Sarah Palin: an email from Siberia

. . . remember, Alaska is the closest part of our continent to Russia. It’s not as if she doesn’t understand what’s at stake here.
- Cindy McCain

They’re our next door neighbors. And you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska.
- Sarah Palin

Alaska is right next to Russia, she understands that. (Obama) has no experience on these issues.
- John McCain

I know Russia is right next to Russia as well. I saw it on a map.
- Barack Obama

Cindy McCain, John McCain, Palin herself, and other Republicans have suggested the proximity of Alaska to Russia boosts Palin's foreign policy credentials.

The real question ought to be: Did the Alaska governor make the effort to pay a courtesy call to neighboring Russia? And why not?

A Siberian Jotman reader writes:

There is a rather regular air transport between Anchorage and Magadan. There are also occasional small aircraft charters shuttling between Nome and Anadyr (in Chukotka) and (rarely) between Nome and some mine towns in Chukotka and Magadan Oblast. In any case, border control requirements dictate obligatory stops in Anadyr or Magadan. These charter flights are typically arranged for the mining companies operating in the area (e.g. Highland Gold, Kinross Gold etc.), but am sure if the Governor of Alaska had a desire to visit her Russian colleague and play soccer (or hockey) with the Chelsea FC owner, she would most definitely get a seat.

Alaska borders Canada. Did Palin pay a visit to the leaders of nearby Canadian provinces? On Palin's one and only visit to Canada -- in June 2007 -- she visited Whitehorse (population 22,000), which is the capital of the Yukon territory. Sarah Palin did not visit British Columbia -- the relatively populous province which also borders Alaska.
__
Map shows Russian Far East.