WASHINGTON, March 11, 2008

White House Downplays Rift With Fallon

Admiral In Charge Of U.S. Mideast Command Resigned Amid Alleged Disagreements On Iran

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Admiral William Fallon Photo

    Admiral William Fallon  (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)

  • Timeline The U.S. And Iran

    Key events in once friendly, now contentious relationship between Washington and Tehran.

  • Interactive Battle For Iraq

    The government, the insurgency, key players, background and photos.

(CBS/AP)  The White House on Wednesday rejected charges that it quashes dissenting views in the military, an accusation brought to light by the resignation of Navy Adm. William J. Fallon as commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East.

For Fallon, the perception of a disagreement with President George W. Bush's policies on Iran rather than an actual rift was enough reason to step down.

"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 in a statement Tuesday in which he announced his resignation as head of U.S. Central Command, arguably the most important in the U.S. military.

Democrats seized on Fallon's resignation as an opportunity to criticize Mr. Bush.

"Over the last seven Bush years, we've seen those who toe the company line get rewarded and those who speak inconvenient truths get retired," Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said in a written statement.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., echoed Kerry's comment and said, "The last thing America needs is an echo chamber of top advisers, especially on all-important questions of war and peace."

It is highly unusual for a senior commander to resign in wartime. Fallon took the post on March 16, 2007, succeeding Army Gen. John Abizaid, who retired after nearly four years in the job. Fallon was part of a new team of senior officials, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates, chosen by Mr. Bush to implement a revised Iraq war policy.

White House press secretary Dana Perino called the charges of stifling dissent "nonsense."

"The president welcomes robust and healthy debate," she said. "He has many members of his administration that represent different viewpoints. He has dissenting views on a variety of issues that get worked out through a policy process that is usually not fed out in the press."

"There's no one in the administration that is suggesting other than a diplomatic approach to Iran," Perino said.

An Esquire magazine article published last week described Fallon, 63, as being at odds with a president eager to go to war with Iran. Titled "The Man Between War and Peace," the article presented Fallon as a lone voice against taking military action to stop the Iranian nuclear program.

"I don't believe there have ever been any differences about the objectives of our policy in the Central Command area of responsibility," Fallon said in his statement Tuesday, and he regretted "the simple perception that there is."

Gates told a Pentagon news conference that he accepted Fallon's request to resign and retire, agreeing that the Iran issue had become a distraction. But Gates said repeatedly that he believed talk of Fallon opposing Mr. Bush on Iran was mistaken.

"I don't think that there really were differences at all," Gates said, adding that Fallon was not pressured to leave.

"He told me that, quote, 'The current embarrassing situation, public perception of differences between my views and administration policy and the distraction this causes from the mission make this the right thing to do,' unquote," Gates told reporters.

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 Minister 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.

Gates said he did not think it was the Esquire article alone that prompted Fallon to quit. Rather, Gates thought it was "a cumulative kind of thing" that he and Fallon had failed to put "behind us." He also dismissed as "ridiculous" any notion that Fallon's departure signals the United States is planning to go to war with Iran.

Fallon's departure, effective March 31, is unlikely to immediately affect conduct of the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. His top deputy at Central Command, Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, will take his place until a permanent successor is nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Dempsey had previously been selected to head U.S. Army Europe.

Gen. David Petraeus, who runs the Iraq war from Baghdad but is technically subordinate to Fallon, was known to have differences with Fallon over the timing and pace of drawing down U.S. troops from Iraq. Fallon has favored a faster pullback. Petraeus issued a statement lauding Fallon's service.

Possible replacements could include:

  • Petraeus, although Gates said recently that Mr. Bush had made it clear to him that he wanted to keep Petraeus in Iraq until late this year. He is likely to get a second four-star assignment, and some believe it might be as the top U.S. commander in Europe.

  • Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, just named to a top post on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and who had been commander of U.S. special operations forces in Iraq.

  • Army Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, who serves as Gates' senior military assistant and is a former senior commander in Iraq.

    © 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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    Add a Comment See all 70 Comments
    by ioweign March 12, 2008 12:59 PM PDT
    The United States can not afford to lose this military career talent since we''ve received zero political talent on January 2001...
    Reply to this comment
    by singingrick March 12, 2008 1:04 PM PDT


    According to the White House, they listen to the generals on the ground. That is until, the generals disagree with them.



    Reply to this comment
    by boatdocster March 12, 2008 1:05 PM PDT
    White House press secretary Dana Perino called the charges of stifling dissent "nonsense."

    "The president welcomes robust and healthy debate," she said. "He has many members of his administration that represent different viewpoints. He has dissenting views on a variety of issues that get worked out through a policy process that is usually not fed out in the press."

