Alternet is trying to start a smear that Sarah Palin thinks the U.S. Army is on a mission from God. Needless to say, trying to claim that a vice presidential candidate thinks our troops are literally on a crusade is extremely dangerous and those who do so are putting political concerns ahead of the interests of the country. But, Alternet is desperate enough to offer this (alternet.org/story/97907/):

In June, Palin gave a speech at the Wasilla Assembly of God, her former church, in which she exhorted ministry students to pray for American soldiers in Iraq. "Our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God," she told them. "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that plan is God's plan."

That makes it sound like she thinks the war in Iraq is a "task that is from God", but that's not really what she meant. The Alternet article takes their quote from the NYT (link), and omits a key part which is boldened below:

She also told the group that her eldest child, Track, would soon be deployed by the Army to Iraq, and that they should pray "that our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God, that's what we have to make sure we are praying for, that there is a plan, and that plan is God's plan."

Assuming that the NYT itself didn't misquote her, I read that as her hoping that our leaders aren't sending them out on a task that's disreputable, not that she thinks of the Iraq war as a modern-day Crusade. However, this smear will probably be hitting your mailbox - and mailboxes in the Middle East - any second now.

9/11/08 UPDATE: Alternet appears to have taken their smear from the Associated Press. On Sep. 3, Gene Johnson of the AP offered what's called here "Palin: Iraq war 'a task that is from God'". See the full quote here. And, in his interview with Palin, Charlie Gibson reached Alternet level (link, see also this):

GIBSON: You said recently, in your old church, "Our national leaders are sending U.S. soldiers on a task that is from God." Are we fighting a holy war?

PALIN: You know, I don't know if that was my exact quote.

GIBSON: Exact words.

PALIN: But the reference there is a repeat of Abraham Lincoln's words when he said - first, he suggested never presume to know what God's will is, and I would never presume to know God's will or to speak God's words.

But what Abraham Lincoln had said, and that's a repeat in my comments, was let us not pray that God is on our side in a war or any other time, but let us pray that we are on God's side.

That's what that comment was all about, Charlie.

GIBSON: I take your point about Lincoln's words, but you went on and said, "There is a plan and it is God’s plan."