I hope to God that this is not true. The LA Times has posted this interchange between Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and US VP hopefully Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin’s meeting in New York this morning with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari — part of her crash course in foreign affairs — began innocuously enough.

“So nice to meet you,” she told him, according to the pool report filed by CNN, and he responded in kind.

Simple, civil salutations. But Zardari soon steered the conversation in a direction that would make Campbell Brown, the CNN anchor who Tuesday called John McCain’s campaign aides sexist, cringe and cry chauvinism. Here is the exchange:

ZARDARI: “You are even more gorgeous than you are on the (inaudible).”

PALIN: “You are so nice. Thank you.”

ZARDARI: “Now I know why the whole of America is crazy about you.”

[A Zardari handler tells the two to shake hands again for the cameras.]

PALIN: “I’m supposed to pose again.”

ZARDARI: “If he’s insisting, I might hug.”

At that point, the pool reporter was escorted from the room.

Please read the comments on the LA Times website, one person named “Asad” added “wow, before bhutto’s body is even cold…”

And from CNN:

Pakistan’s new president called GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin “gorgeous” when the two met in New York on Wednesday.

Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin meets Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in New York on Wednesday.

Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin meets Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in New York on Wednesday.

Palin has been in New York meeting international leaders in town this week for United Nations meetings.

On entering a room filled with several Pakistani officials Wednesday, Palin was immediately greeted by Sherry Rehman, the country’s information minister.

“And how does one keep looking that good when one is that busy?” Rehman asked Palin, drawing friendly laughter from the room.

“Oh, thank you,” Palin said.

Pakistan’s new president, Asif Ali Zardari, entered the room seconds later. Palin rose to shake his hand, saying she was “honored” to meet him.

Zardari then called her “gorgeous” and said: “Now I know why the whole of America is crazy about you.”

“You are so nice,” Palin said, smiling. “Thank you.”

A handler from Zardari’s entourage then told the two politicians to keep shaking hands for the cameras.

“If he’s insisting, I might hug,” Zardari said. Palin smiled politely in response.

The Alaska governor did not answer questions from reporters at her first two appearances on Wednesday, when she joined running mate Sen. John McCain in meetings with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko and then traveled downtown to meet with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

But she did offer brief remarks to a reporter at the Zardari meeting who asked about her day.

“It’s going great,” Palin said. “These meetings are very informative and helpful, and a lot of good people sharing appreciation for America.”

And BBC News.

From the New York Times:

Earlier, Sherry Rehman, the Pakistani information minister, had welcomed Ms. Palin. “Busy on the campaign trail?” she asked the governor.

“Yes, yes,” Ms. Palin replied.

“How does one keep looking that good?” Ms. Rehman asked.

“Oh, oh, thank you,” the governor replied.

Related posts:

1. How Sarah Palin Rallied Pakistan’s Feminists - Time
2. 7-Eleven on 9-11 - Amar Bakshi
3. World Safer Place Because of Bush - Asif Zardari
4. 6 Reporters and a Tape Recorder - The Wall Street Journal refutes Zardari’s Claims
5. Is Pakistan’s New President Up to the Job?
6. Asif Zardari on CNN Late Edition
7. Geo Transmission Break?

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