Posted on 12/14/2008 5:54:57 PM PST by Publius804
Haig on Obama: 'Reason to be Optimistic'
By: Jim Meyers
Retired four-star general and former Secretary of State Alexander Haig tells Newsmax that Americans “have reason to be optimistic” about the incoming Barack Obama administration despite the “horrendous problems” he has inherited.
In a wide-ranging exclusive Newsmax interview, Haig also said leaving Saddam Hussein in power after the first Gulf War was “insanity, declared that President Richard Nixon did more to win the Cold War than did Ronald Reagan, and called Nixon’s normalization of relations with China “the most important foreign policy event of the century.”
And he quipped that after Reagan was shot, his health deteriorated and “his wife’s hairdresser” had more to do with running the country than the president.
Haig, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, served as White House chief of staff under President Nixon and was largely credited with keeping the government running while Nixon was preoccupied with Watergate. He also served in that post under President Gerald Ford.
After leaving the White House in 1974, Haig was appointed supreme allied commander in Europe and led all NATO forces until 1979. Two years later he was named secretary of state by President Ronald Reagan, and he was instrumental in keeping the White House running after Reagan was wounded in an assassination attempt in 1981.
Newsmax’s Ashley Martella asked Haig how he feels about President-elect Obama’s appointees so far.
“Look at the diversity he’s imposed already,” Haig answered, “a diversity that includes some very very proven, wise men in the economic field. He’s turned to a secretary of defense who’s been in the job and has been doing a fine job, in my view.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Fortunately, he’s not “in control here.”
If you read the whole interview he sounds bitter towards the Reagans.
optimistic? sure. he might not make it to inauguration.
As a naive youngster, I voted for him in the 1988 primary.
What a pompous ass!
Oops, that it thank God.
He’s gone senile.
LOL!
Now Haig can return to the obscurity he so richly deserves. What a maroon.
The old general is a connected New World Order man. Of course he will say this.
That statement will haunt him as long as he lives.
Me too. I always thought that media way overplayed his "I'm in control here" statement, thought it was a way of saying to the Russkies you better not try anything because the President was shot and the VP was out of DC. Now he has apparently lost his mind, or maybe he really was crazy in 1981.
What do Colon Powell and Bob Woodward have in common?
They both worked for Haig.
I totally agree.
Trying to get a job Al?
Thank you.
Al Haig had his ST*U moment back in 1981.
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