--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Syria is a terrorist state by any…" description: "\"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 al..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c67/alexander-haig-18281_definitions_syria-is-a-terrorist-state-by-any-defini_2471385.jpg" --- # Syria is a terrorist state by any definition and is so… ![“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.” quote by Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c67/alexander-haig-18281_definitions_syria-is-a-terrorist-state-by-any-defini_2471385.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c67/alexander-haig-18281_definitions_syria-is-a-terrorist-state-by-any-defini_2471385.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c67/alexander-haig-18281_definitions_syria-is-a-terrorist-state-by-any-defini_2471385.jpg) > “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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-haig/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker labels several Middle Eastern countries as terrorist states, reflecting a hard‑line political stance. **In simple terms:** He calls those nations terrorist states. Key Takeaway Consider nuanced foreign policy. Themes politics terrorism international relations stereotyping policy Mood cautious critical strategic Type political controversial When to use this quote - diplomacy - security analysis - media reporting Key Concepts realpolitik geopolitics Questions to Reflect On - What are the consequences of blanket labels? - How can policy address root causes of terrorism? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating allies and oversimplifying. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Definitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) [Department](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/department/) [Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/involved/) [Iran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran/) [Iran Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iran-syria-764847/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Syria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria/) [Syria Involved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria-involved-764846/) [Syria Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/syria-terrorist-764848/) [Terrorist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist/) [Terrorist State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrorist-state-586483/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [While sanctions against Iran and Syria are intended to constrain those countries' governments, they have had the unfortunate side effect of constraining activists' access…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/while-sanctions-against-iran-and-syria-are-intended-to-constrain/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [I think the attempt to draw a comparison between Iran and Syria is false, misleading and dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-olmert/i-think-the-attempt-to-draw-a-comparison-between-iran-and-syria-is/) [Ehud Olmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-olmert/) > [The role of Iran has been very destructive. As an Iranian, I apologize to the civilian people of Syria who have been killed as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/the-role-of-iran-has-been-very-destructive-as-an-iranian-i-apologize/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [Terrorists are trained in Syria, and weapons come from Iran and Syria, and I believe that's something that should be stopped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/terrorists-are-trained-in-syria-and-weapons-come-from-iran-and-syria/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [ I can say this: They \[Iran\] have total disregard for our country. They are the number one terrorist state, they are sending money all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-can-say-this-they-iran-have-total-disregard-for-our-country-they/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The United States has done some very good things in the world, and that does not change the fact that the World Court was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-united-states-has-done-some-very-good-things-in-the-world-and/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The US has been the leading terrorist state in the world for many years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-us-has-been-the-leading-terrorist-state-in-the-world-for-many/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [An institution that...would permit Iraq, a terrorist state that refuses to disarm, to become soon the chair of the United Nations Commission on Disarmament,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/an-institution-that-would-permit-iraq-a-terrorist-state-that-refuses/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [We use the official definitions of terrorism. The definitions in the U.S. code, in British law, in U.S. Army manuals and so on. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/we-use-the-official-definitions-of-terrorism-the-definitions-in-the-u/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [In much of the world the U.S. is regarded as a leading terrorist state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/in-much-of-the-world-the-u-s-is-regarded-as-a-leading-terrorist-state/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I would say I need two things: the first one is to be objective in every statement he could make regarding any conflict around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bashar-al-assad/i-would-say-i-need-two-things-the-first-one-is-to-be-objective-in/) [Bashar al-Assad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bashar-al-assad/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [And also I think the rise of other, you could say, destinations for international jihadis mean that Pakistan isn't necessarily the place where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/and-also-i-think-the-rise-of-other-you-could-say-destinations-for/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) ## More by Alexander Haig > [We didn't lose Vietnam. We quit Vietnam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/we-didn-t-lose-vietnam-we-quit-vietnam/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/if-they-analyze-the-situation-as-thoroughly-as-they-should-muslims/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-haig/) > [To declare the Cold War over, and declare democracy has won out over totalitarianism, is a measure of arrogance and wrong-headedness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/to-declare-the-cold-war-over-and-declare-democracy-has-won-out-over/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-haig/) > [I started out as a Cold Warrior, even my last years in grade school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/i-started-out-as-a-cold-warrior-even-my-last-years-in-grade-school/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/sooner-or-later-something-had-to-give-but-president-bush-faced-with/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/we-didn-t-do-anything-wrong-but-among-the-lessons-learned-given-the/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-haig/) > [Prior to his takeover of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini was camping near Paris, giving daily news conferences to a fawning international press corps without a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/prior-to-his-takeover-of-iran-ayatollah-khomeini-was-camping-near/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/a-durable-long-term-u-s-china-strategic-relationship-is-even-more/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-haig/) > [I probably carry more scar tissue on my derrière than any other candidate-that's political scar tissue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/i-probably-carry-more-scar-tissue-on-my-derri-re-than-any-other/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-haig/) > [What the fundamentalists are doing is a total negation of their own faith - encouraging and lionizing suicide bombers and killing women and children,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/what-the-fundamentalists-are-doing-is-a-total-negation-of-their-own/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/practice-rather-than-preach-make-of-your-life-an-affirmation-defined/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-haig/) > [I wasn't happy with the outcome in Vietnam. Now, I've never said that, but, you know, I'm getting to an age where I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/i-wasn-t-happy-with-the-outcome-in-vietnam-now-i-ve-never-said-that/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/constitutionally-gentlemen-you-have-the-president-the-vice-president/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-haig/) > [The warning message we sent the Russians was a calculated ambiguity that would be clearly understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/the-warning-message-we-sent-the-russians-was-a-calculated-ambiguity/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-haig/you-have-to-look-at-the-history-of-the-middle-east-in-particular-it/) [Alexander Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-haig/) [Explore all 35 Alexander Haig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-haig/) ## More Definitions quotes > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. 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Anything that a \[person\] postulates as being a greater totality than \[oneself\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-the-psychic-totality-of-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Before I had kids, I thought you should never lie to a kid. But now I've had them, I realize you almost lie to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/before-i-had-kids-i-thought-you-should-never-lie-to-a-kid-but-now-i/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [my definition of the ideal man is 'that particular man with whom a woman happens to be in love at that particular time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-boothe-luce/my-definition-of-the-ideal-man-is-that-particular-man-with-whom-a/) [Clare Boothe Luce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-boothe-luce/) > [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [My briefest ever definition of science fiction is 'Hubris clobbered by Nemesis.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-aldiss/my-briefest-ever-definition-of-science-fiction-is-hubris-clobbered-by/) [Brian Aldiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-aldiss/) > [Was man made stupid to see his own stupidity? Is God by definition indifferent, beyond us all? Is the eternal truth man's fighting soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-eberhart/was-man-made-stupid-to-see-his-own-stupidity-is-god-by-definition/) [Richard Eberhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-eberhart/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. 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