Palin wants preconditions for Iran talks

NEW YORK, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, says she wouldn't negotiate with some world leaders without preconditions.

In an interview with CBS News's Katie Couric dealing mostly with foreign policy matters, the Alaska governor said Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in particular, would be one she wouldn't sit down with unless ground rules were set beforehand.

"Barack Obama is so off base in his proclamation that he would meet with some of these leaders around our world who would seek to destroy America and that, and without preconditions being met," she said."That's beyond naive. And it's beyond bad judgment."

She was reminded that Henry Kissinger favors direct talks with Iran, to which she replied, "I've never heard Henry Kissinger say, 'Yeah, I'll meet with these leaders without preconditions being met.'

"Diplomacy is about doing a lot of background work first and shoring up allies and positions and figuring out what sanctions perhaps could be implemented if things weren't gonna go right. That's part of diplomacy."

On another matter, Palin told Couric she didn't believe the United States should second guess Israel if it decides to attack Iran.

"We shouldn't second guess Israel's security efforts because we cannot ever afford to send a message that we would allow a second Holocaust, for one," Palin said. "Israel has got to have the opportunity and the ability to protect itself."

However, she said she believed the United States needs to "express our rights and our concerns" in any such course of action.

Palin mentioned she had had "trade missions back and forth" with Russia, Alaska's next-door neighbor, with the proximity affording her a chance to keep an eye on the country.