture of the radar and got the hell out Dodge. I’ve hear every know and them one didn’t get out. All that was secret and never talked about openly. the Russians did the same, for the same reasons. It would not surprise me if was still going on, but Palin certainly would have no knowledge of it.


  27. DidHeJustSayThat says:

    At some point, it will be reflective for all observers to understand she is lying.

    Unless you unable to decipher her response: Russian’s, namely Putin have violated American airspace and this is the first time you’re hearing about it.

    You have to be an idiot to believe anyone from any nation has been periodically or even randomly flying into American airspace.

    Listen carefully to her tomorrow evening. Her ignorance is quite astounding, her attempts to pass this over on the public is down right offensive.


  28. Bozo The Neoclown says:

    give it sometime and whale blubber barbie will be changing her story to, “a passenger jet from russia flew into juneau and someone who looked like putin got off is what i meant to say”


  29. ThomasMc says:

    The Republican Party has become a pathetic joke, too bad they’re so stupid they can’t see it.



Jump to Top

About Think Progress | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy (off-site) | RSS | Donate
© 2005-2009 Center for American Progress Action Fund
View Most Popular

Advertisement

What We're About

Featured

image
Subscribe to the Progress Report



imageTopic Cloud


Visit Our Affiliated Sites

image image
Reports


Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.

Name:
Email:
Tip:
(required)


imageArchives


imageBlog Roll