    Yep, and every one of those dissenters, political (i.e Budget Director talking costs prior to the war, 9 attorneys that would not prosecute democrats or did prosecute republicans)and military officers (we need more troops, why are we in Iraq, what''s the post war plan), are gone, either fired or retired. Even Colin Powell fell victim to asking hard questions, something Bush and Cheney will not tolerate!

    The Bush idea of a robust debate is you bent over, holding your ankles.

    W- Worst Ever
    Reply to this comment
    by vet_sk March 12, 2008 1:12 PM PDT
    Fallon is talking about actually talking to our enemies. Can you imagine. The horror!

    Good for a true hero for standing up to war mongering, saber rattleling of the Bush Administration. He knows that the Bush Administration is planning an incursion into Iran and knows this will further destablize the middle east.

    Instead Adm Fallon says we should talk to them, make diplomatic inititives. That should be the foreign policy of the United States.

    Hillary has says we should not be talking to our enemies and in fact in September voted for the Iran Resolution (Obama did not) giving Bush some authority to attack Iran. Unbelievable.

    Obama has the judgement we need - he and Adm Fallon would certainly be in agreement.
    Reply to this comment
    by boatdocster March 12, 2008 1:23 PM PDT
    Vet SK

    Perhaps an Obama - Fallon ticket.

    Obama, willing to use his brain and talk first, shoot second, and Fallon, giving sound military and policy judgments. Good be a very nice match.
    Reply to this comment
    by inventagod March 12, 2008 1:33 PM PDT

    Bu$h - ''Fallon? He''s dead to me. Next?''
    Reply to this comment
    by inventagod March 12, 2008 1:35 PM PDT

    I wonder if Bu$h will use nukclear weapons in the first Iran Oil Invasion?
    Reply to this comment
    by excoachken March 12, 2008 1:44 PM PDT
    The Cowardly Cowboy,"What rift? What recession? What WMD lies? What, me worry?"
    Reply to this comment
    by luvny-2009 March 12, 2008 1:51 PM PDT
    I wonder if Bu$h will use nukclear weapons in the first Iran Oil Invasion?


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Posted by Inventagod at 01:35 PM : Mar 12, 2008



    You made me laugh out loud...Bush is SO stupid!
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 2:16 PM PDT
    jh6379,,,, The lat thing this country needs is McCain ---- McCain is to lobbyists as Elliot Spitzer is to prostitutes.

    McCain Advisers Lobbied for Europeans to Win Air Force Tanker Deal

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/us/politics/12tanker.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

    Reply to this comment
    by roger_inkart March 12, 2008 2:17 PM PDT
    If the Bush administration makes ANY move against Iran the Dems should immediately impeach both GW and Cheney, then prepare to pay reparations to Iran and meet with Russia and China to explain what course of action the US is taking.

    Either that, or we unleash WWII, basically.
    Reply to this comment
    by roger_inkart March 12, 2008 2:18 PM PDT
    (that should read WWIII)
    Reply to this comment
    by jersupporter March 12, 2008 2:29 PM PDT
    Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass. - he has never even visited Iraq should keep his f''''''ing mouth shut. Have another gin and tonic you alcoholic. And take your loser prototype (Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass) with you.
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 2:32 PM PDT
    JERSupporter,,,, McCain visited Iraq & what truth did he bring back ??? --- None, today is more evidence of the surge collapsing.
    Reply to this comment
    by roger_inkart March 12, 2008 2:37 PM PDT
    None, today is more evidence of the surge collapsing.

    Posted by j-whitman at 02:32 PM : Mar 12, 2008

    Well, Iraq has actually just become your standard quagmire. It''s costing the US taxpayers billions monthly and it''s still killing US servicemen almost daily.

    The rightwingers are basically destroying the nation. But their pride and arrogance seems to matter more to them. They will watch as the nation swirls around the toilet bowl rather then admin this was a mistake and begin to change course.
    Reply to this comment
    by jersupporter March 12, 2008 2:38 PM PDT
    j-whitman - what surge? I thought the US was withdrawing because the Americans voted the democratic congress in 2006? Are you telling me they havent done what they promised? That cant be true. They promised - UtOh - Obama is promising something? What do I believe?
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 2:40 PM PDT
    JERSupporter,,,, Who is JER ??? I don''t think we have anyone with those initials running for office do we ??
    Reply to this comment
    by gkc99 March 12, 2008 2:42 PM PDT
    Well Bushit still has the General Pet.

    Yes, it''s darned embarrassing when you claim to be "listening to the commanders in the field", and the commander in the field tells you something you don''t want to hear.

    Like God didn''t appoint George Bushit as president.
    Reply to this comment
    by roger_inkart March 12, 2008 2:43 PM PDT
    The cost of the Iraq war? Let''s look at some stats:

    $275 million per day
    $4,100 per household
    Almost 4,000 U.S. soldiers killed and more than 60,000 wounded
    700,000 Iraqis killed and 4 million refugees

    What is going to happen if the maniacs in the White House attack Iran? You think that Iran can''t inflict pain and suffering on the US? What will happen to oil prices? What if attacks like 9/11 began to happen on a weekly basis? What if IEDs started turning up on US highways?

