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Alexander Haig: ‘First-Class Nutcase’ in Iran

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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.”

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  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.”

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