Bounds couldn't, because Palin has never personally ordered the state guard to do anything.

"McClatchy's source for the reality of Palin's Commander-in-Chief acumen is Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, the Alaska Guard's service commander. He points out what most of you already know, that when the AK Guard is deployed overseas, it's President Bush who commands it. But, when it comes to the Guard's in-state duties, Palin's been a little, shall we say, hands off:

Occasions in which Palin retains command authority over the 4,200-member Alaska National Guard are whenever the Guard responds to in-state natural disasters and civic emergencies, said Campbell, who also serves as the commissioner of the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Some examples?

"We've deployed individuals in state service all over the state under Sarah Palin," he said. "We had defense men down in Seward for the (Mount) Marathon run doing security.

"Out west and northwest we had erosion problems, and the National Guard was involved in some of the protection out there. About three days ago, the Army National Guard picked up a lady from Little Diomede (Island) . . . at the request of state troopers."

Did Palin directly approve each of those activities?

No, Campbell said. The governor has granted him the authority to act on his own in most cases, including life-or-death emergencies -- when a quick response is required -- and minor day-to-day operations.

"What about when the AK Guard sent a deployment to aid in Hurricane Gustav relief? "Chief of Staff Mike Nizich signed off on it." July's floods in Fairbanks? "Didn't require the governor's approval."

However, on those issues where Palin should be governing she is AWOL.  Palin the Parrot has a bad record when it comes to supporting AK Guard soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families.  Palin offers "poor leadership and blatant political posturing" according to the Veterans for America (VFA)

From Celtic Diva via Political Carnival: "Last week, Veterans for America (VFA), also known as "Vietnam Veterans for America Foundation" (VVAF) first released its preliminary report on the current state of the Alaska National Guard.  They found the Guard to be in dire straits, especially due to an extreme shortage of support programs for the soldiers or their families upon their return from duty in Iraq/Afghanistan. Palin offers "

"So, what was "Lt. Gen" Craig Campbell's (i.e. The Governor's) response as head of the Alaska National Guard?  Concern over the findings?

"Per ADN:

The commander of the Alaska National Guard swung back Monday at a report critical of his department, saying its claims were an unfounded, partisan attempt to "ambush" Gov. Sarah Palin in the final weeks of the presidential campaign.

Lt. Gen. Craig Campbell, commissioner of the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said at a news conference that the preliminary report, released Oct. 1 by Veterans for America, was "poorly written, lacking substantiation of allegations and basically filled with plain incorrect information.

"This is a political hatchet job," Campbell said. "There are always things that we can improve on, so I'm not saying we couldn't use any help. I'm saying the VFA didn't offer any help."

"Let me get this straight: you want Veterans of America to "help" while you tell them that the year-long study they conducted in order to provide help to those serving in the AK National Guard was a political hatchet job?

"Veterans for America responded:

"Veterans for America first sent an employee of our organization to Alaska more than one year ago ... before 99.8 percent of the country had ever heard the name Gov. Sarah Palin," Forrester said. "It's disappointing to have such a defensive response from the leader of the men and women of the Alaska National Guard."

The report was the result of a year of research and a 10-day fact-finding mission in Alaska, he said. In addition to its claim that post-deployment programs are lacking, the report says about 25 percent of Alaska's Guard members live in villages without access to military health care providers, forcing them to travel long distances for health care -- and to front the money to do so.

The report calls for "radical changes" in the way the Guard is run, including mandatory face-to-face mental and physical health screenings following deployments and more time at home between them.

"At the press conference, Mark Kelsey, the governor's assistant on military and veteran affairs, made this comment:

"(Palin) agrees completely with Gen. Campbell's assessment that Alaska's Guard troops are among the finest in the country," Kelsey said afterward. "So she appreciates his efforts today to provide some factual context to the baseless criticisms leveled by the Veterans for America."

"Today, Veterans for America released their final report and also had a reponse for Governor Palin:

"Per their press release:

Veterans for America, also known as Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, has a thirty-year history of working on behalf of America's veterans and servicemembers. Anyone with a modicum of understanding of and/or appreciation for the veterans' movement in this country respects the history of our organization and our unequivocal bona fides.

As VFA has made plainly clear to the Governor and her staff, VFA's findings are based on two extensive field visits to Alaska working directly with Guard members and their families.  We are sharing their stories and their concerns. Furthermore, the impetus for our work is VFA's Wounded Warrior Registry, where we assist soldiers with concerns and problems with access to care.

It is poor leadership and blatant political posturing at the expense of our troops to claim that our findings, based on testimonials and ground visits, are baseless.

"Yesterday's press conference was a political farce," said VFA President Bobby Muller. "Such stunts do a disservice to our troops and veterans.  Governor Palin should not deny the great shortcomings in post-combat care that the Department of Defense has bravely recognized for the past several years."

"THIS IS NOT A SUPRISE to anyone who knows anything about veteran's issues in Alaska!  Veteran's Aviation Outreach grew out of the fact that Alaska has the largest number of veterans per capita (over 80,000) yet approximately only 10-20% of them are actually registered for their benefits!  Also, many of them are out in Rural Alaska and accessible only by plane! Sarah Palin knows this and I have proof of that...I met her at "The Gathering for Veterans" in April WHICH WAS COORDINATED BY VETERANS AVIATION OUTREACH!!!!!

"IT'S NOT A HUGE SURPRISE to determine that those members of the Alaska National Guard serving in Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered the same or worse fate than the other veterans in this state!!!

"The fact that Campbell and Palin would react in this way is unbelievable and outrageous!  It causes me great concern for her return to Alaska.  Will the plight of veterans in this state go from a tragic issue we must all work on together to a blot on her resume for higher office that she must explain away or sweep under the rug?"