Alexander Haig quotes

Alexander Haig was an American public servant and military officer who served as Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan. Known for his influential roles in both the military and government, he was a key figure during several pivotal moments in U.S. history. He played significant roles in shaping American foreign policy during the late 20th century. Here are 23 of his quotes:

Israel is the largest American aircraft carrier in the world that cannot be sunk, does not carry even one American soldier, and is located in a critical region for American national security.

Alexander Haig

Constitutionally, gentlemen, you have the president, the vice president and the secretary of state, in that order, and should the president decide he wants to transfer the helm to the vice president, he will do so. As for now, I'm in control here, in the White House, pending the return of the vice president and in close touch with him. If something came up, I would check with him, of course.

Alexander Haig

Practice rather than preach. Make of your life an affirmation, defined by your ideals, not the negation of others. Dare to the level of your capability then go beyond to a higher level.

Alexander Haig

I am in control here, in the White House.

Alexander Haig

To declare the Cold War over, and declare democracy has won out over totalitarianism, is a measure of arrogance and wrong-headedness.

Alexander Haig

The warning message we sent the Russians was a calculated ambiguity that would be clearly understood.

Alexander Haig

You have to look at the history of the Middle East in particular. It has been one of failure and frustration, of feudalism and tribalism.

Alexander Haig

Let them march all they want, as long as they continue to pay their taxes.

Alexander Haig

A durable, long-term U.S.-China strategic relationship is even more important now than in previous decades. The relationship will continue to grow and prosper to the mutual benefit of all peoples.

Alexander Haig

You know, it's very clear, as one looks back on history again of the Cold War that, following the crisis in Cuba, following the Khrushchev - beating down of Jack Kennedy in Vienna, that President Kennedy believed that we had to join the battle for the Third World, and the next crisis that developed in that regards was Vietnam.

Alexander Haig

Then came the hostage crisis during which Carter did nothing to rattle the ayatollahs who hung tough until Ronald Reagan was inaugurated, when they suddenly backed down.

Alexander Haig

I think that perhaps the classic propagandists of the - in the Second World War was Winston Churchill. He was extremely skilled and adept at it.

Alexander Haig

As I look back at the span of the Cold War in those early days, in the '50s, for example, there was a great deal of Soviet propaganda here in the United States, but it was clumsy, and it was anchored to a lot of ideological support in certain circles in America itself.

Alexander Haig

If they analyze the situation as thoroughly as they should, Muslims will realize they are the first targets. What are the fundamentalists really after? Simply taking over Islam and then turning its back on modernity.

Alexander Haig

Sooner or later something had to give. But President Bush, faced with the unprecedented affront of 9-11, could not wait to take action. So he had to do what we were capable of doing, and he did it brilliantly.

Alexander Haig

I think the new generations in America, the America's youth, no longer care about Vietnam. They don't want to hear any more about it.

Alexander Haig

Syria is a terrorist state by any definition and is so classified by the State Department. I happen to think Iran is too. Iraq, Iran, Syria, they're all involved.

Alexander Haig

We didn't do anything wrong, but among the lessons learned, given the magnitude of the problems we now face in Afghanistan, a major U.S. force on the ground would convince the world we were in for the long-haul recovery of a country devastated by 21 years of warfare.

Alexander Haig

I'm the only American alive or dead who presided unhappily over the removal of a vice president and a president.

Alexander Haig

The world awaits Beijing's hosting of the 2008 Olympics, an occasion which will bring into the global spotlight the dramatic advances China is making in enhancing the quality of life for its people.

Alexander Haig