Republican vice-presidential pick Sarah Palin has vowed she will not "blink" in pursuit of America's "righteous" war in Iraq and insisted she is ready to step in as president if needed.
The Alaska governor parried a string of foreign policy questions today in her first high-stakes television interview, and officiated at her son's deployment ceremony before he heads to Iraq with his US Army unit.
As she submitted to a grilling on her views, Palin said she believed in God's "grand plan" for the world and staked out a hard line on Russia.
Palin was asked in the ABC interview whether she thought she was ready to step in as president should something befall her running mate John McCain, if the 72-year-old is elected president on November 4.
"I do ... if we are so privileged to be elected to serve this country, will be ready. I'm ready," she said.
Palin said she did not "blink" when McCain asked her to join his ticket to take on Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and his number two Senator Joseph Biden, two weeks ago.
"I answered him yes, because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can't blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, that mission that we're on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can't blink.
"So I didn't blink then even when asked to run as his running mate."
Democrats have warned that Palin, a first-term governor, is woefully inexperienced and is not qualified to serve a "heartbeat" away from the presidency.
In the interview, the 44-year-old mother of five struggled, when asked her views of the Bush doctrine, which states the United States will mount a preemptive strike against a looming threat if it deems itself at risk.
"In what respect?" she asked, and then added the doctrine was the Bush "worldview."
Palin was also asked about previous remarks that US soldiers in Iraq, who will soon include her son, were being sent on a task from God.
"I believe that there is a plan for this world and that plan for this world is for good," Palin said in the interview.
"I believe that there is great hope and great potential for every country to be able to live and be protected with inalienable rights that I believe are God-given ... and I believe that those are the rights to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Palin also touched on the US mission in Iraq as she officiated at a deployment ceremony for her son's unit which is set to head to the warzone in the coming weeks.
"I am so honoured to join with you as your governor as our sons and daughters ... go forth in defence of America's cause and it is a righteous cause," she said at the ceremony at the Fort Wainwright base.
Palin also called in the interview for Georgia and Ukraine to be admitted to NATO, even at the price of the United States being called to defend them as alliance partners in the event of any Russian invasion.
"We cannot repeat the Cold War," said Palin, when asked if the result of Georgia and Ukraine being in the western alliance could lead to armed conflict with Russia.
"Perhaps so. 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."
Palin, who has been locked in foreign policy cramming sessions with McCain campaign operatives, also said that the United States could not let Iran get nuclear weapons.
"We have got to make sure these weapons of mass destruction, that nuclear weapons are not given to those hands of (Iranian President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad, not that he would use them, but that he would allow terrorists to be able to use them.
"We have got to put the pressure on Iran," she said.
AFP