Word: haig
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Chun's visit was only the first of the messages that the Administration sent to the world last week. In another unambiguous signal, Secretary of State Alexander Haig removed Robert White, a career diplomat, as U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador. White had urged El Salvador's ruling junta to consolidate its power through land redistribution and other reforms. When the Reagan transition team criticized him for acting "in the capacity of a social reformer," he complained to reporters that his effectiveness as ambassador had been undermined...
...replacing White with Frederic Chapin, another experienced career diplomat, Haig indicated that the U.S. probably will send more military aid to the junta. At the same time, he served notice on all U.S. diplomats not to voice their opinions publicly unless they are in line with those of Reagan and Haig. Said a State Department official of the White-Haig relationship: "It was a clear case of mutual incompatibility...
...Haig said at a press conference two weeks ago: "Both foreign assistance and foreign security assistance is sometimes a very cost-effective vehicle for ensuring that the ideals and interests of this country are carried out effectively abroad." Translation: money is muscle...
Weinberger also alarmed diplomats in Europe by saying it was "very probable" that the Administration would seek to deploy the so-called neutron bomb with NATO forces. Haig promptly cabled U.S. diplomats abroad, calling attention to Weinberger's further statement that no U.S. decision had been made and that none would be made without full consultation with U.S. allies in Europe...
DIFFERENT AREAS of the transition naturally kept different paces. Though distracted somewhat by confirmation hearings, Alexander M. Haig Jr. quickly assembled a team at the State Department, though he was forced to accept know-nothing Reagan friend William Clark as deputy secretary. But while the former general was swift in consolidating command at State--and in presenting to Reagan on inauguration afternoon a plan to concentrate foreign policy-making machinery in his department's hands--the situation at Defense bordered on scandalous. Conservatives were disappointed with the two people tapped to head the department, and many transition planners were disgusted...