Admiral Fallon (Centcom) resigns after article saying he would refuse war with Iran

[grondramb]

No link yet.
Live on CNN

This was 42 minutes ago before the resignation

http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/11/754424.aspx

>>By Jim Miklaszewski, NBC News Chief Pentagon Correspondent
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon sharks are circling CENTCOM Commander Adm. William “Fox” Fallon for a magazine interview in which he appears to openly criticize President Bush on the administration’s Iran policy. The very public comments raised speculation Fallon would either volunteer or be forced to resign.
The current issue of Esquire Magazine portrays Fallon as the one person in the military or Pentagon standing between the White House and war with Iran. The article credits Fallon with “brazenly challenging his commander in chief” over a possible war with Iran, which Fallon called an “ill-advised action,” and implies Fallon would resign rather than go to war against Iran.<<

[grondramb]

Link now

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

Fallon Resigns As Mideast Military ChiefMar 11 03:33 PM US/Eastern
By ROBERT BURNS
AP Military WriterWrite a Comment WASHINGTON (AP) - Adm. William Fallon, the top U.S. military commander for the Middle East, is resigning, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday. Gates said that Fallon had asked him for permission to retire and that Gates agreed.
"I believe he has made the right decision," Gates told reporters at the Pentagon. He called Fallon a very able military strategist and said he will be missed.
Fallon was the subject of an article published last week in Esquire magazine that portrayed him as opposed to President Bush's Iran policy. It described Fallon as a lone voice against taking military action to stop the Iranian nuclear program.
"I think this is a cumulative kind of thing," Gates said. "It isn't the result of any one article or any one issue."
Fallon has had a 41-year Navy career. He took the Central Command post on March 16, 2007, succeeding Army Gen. John Abizaid, who retired. Fallon previously served as commander of U.S. Pacific Command.
Gates described as "ridiculous" any notion that Fallon's departure signals the United States is planning to go to war with Iran.
"As I say, the notion that this decision portends anything in terms of change in Iran policy is, to quote myself, 'ridiculous,' " he said.

[smak]

100% more guts than Colin Powell, sorry to say.

-smak-

[procrastinator]

Originally Posted by smak

100% more guts than Colin Powell, sorry to say.

Well then, I guess we just found our new nominee for vice president.

[pdhenry]

If he's the one person in the military between the White House and war with Iran, I'm not sure it's a good idea to let him go...

[TheIndependent]

iirc the President and Congress decide whether to go to war or not, the military does what its told (or they resign) good for him for resigning and not trying to subvert the civilian leadership with military insubordination.

[grondramb]

I'm still waiting on the proper headling


"Fallon Gonged"

[mbklein]

Originally Posted by grondramb

I'm still waiting on the proper headling


"Fallon Gonged"

Oh, geez. That's the worst pun I've heard/read in a while, and spend most of my life surrounded by awful punsters. I salute you and despise you all at the same time.

[busyba]

Well, I guess going to war with Iran is one way to get our troops out of Iraq.

[Turtleboy]

Isn't it a crime for an officer to publicly criticize the commander in chief?

[busyba]

Originally Posted by Turtleboy

Isn't it a crime for an officer to publicly criticize the commander in chief?

The court-martial of an Admiral for criticizing a CinC with a 19% approval rating ("low for a president, but very high for a fetish" --Stephen Colbert ) would be a massive PR nightmare, particularly in a Presidential election year.

"Encouraging" the Admiral to resign was as good as they could afford to do.


But don't worry, I'm sure they'll arrange for Fallon to get his somehow. Maybe he's married to a covert agent whose cover they can blow.


Or maybe they'll pull him back into active-duty after the election and court-martial him then.

[grondramb]

Admirals don't get court martialed for disagreeing about military strategy.

But they are supposed to resign if they cannot or will not carry out the President's policies.

Should Fallon happen to be telling the truth - that he did this to avoid the appearance of a problem, that's pretty honorable.

Fark's Take on the matter

Man reputed to be the only person keeping Bush from attacking Iran just resigned. How do you say "Oh, crap" in Farsi?

[mercurial]

Originally Posted by mbklein

Oh, geez. That's the worst pun I've heard/read in a while, and spend most of my life surrounded by awful punsters. I salute you and despise you all at the same time.

At least he didn't do something all the line of "Fallon His Sword"...

[Pendragn]

Originally Posted by Turtleboy

Isn't it a crime for an officer to publicly criticize the commander in chief?

Article 88 of the UCMJ might apply here.

tk

[grondramb]

Originally Posted by Pendragn

Article 88 of the UCMJ might apply here.

tk

Thus far, even all the hearsay has been about him disagreeing with policy not saying anything that could possibly include expressing contempt for any civilian individuals.

[grondramb]

What do you know...

Fallon's Gong

By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Wednesday, March 12, 2008 4:20 PM PT
Defense: The resignation of Adm. William "Fox" Fallon as head of U.S. Mideast forces was no great tragedy. Though an honorable man, he had become, as those in the military like to say, a loose cannon.

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArti...90214038540976