We are going to have peace even if we have to fight for it.

The line expresses a paradox common to Cold War rhetoric: peace is the ultimate aim, but it may require readiness to use force to deter aggression or to end conflict. Attributed to Eisenhower, it aligns with his public posture as a former Supreme Allied Commander who valued collective security and credible military strength as a means to prevent larger wars. The phrasing suggests a belief that peace is not merely a passive condition but something that can demand resolve, sacrifice, and, if necessary, coercion. It also implicitly warns that adversaries may only respect peace when backed by the capacity and will to defend it.