    A war with Iran would (likely) help the GOP this fall, and don''t think these cynical monsters won''t do it to help their party and carry out their warped agendas.

    If the Dems sit back and watch it happen then to H3LL with them too.
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 2:43 PM PDT
    JERSupporter,,,, I think you can believe Obama & Hillary both on Iraq & Fallon & many generals on Iran.

    Somewhere between 20,000 to 80,000 troops will remain in Iraq for quite some time.... It took us over 2 years to leave Iraq in the 1st Gulf War & that lasted what, 20 days ??
    Reply to this comment
    by vet_sk March 12, 2008 2:44 PM PDT
    boatdocster ... I like it Obama Fallon.
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 2:49 PM PDT
    Vet_SK,,,, Do you like this one ???

    McCain Advisers Lobbied for Europeans to Win Air Force Tanker Deal

    Reply to this comment
    by jjp735i March 12, 2008 3:04 PM PDT
    Ahh the Nazi-Republican party. Either you follow us or your un-patriotic. Follow us or your the enemy. Follow us and follow our moral outlines, only don''t ignore them like we do.
    Reply to this comment
    by roger_inkart March 12, 2008 3:05 PM PDT
    exactly what they want to happen to oil prices

    Posted by ainttaken at 02:47 PM : Mar 12, 2008

    Touche.

    While I will take some delight in watching those morons who bought SUVs as big as school buses have to pay a couple hundred dollars to fill the tank (I walk the 1/2 mile to the train into work each day) it frightens me beyond words what will happen in the short and long run.

    I am convinced that Russia and China will step off the sidelines to defend their ally Iran. The Shias will rise up in Iraq. Opposition to the mullahs in Iran will be crushed as the nation rallies around them. I believe there are sleeper cells in the US that will waken and carry out devastating attacks at home and abroad.

    I believe there is a good chance an attack on Iran will result in chaos, death and misery not seen since WWII. And the people of the US will not go untouched.
    Reply to this comment
    by jersupporter March 12, 2008 3:12 PM PDT
    JERSupporter - Are you an American? Posted by neoconism
    -----------------------------------
    YES, are u? Do you support our troops? How? Tangible support not just whiny on message boards.
    Reply to this comment
    by watcher269-2009 March 12, 2008 3:14 PM PDT
    republicans
    questioning your patriotism
    even while they are selling the USA out

    Posted by ainttaken

    --------------------

    Republicans aren''t PATRIOTS - their Profit Seekers - Money means more then Country and People!
    Reply to this comment
    by bluestardad March 12, 2008 3:16 PM PDT
    SO NOW THE DUEL PASSPORT ISRAELI SUPPORTERS IN THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN IN UNIFORM MAY GO AHEAD AND PLAN THE ATTACK ON IRAN!

    BUSH AND HIS NEOCONS WILL TRY TO HIT IRAN BEFORE THEY LEAVE UNLESS WE START WAR CRIMES TRIALS ON THEM!

    AMERICA STAND UP OR SHUT UP!
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 3:17 PM PDT
    JERSupporter,,,,, Who is JER ??
    Reply to this comment
    by donbl1 March 12, 2008 3:27 PM PDT
    "I don''t believe there have ever been any differences about the objectives of our policy in the Central Command area of responsibility," Fallon said in his statement Tuesday, and he regretted "the simple perception that there is."

    Pretty straight forward comment by Fallon.

    Will be interesting to see the post retirement news conference.

    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 3:34 PM PDT
    Don,,,, What did you expect him to say ?? It wasn''t that much diferent than any other exit speech from others that where forced out for opposing policies.. He''s made several comments opposing policies of this administration & echoed by many military & foreign policy experts.
    Reply to this comment
    by jersupporter March 12, 2008 3:35 PM PDT
    JERSupporter,,,,, Who is JER ??
    Posted by j-whitman
    --------------------------
    Not JRE - AKA John Edwards, but JER is in reference to Book of Jeremiah in the bible. Vice JER.
    Reply to this comment
    by donbl1 March 12, 2008 3:36 PM PDT
    J, it will be interesting to see if his "retired" comments are any different than the quote from him in this article.
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 3:37 PM PDT
    Don,,, You seem to be following the GOP example of only taking part of what''s known & claiming it''s the only truth.
    Reply to this comment
    by donbl1 March 12, 2008 3:40 PM PDT
    J, you got to start calming down in the afternoons or work on reading skills.

    The comment is a quote from him. Nothing more.

    In the past, many senior officers have retired "so" they could speak freely.

    There has been a lot of free wheeling journalism about whether the guy was forced out and whether he vigorously opposed any administration plans.

    I suspect we will know truth in a few weeks. