VICE-PRESIDENTIAL hopeful Sarah Palin has warned she will support war on Russia if it attacks Georgia again.

The US “pitbull in lipstick” — who also said she was single-minded in her commitment to the Iraq war — declared she would never blink first in a showdown.

She said that if Moscow continued its “mission” to dominate its neighbour’s oil supplies, “that’s a dangerous position for our world”.

Asked if that meant she would be willing to take the US to war, she said Nato rules meant “if another country is attacked, you’re going to be expected to be called upon and help”.

And she later added that when it comes to fighting wars: “You can’t blink.”

Believer ... addressing her son's Iraq-bound army unit

The Republican, 44, was talking in her first television interview since being named as presidential candidate John McCain’s sidekick.

The moose-hunting mum of five said: “You have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission that we’re on — reform of this country and victory in the war.”

The tough-talking Governor of Alaska was speaking in her home state after seeing her own soldier son Track, 19, off to Iraq.

She had earlier spoken to the teen’s infantry unit at a farewell ceremony.

Palin told American network ABC: “I am so proud of his independent and strong decision he has made — serving something greater than himself.”

Mission

The deeply religious Christian backed off an earlier claim that the Iraq war is a mission from God.

But she admitted: “I believe that there is a plan for this world and that plan for this world is for good.”

Palin faced tough quizzing about foreign policy during the interview, amid claims she has too little international experience for the second-in-command job after just two years as Alaskan leader.

But she revealed she was a firm believer in President Bush’s policy that the US has a right to invade any country presenting a threat.

She said: “If there is legitimate and enough intelligence that tells us a strike is imminent against American people, we have every right to defend our country.”

Asked if the United States should be able to invade Pakistan to pursue terrorists, Palin said: “I believe that America has to exercise all options in order to stop the terrorists hellbent on destroying America and our allies.”

e.smith@the-sun.co.uk