So, I'm to understand that Sarah Palin is an expert in foreign policy, because Alaska is so close to Russia.
This is actually interesting to me, since I went through a Russian Geography kick a while back (I develop odd fascinations with seemingly random topics often - I suspect one or two fellow Kossacks understand where I'm coming from.) I was especially struck by Mrs. Palin's evasive answer in which she says "They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska."
That's so sweet. It's true, too. So let's have a look at the Diomede Islands, apparently the key to understanding the complexities of international relations in today's world.
What she's talking about are the Diomede Islands, a pair of small islands way, way north in the Arctic Circle, right smack in the middle of the Bering Straits. Here are a couple of satellite closeups:
The island on the right, Little Diomede, is in Alaska. The island on the left, Big Diomede, is in Russia. Little Diomede is approximately 1 mile wide and 2 miles tall. Big Diomede is about 2x5. The international date line runs right between them, and they are about 2.5 miles apart.
Backing up a bit, here's the same image from a little farther away. That's the very westernmost edge of Alaska on the right, and the very easternmost edge of Russia on the left.
So right off, we can see that this claim stretches logic just a little bit. You can't see mainland Russia from mainland Alaska. You can only see the one tiny, barely inhabited island from another tiny, barely inhabited island. Here's a picture of the settlement on Little Diomede:
About the town:
Village of Diomede, Alaska. The village is located on the western shore of the island, 2.5 miles from the Russian island Big Diomede, and 1.25 miles from the International Dateline. The island is home to about 200 native Alaskans, 2 Arctic fox and thousands of sea birds. Seals, whales, walrus and polar bears frequent the surrounding water and sea ice. There is a school, ice cream machine, washeteria and bingo three times a week for fun!
Now, let's look at Alaska as a whole.
The Diomedes are up there on the left, just across from the coast city of Wales, which is even more remote than Nome, which you probably only know about since it's one of the few words in the English language that rhymes with "home" so songwriters like to refer to it, particularly comparing its cold remoteness to the warmth of home. (From which they'll never roam, over land, sea or foam, except maybe to go to Rome. But I'm digressing. Just like a Republican!)
Notice how connected Wales and the Diomedes are to places like Anchorage and Juneau and Wasilla.
And, for comparison, here is a map of Russia, with the Diomedes thumbtacked on the right (sort of buried under the compass), and the capital, Moscow (which is technically on a whole other continent from the Diomedes) on the left:
I don't have much more to add, since I think the photos speak for themselves. I've run out of snarky indignance, so I just want to point out how specifically stupid the claim that Alaska's proximity to Russia makes for an understanding of international relations truly is. Someone else can tackle the next ridiculous thing that comes out of a GOP-pers mouth.