Little Diomede, Alaska: Our Russian Connection

Why No Alaskan Governor Has Ever Been There

Since her meteoric rise to power and fame, Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin, has explained that part of her Foreign Policy experience is due to location. She proudly boasts; "I can see Russia from my back yard." Now, if you are like me, I enjoy investigating the facts, so I've been trying to make this connection. I mean imagine if she is located in a strategic place with the current state of our global affairs - Damn it, I want to know!

I mean, if Russia did want to invade the USA - they might just in fact come through Sarah's back yard and that would not be good for her or any Americans Right?? Okay, so this is what I have learned about our "Russian Connection" straight from wikipedia:

Diomede (native name Inalik, meaning "the other one" or "the one over there"^[2]) is a city in the Nome Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska, located on the island of Little Diomede (native name Ignaluk; formerly known as Krusenstern Island which can also refer to other places however).^[3] Little Diomede is the smaller of the two Diomede Islands located in the middle of the Bering Strait between the Alaska mainland and Siberia. Its neighboring island Big Diomede, Russia behind the International Date Line is less than 4 km (2.4 miles) away. Diomede lies on the west side of Little Diomede and is the only settlement on the island. The population was 146 at the 2000 census.

Then, this morning, as I was channel surfing, ABC News does a special report and makes a trip to Diomede to explore the same. According to that report, Sarah Palin is partially correct (one for girl power) - We CAN see Russia from Alaska! Unfortunately or fortunately it is not from HER back yard. Apparently, the good people of Diomede which has now grown to 150 do not even know who their Governor is. That might be because there are no modern conveniences including TV and I'm guessing no internet?

During the interview with ABC News when one citizen was asked if any Governor had ever stopped by Diomede, he reported "NO."

This brings me to yet another question - When does Ms. Palin get to see Russia from Alaska?