After North Korea’s failed missile test (the rocket crashed into the ocean) Sarah Palin issued a statement on missile defense; at Closing Velocity, McKittrick says better late than never: Palin Finally Recognizes Alaska’s Vital Missile Defense Role.

With missile defense budget cuts now in motion —- and Fort Greely’s planned deployment of 40 interceptors being capped at the current 21 —- Palin finally emerges from her cocoon:

“I am deeply concerned with North Korea’s development and testing program which has clear potential of impacting Alaska, a sovereign state of the United States, with a potentially nuclear armed warhead,” Governor Palin said. “I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that we continue to develop and perfect the global missile defense network. Alaska’s strategic location and the system in place here have proven invaluable in defending the nation.”

Governor Palin stressed the importance of Fort Greely and the need for continued funding for the Missile Defense Agency. The governor is firmly against U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ proposed $1.4 billion reduction of the Missile Defense Agency. Greely’s isolated location in Alaska as well as its strategic location in the Pacific allows for maximum security and development of the country’s only ground-based missile defense complex.

That’s all fine and well now, but Palin could have made this slamdunk case about 8 months ago. Instead, she let herself get permanently tarred with the SNL-written “I can see Russia from my house!” as shorthand for her national security (in)experience.