Posted on 04/21/2006 5:27:56 PM PDT by wagglebee
Former U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig said Friday that "hollow threats” against Iran will do little to stop that nation from developing nuclear weapons.
Haig, appearing on Fox News Channel, suggested that the U.S. "keep emphasizing the diplomatic route” to convince Iran to forego the development of nuclear weapons, but Haig is skeptical that Iran’s leadership will listen.
"We can’t make hollow threats,” Haig said. "We must make it clear that the outcome [of Iran’s nuclear ambitions] will be unacceptable to us if it includes a nuclear weapon for Iran.”
But, Haig said, America must tread lightly because of existing commitments of military troops elsewhere in the region.
"We’re up to our necks in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re going to have to be very careful. The more we bombast and threaten, the more ammunition we give to the mullahs to rally support against the United States.”
However, Haig said the literal wildcard in this standoff if Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"We have a first-class nutcase running Iran right now and we have to be very careful,” Haig warned. "We have the assets [to attack Iran], but this is a fellow who says he will destroy Israel and that he’s at war with the U.S. and will bring us down as well.”
Haig - who served as Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan and for a short time as White House chief of staff during the Nixon administration - said bellicose words alone will not lead to a solution to the nuclear standoff.
"Iran is our potential #1 threat in the region,” he said. "We know where the leadership wants to take them. Let’s have some high-level, bi-lateral and direct talks between a high U.S. official and a high Iranian official. The situation is serious. Iran can’t afford a knock down drag out fight with the U.S. and they know it.”
It sounds like he agrees with you.
And thanks again President Jimmy.
Iran is thumbing their nose at us just like Libya did and we all know how that ended.
Talk won't work unless it goes something like "you have 24 hours to leave Tehran..."
It's not a question of if but when.
I guarantee you that Israel knows exactly what Iran's nuclear capabilities are. With, or without the United States's approval, Iran will be neutralized. My guess is with U.S. approval.
right, but high level talks may create internal dissent within their government, since few if any are actually keen on becoming martyrs or members of a deck-of-cards type wanted list.
When a professional diplomat starts using the word nutcase, you know that war is around the corner.
The highest level ones are not interested in being martyrs (unless they are really delusional). The underlings and everyone else can take the martyr positions.
Then again, if Ahmedinejad truly has martyrdom aspirations (taking Iran with him in the process), then the people of Iran are in big trouble.
Bush should announce that he's bringing Haig on as a special adviser, that would drive the left insane.
Israel doesn't have the capability to do it, and they know it - otherwise we wouldn't have seen so many recent articles urging the US to do the attack.
The US can't attack Iran now, because of possible reprisals against American troops in Iraq. That would also happen IF Israel tried to pull off the attack by itself - so I highly doubt the Bush White House would ever give their approval for that.
Those reprisals could also spell disaster for Israel, in that they could quickly turn the US public opinion against it. It would certainly make for a tougher time in Congress, the next time Israel asks for more US military equipment.
I call him the Iraniac. He's not the only one.
Haig is not your run of the mill retired 4 star general. The man has contacts I bet even our CIA doesn't have.
I respectfully beg to differ. I think they can, and will. Time will tell of course.
That's not saying a hell of a lot these days!
But you're absolutely right, Haig has "spheres of influence" all over the world, I hope Bush will take his advice if it's offered.
Hell yeah! "Bombs Away Haig" : )
Don't worry about his mention of "talks". Maybe his idea of talks is different from ours ;-)
I respect the hell out of GEN Haig. He's done everything there is to do in the military and went on to serve as COS to Nixon and Reagan, i.e., he's got some cajones.
And Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
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