WASHINGTON, March 11, 2008
Top U.S. Commander In Mideast Quits
Admiral William Fallon Resigns; Fallon Reportedly Differed With White House On Iran Policy
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Play CBS Video Video Top Mideast Commander Quits Admiral William Fallon submitted his resignation after a magazine article suggested he was standing in the way of U.S. military action in Iran. David Martin reports.
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Video Gates Announces Fallon Exit "CBS News RAW": Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announces he's accepted the resignation of Adm. William Fallon, the top commander at U.S. Central Command.
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Video Admiral Fallon Stepping Down Navy Admiral William Fallon is stepping down from his position as Commander of U.S. Forces in the Middle East. "Up to the Minute" Military Analyst Mitch Mitchell weighs in.
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Admiral William Fallon (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
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Timeline The U.S. And Iran Key events in once friendly, now contentious relationship between Washington and Tehran.
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Interactive Battle For Iraq The government, the insurgency, key players, background and photos.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that Adm. William J. Fallon had asked for permission to retire and that Gates agreed. Gates said the decision, effective March 31, was entirely Fallon's and that Gates believed it was "the right thing to do."
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.
Separately, the New York Times reported that there was "no question" that Fallon's departure was prompted by policy differences with the White House, and with Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. commander in Iraq.
The newspaper said senior officials in the Bush administration were unhappy with remarks Fallon has made about Iran and the pace of U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq.
Fallon was out of step with the White House almost from the day he took over the U.S. Central Command, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. On his first trip to Iraq, he allowed a reporter for the New York Times to accompany him to a meeting at which he lectured Prime Ministrer Maliki on the need for political reform. A source close to Fallon says that earned him phone calls from Vice President Cheney, Secretary of State Rice and National Security Adviser Hadley. Afterwards, Fallon said he had "two strikes against me" and lamented ever taking the job.
Martin reports there will be a lot of speculation that Fallon's departure clears the decks for war with Iran before the Bush leaves office, despite the fact that Secretary Gates twice called the notion "ridiculous."
It is not known how Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, who will replace Fallon as the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, feels about war with Iran, but it's a safe bet he's against it, Martin reports. Virtually every senior military officer is against it, and Dempsey, who has spent a lot of time in Iraq, knows first hand how that war has pushed the Army close to the breaking point. As Fallon's deputy, he also knows the U.S. still needs more troops in Afghanistan. No one in the American military is interested in a wider war, but from now on they might be more cautious about how they say it.
Fallon, who is traveling in Iraq, issued a statement through his U.S. headquarters in Florida.
"Recent press reports suggesting a disconnect between my views and the president's policy objectives have become a distraction at a critical time and hamper efforts in the Centcom region," Fallon said.
"And although I don't believe there have ever been any differences about the objectives of our policy in the Central Command area of responsibility, the simple perception that there is makes it difficult for me to effectively serve America's interests there," Fallon added.
Gates dismissed the notion that Fallon's departure signals the United States is planning to go to war with Iran. And he said "there is a misperception" that Fallon disagrees with the administration's approach to Iran.
"I don't think there were differences at all," Gates added.
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.
Bush issued a statement saying that Fallon "has served our nation with great distinction for forty years. He is an outstanding sailor - and he made history as the first naval officer to serve as commander of Central Command."
Gates said that until a permanent replacement is nominated and confirmed by the Senate, Fallon's place will be taken by his top deputy, Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey.
The secretary called Fallon a very able military strategist and said his advice will be missed at the Pentagon.
"I think this is a cumulative kind of thing," said Gates, speaking of the circumstances leading up to Fallon's decision. "It isn't the result of any one article or any one issue."
"As I say, the notion that this decision portends anything in terms of change in Iran policy is, to quote myself, 'ridiculous,' " he said.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 309 CommentsNo!!!!!
We must go to war with Iran so that we can bring on Armagadon!!!
Don''t you see?!!!
Jesus is coming. Look busy.
Too many of these MUTTON HEADS often speak with authority about ALL matters military??? You might think they actuallu knew what they were talking about if you didn''t know what FRAUDS they actually are.
FYI: US GENERALS & ADMIRALS have been resigning or being coerced into retirement since the nation began. Even great generals with strong impeccable credentials often have disagreements with the policies of their Commander In Chief. Ever hear about the fate of Generals: Mc Clelland, Mc Arthur?
starting with Iraq and Iraq takes, say, eight
years, not, then in 6o years we get the
destroyer and "mission accomplished" with a
120-year-old, preserved-by-Ron Rico-rum,
former president under it''s banner
proclaiming victory.
In other words, things aren''t going
too well for "THE PLAN"
Most military leaders against military strike on Iran
Gates has said publicly and privately that under current conditions he''s opposed to war with Iran. Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen is also against it. In fact, almost every senior military officer we''ve talked to is against launching military strikes against Iran, because as one senior official told us, "then what do you do?"
--The Associated Press
Chimp-in-Chief Bushit, "5-deferments" Chickenshit, and little ho Dana Perino must think the American people are real stupid.
Well they are. After, they re-elected Bushit.
And the Repugs (and many Dems) in Congress seem to be too spineless to tackle the endless lies and deception of the U.S. Fascist Party.
Any public servent of integrity gets trashed by the clowns in the White House.
And the lickspittle lackeys get choice Medals of Freedom and appointments as Senior Fellows at the Heritage Foundation or Hoover Institute.
Posted by ainttaken
Worth reposting and I sincerely agree!
In 2006 & 2007 Iran & Venezuela vested oil deals and partnered to develop tracts in Venezuelas Orinoco Reserve. One tract Iran will help develop contains approximately 30 billion barrels of oil.
Venezuela''s total oil reserves are estimated at 265 billion barrels which could top the Saudi''s Reserves.
Venezuela, has struck oil and natural gas deals with Iran & Malaysia , as well as China and Russia . China & Russia. will aid and protect Venezueala if needed .
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We can all talk about the past, but what about now and the future ? Presently the PNAC and the CNP Council for National Policy is planning your future. These two secretive organisations with crossover membership of several hundred of the richest men in the USA put Bush & Cheney in office to accomplish their global agenda.
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UNOCAL and other American companies are prepared to undertake the job ".
In an interview published by the French, dedefensa.org journalist Amy Goodman''s interview with General Wesley Clark. Clark stated he viewed a defense department memo that described how the U.S. was going to take out seven countries in five years...."starting with Iraq,then Syria and Lebanon, then Libya,then Somalia and Sudan, and back to Iran."
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