Sen. John McCain’s nominee for Vice President Sarah Palin has really turned the Russia foreign policy thing into a meaty issue with claims of expertise given her governorship of Alaska – though probably not in the way that will foster constructive or new ideas for any of us policy wonks. We don’t think too many informed people are buying the argument that she is a closet Kremlinologist, but then again, the audience they are asking to believe that claim may not be quite so foreign policy savvy. Furthermore, there is something to be said for the value or lack thereof of “experience” with Russia. So as she takes her first foray into diplomacy with meetings with Afghan, Colombian and other world leaders in New York (which is only marginally further away from Moscow than Wasilla), what, exactly, will be her role? In an article in the IHT, it appears that McCain’s top Russia guy Steven Biegun accidentally lets it slip that Gov. Palin will more or less just sit and listen and develop relationships while policy is handled behind the scenes. This seems like quite the gaffe: