Sarah Palin is getting a crash course in foreign policy.

In preparation for her big debate against Barack Obama’s running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, D-DE – a foreign policy guru – in less than a month, The Washington Post reports that a slew of security experts are briefing the Republican vice-presidential nominee on issues such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to Israel, to the nuclear activities of Iran and North Korea.

One of those experts is Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-CT, the man many believe John McCain wanted as his running mate. Lieberman introduced Palin to officials of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Palin assured that group of her strong support for Israel, of her desire to see the United States move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and of her opposition to Iran becoming a nuclear superpower, the Post reports.

Palin, the governor of Alaska, has virtually no record on foreign policy and has not traveled extensively outside the United States. A Palin spokeswoman said the governor last summer made two foreign trips – one to Canada, and another to Kuwait and Germany (she made a short stop at a "military outpost" in Iraq) to visit members of the Alaska National Guard. 

Publicly, campaign officials and advisers call Palin a quick study who will get the issues down and be ready for anything that comes at her. They stress that McCain has enough experience in foreign policy for both of them – much like, they say, Biden has to make up for Obama’s lack of experience in that same area.

"Sarah Palin will be part of a team. John McCain is clearly the person with the foreign policy experience and record of accomplishment in Washington that will be paired with her experience as a reformer, as a governor, as an executive," former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney told The Washington Post. "Together, they will be a very strong and compelling team. But let’s not forget, he is the president and she is the vice president. And on the Democratic side, you have a nominee who is of so little experience in foreign affairs, domestic affairs, of any affairs, that I wonder how it happened."

Some Republicans have defended Palin by pointing out that Alaska borders Canada and is the U.S. state closest to Russia. The two are separated by the Bering Straits, which, when they freeze over, create a bridge to Siberia.

But some GOP foreign policy experts privately told the newspaper they are concerned that McCain picked such a foreign affairs newbie at a time the U.S. is facing huge national security issues and diplomatic challenges around the world. Democrats are also assailing her lack of experience in this area.

"I think that Gov. Palin is going to face an enormous challenge," former U.S. ambassador and Obama foreign policy adviser Wendy Sherman told MSNBC on Friday. “She probably can get the first talking point ready … she’s a bright and capable person. But to understand the complexities in this world takes time, takes a great deal of understanding, some experience, and Governor Palin came to the table with none of the above."

And of course you have the Facebook crowd chiming in.

One group on the popular social networking site is called, "I have more foreign policy experience than Sarah Palin." As of Friday morning, the group had more than 24,000 members.

The description: "For all of you dumbfounded by the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as John McCain’s running mate. This moose-eating political featherweight could be a heartbeat away from the presidency — what a frightening thought."

Contact Info: "Not the White House."