From the front page at Military.com:
Associated Press | March 11, 2008
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says that Admiral William Fallon, the top U.S. military commander for the Middle East, is resigning.Gates said Fallon had asked Gates for permission to retire and that Gates agreed.
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.
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.
Fallon released a statement blaming his quotes from the Esquire piece as the reason for his resignation and President Bush put out his own statemement praising Fallon’s service. Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, who was the head of Iraqi army training before becoming the CENTCOM number two, will take over in the interim.
Methinks the Esquire interview was 100 percent intentional and that he contemplated this move beforehand. But that’s just me…
– Christian
sniff.…sniff.…what is this smell me thinks a poloitical campain in future
James,
Hmmm, VP for Obama?
Me thinks he wants nothing to do with a planned strike on Iran.…..
Well since no one in the WH or DoD dismissed Barnett’s Esquire article as BS, it was accurate. I don’t think Fallon was dumb enough to be that open, opinionated, and perhaps confrontational without expecting ramifications. Must have wanted out.
I read the Esquire piece three times when it was posted, and found it extremely educational. As someone who is ardently opposed to Bush’s Iran strategy, I am very disappointed Fallon got canned for publicly opposing Bush’s dangerous policies.
James Christian
That was my thoughts exactly. To old and made to many enemies to move up so instead a timed interview to buy warm fuzzies with the left and giving false meaning an expected exit. Slick if true.
The idea of Obama as president even with a capable but poli/soft 2nd.….. Is the US gen pop really so jealous and longing the nearest comparable political match see Israel.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3517751,00.html
I could see many scenerio’s of a president Obama giving such a speech to US citizens just sub rocket for terrorist bombs.
I wonder how many people who want to go to war against Iran realize that it is mountainous,that the Dasht-e Kavir(Salt Desert) is quite formidable(it defeated Desert One during the Iran Hostage Crisis),& that Iran has plenty of marshland.That’s why Iran doesn’t have many tanks,they can’t maneuver on Iran’s terrain.Instead,they have a shit load of hovercraft(same as North Korea,by the way).Anybody who thinks that we can just drive a small division like 3rd Infantry Division into Tehran like we did into Baghdad is so sorely delusional & not grounded in reality.Anybody like that needs to stop drinking Rumsfeld’s/Perle’s/Wolfowitz/Feith’s Kool Aide.
foraker.….….…..ok there needs to be a new rule no evil bush evil iraq talk for NO reason all the time you sound like a polotician stop it
oh one other thing if here another im against the iraq war.ill kill someone.…..who isnt against the iraq war!. seriously think about it its like saying im against having this broken legg i dont want it…what as apossed to the alternative.?
war sucks.…spending lots o money on war sucks.…ask a soldier…do you like going to war? he say no…i hope at least he probbly will if hes american.…and sane.….
sometimes to not fight to not kill your enemies is worse than the alternative…welcome to the real world…
heres what i have against obamacal
1)hes same old polotiian only reason hes gottin this far if not is because hes photogenic
2)if he isnt hes got no idea about the real world…so he lived in another country.….…who freaking cares thats like saying i should run for mayor of new york if i stopped for gas there..seriously wtf
3)hes one of these idiots that believe by neutering our military he makes the world better
yall never seen the video where he says hell cut missile defense,FCS, programes like that? wtf
he is a fool his getting the presidency will make me think long and hard about the intellagence of my countrymen
The government decides policy. The military’s role is to, with the exception of opposing egregious crimes or plainfully unlawful acts, advise them of the feasibility of a military course of action and it’s possible outcomes, not it’s validity as a point of policy. If Fallon stayed in position and opposed a lawful policy for his own reasons that would betray all years of service. I happen to agree with him. However I do not think the purpose of the military is to oppose the wishes of the elected government (within the parameters set above). I don’t see this as the actions of a man setting himself up for a future political career but rather as the principled resignation of a man that could not agree with a policy position but where his disagreement was not purely and solely on the grounds of military feasibility. For that I salute him.
As others have pointed out, once Fallon started making public comments that flatly contradicted administration policy … then he had to go. Disagreeing in private is one thing, in public is another.
I have a sneaking suspicion that this has to do with the upcoming military action against Iran. From rumors I’ve heard, it’s to start the week of the 24th.
I don’t know if it’ll be direct US involvement or just us operating in a support role of some kind against the nation who starts the conflict, but I do know that many US-based military personal are being told to report for special duty and are expected to be working 20 hour days for at least two weeks.
