Palin buys the silence of her National Guard adjutant

The issue is whether Sarah Palin has any national security experience at all. The answer, of course would be NO. State governors do not control the national guards of their states in relation to national defense. To clarify, the Adjutant General of Alaska's National Guard pointed out that neither Palin nor he had command authority over the state national guard in a national defense scenario. Palin's authority was restricted to domestic situations which Major General Craig Campbell described as fighting wildfires and rescuing stranded residents.

It all started on August 31st, 2008 when Campbell stated, without denigrating Palin, that her role was limited: (all emphasis mine)

Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, considers Palin "extremely responsive and smart" and says she is in charge when it comes to in-state services, such as emergencies and natural disasters where the National Guard is the first responder.

But, in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, he said he and Palin play no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations.

That's pretty clear, isn't it? Campbell has even clarified his role in relation to national guard command and control.

By September 5th, however, Campbell had changed his tune.

Governor Palin is in charge, the commander-in-chief for the Alaska National Guard, and she plays the same role that all governors in all 54 states and territories play, running and managing and operating the Guard day to day for the states that they're responsible for. I'll tell you, in the last few days, I've been watching the press, and I've not been very pleased with what I've been seeing about the chastising of the National Guard by having it diminished by the insinuation that a commander-in-chief of the National Guard doesn't really control the military. The National Guard has 500,000 people in it around this great country, serving in states and overseas. National Guards are state military forces run by governors, and Sarah Palin does it great.

Wherein Campbell, who previously issued an honest and accurate description of both his and the governor's role, suddenly conflates the authority of the US commander-in-chief with that of a governor whose authority over a state national guard remains limited to domestic emergencies. National Guards are indeed state military forces, but their national security role is run by the Pentagon.

Smoke and mirrors.

By September 8th, Major General Campbell is promoted to Lieutenant General by Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Surprised?!

Then get this. Campbell's promotion is only good in the State of Alaska. His substantive rank in the US military is still Major General since all such promotions come from the Pentagon and require US Senate approval. Campbell's third star is a state rank.

VetVoice has the entire timeline and is a must read.

They didn't even try to hide this one.

Hat tip Crooks and Liars.

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Bonus! This last February Sarah Palin was informed, not consulted, on a deployment which took away a military air ambulance service which had been providing services into Alaska's interior. She certainly exercised her commander-in-chief's authority then, didn't she?