Fallon is gone because he was in the way:
“By all accounts, the points of contention between Fallon and Bush administration officials centered on three points: 1) his belief that the indefinite occupation of Iraq is a disaster for the US military, 2) that diplomacy has a central role in American foreign and national security policy, 3) that war is not a credible policy for the US to pursue in dealing with Iran. The last of these was believed to be the key issue.“
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/182868.php
Jim
Agreed, the comment was ill written on the fly.
Basic point was that Fallon either saw the writing on the wall and made lemonade with lemons or not.
Either way 2nd point was that a Obama even with a Fallon holding shotgun will be a disaster. The closest example today would be the Olmert government. If you go to the link you will see were he basically told S Israel to get used to the rockets.
Real leadership pushing for peace or just another pansy that lacks the balls to make the hard ugly calls life often requires? Anyone who thinks the hollow candidate of/from “Hope” would be different is just not paying attention.
Someone mentioned Obahma’s video
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/191487.php
Leadership? I guess we will HOPE the rest of the world follows suite, and HOPE our enemies realize we love them to so they no longer have to kill US infidels?
This is what happens when a culture becomes based on feelings and intentions rather than results and actions.
It is a shame that Admiral Fallon resigned because it likely does indicate a forward intention if Iran. After all, the journalist was Thomas Barnett, a military strategist.
We are missing a great opportunity in Iraq. No question the country is run by a bunch of whack jobs but that does mean they can’t do our dirty work for us. why should we have to fight the Taliban when the Iranians will do?
Iran backs the insurgents in Iraq because to keep us bogged down. Iran isn’t stupid if Iraq is too stable, we will be poised to attack them. Iran wants a stable Iraq but as long as we have so much of our military so close to them and we continue rattling sabers at them, they will continue to fighting.
And with so few Farsi speakers and not nearly enough troops to police the border, do we expect to ever stop it? Strategic partnership is the way forwards that the Iraq Study Group said two years ago.
Roy Smith:
After giving the matter considerable thought, I too fear Iranian hovercraft and the doom which clearly awaits us.
It is not a question whether or not we should ‘fear Iranian hovercraft’…the question is do we really feel it is in our best interests to strike Iran now or in the near future? Is it wise to attack a Country that can easily supply Shiite milititas inside of Iraq with advanced munitions to kill US troops? Is it wise to attack a Country in the Gulf and drive oil prices even higher? Is it wise to attack another muslim Country on ‘sound intel’ again and create a whole new generation of Al Qaeda operatives?
Is it wise to attack a predominantly Shiite nation while our troops occupy a predominantly Shiite neighbor
When you throw a rock in a pond the ripples travel a long way and will come ashore at some point.
What our forces need(even the U.S. Army) is more vehicles like The Marines new Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle(if it ever comes on line) & Assault Amphibian Vehicles,because,hopefully,they could operate in marshland during the rainy seasons(they can also float,unlike the M1,& yes I did witness M2 Bradleys “swimming” in Germany,but I wouldn’t want them to do that much).Having vehicles like this,the Gibbs Technologies/Lockheed Martin Military High Speed Amphibian 4x4 ACC-E(Expeditionary) & 6x6 ACC-R(Riverine),would also go a long way in how we would fight the Iranians & their “hovercrafts.” We would definately need vehicles tailored for long mountain climbs & going through narrow passes.We would need to carry plenty of water to cool down our equipment while crossing the Dasht-e Kavir(Salt Desert).
You know,H.G. Wells predicted that World War III would start with an event in Basra.Could it be a Iranian attack or counter-attack to seize Basra? What would incite them to do such a thing?
James,
I think your apparent anger at me is misplaced. Let me clarify the point I was trying to make.
I make no judgment on whether invading Iraq was right or wrong; that is now irrelevant.
Our mission in this so-called War on Terror is an expensive one. Our economy isn’t so hot right now and Congressional spending (both Republican and Democratic) has exceeded its income for many years.
I don’t think you’ll disagree with any of that.
At some point, now or twenty years from now, we’re going to have to reduce spending for a change.
And my point is that the last cut that should be made to government spending is for our security and the military might to make sure of it. That includes taking care of our veterans. They risked their lives and deserve our gratitude. I include Admiral Fallon in that number.
All of our presidential candidates better take note of that.
Anna,
I think you are helping to make my point.…meddling/creating conflict in the Middle East threatens to destabilize it even further. It is precisely because of our role in dividing up the region that we are viewed with suspicion.
I would counsel trying to find common ground and areas of mutual interest.….may seem difficult and perhaps near impossible but it can be done.
I believe that when dealing with leaders such as Ahmadinejad it serves our interest to be the rational, cooperative party.…helps make your case and line up international support.
Looks like we need Jennings & Rall,Ravenwood,& Skynet to pull our chestnuts out of the fire over this one.Where’s our UCAVs,Armed UGVs,& Unmanned surface craft,& the “private contractors” to operate them?
KBR(Kellogg Brown Root)=Jennings & Rall
Blackwater USA=Ravenwood
Skynet?Well,Skynet is Skynet.
Now if KBR can take time off from building their “concentration camps” in the U.S. & Blackwater can take off from teaching our law enforcement agencies “Martial Law” techniques.maybe they can hook up with Skynet & bomb Tehran,huh?
Sorry,I shouldn’t have said “concentration camps.“I meant to say “Detention Centers.”
No,I actually meant “FEMA ‘trailer parks’.”
Roy Smith, can you please use paragraphs, at least then it’ll be somewhat readable instead of a wall of mangled text.
See video: Why Fallon’s Resignation is Frightening Defense Secretary Robert Gates did not have to accept Admiral Fallon’s resignation. “The military people think basically that Admiral Fallon was PUSHED OUT” — Mark Thompson Time Magazine National Security Correspondent
Fallon is described as “the one person in the military or Pentagon standing between the White House and war with Iran.”
Anna,
Good points, when I say dividing up the region I realize that we had no involvement in the original divvying up but we did have involvement post WWII (Israel) and we are in fact planting the seeds for future instability (see Kurds).
Iran denying the Holocaust only makes them look delusional and ill informed in everyones eyes. Conflict strengthens the hard liners in Iran, rapproachment and engagement will threaten their hold on power.
With regards to Lenin, he is buried along with his dead idealogies.…
Don’t forget that Bush promised Israel(Sharon) that he would attack Iran before he was out of office. I’m guessing we’re getting very close to the date of the attack and the admin is getting rid of the nay-sayers.
lenn
Lets also not forget that Cheney always gets his always and rarely loses a burecratic fight.
..I mean always gets his way.…
Not to split hairs, but the kaiser had only indirect influence in the middle east, it was the Ottoman empire the brits & french divided.
Anyways, Fallon did what he did & said what he said and sometimes things can just be taken at face value. Perhaps his resolve was strengthened by the decsions of generals before him, some of whom waited too long for their own consciences
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/04/iraqgenerals200704
Sharon’s in a coma & Olmert doesn’t have the balls to defend his own nation or people.We don’t owe them shit & we shouldn’t bomb Iran on their behalf.
Jimbo Jones
Is this precise & to the point enough?
“Sharon’s in a coma & Olmert doesn’t have the balls to defend his own nation or people.We don’t owe them shit & we shouldn’t bomb Iran on their behalf.“
We should only bomb Iran when Olmert finally “grows a pair”(which ranks up there with “when pigs fly” or “And monkeys might fly out of my ass”).
He’s a weakling and a high ranked one!That,statement is equal to:nothing…He must be,
up to something else then?To leave,his troops over
such a statement by:An, outsider is literally foolishness!
I guess Israel is happy, and so am I that Fallon is gone. Iran has always been a disturbing for its support to Iraq insugents, especially EFP flowing from Iran. Attacking these EFP building sites as well as stockpiles of weapons is very meaningful to stop the flow of weapons from Iran into Iraq. Fallon was one of the obstacles for options to attack these elements. There is no guarantee that it will happen, but at least one obstacle has been removed to choose the option to attack sites in Iran supporting the insurgents in Iraq.
>The U.S. will need plenty of thermobaric bombs &
>to saturate EVERY mountain in Iran with them.
May you spare the lives of Kurdish seperatists in Iran? Let’s hope the Arab, Azeri, and Baluchi seperatists would do us a favor as well. I also guess there might be something better than thermobaric bombs for certain cases.
What is all this about bombing Iran, the mountaines and all the rest.
What do you know about Iran. If there are 70 million Iranians living in Iran, at least one percent of them are poets and writers. That is about 700,000 Iranians(again this is minimum). Do you intend to kill them?
There are at least 10 million Iranians studying all over the country. Do you intend to kill all those sudents?
All the world knows that there are many excellent medical doctors working in Iran. Do you intend to kill them?
At least 70 percent of Iranians living in Iran pray God 5 times a day. They believe that is the God of Abraham, the Jews and Christians. They respect the Jews and the Christians. The rest of Iranians may not pray 5 times a day but most of them are kind and love other human beings. Do you intend to kill them?
Who has given us the right to bomb others? God, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Socrates,Plato,Aristotle?Who?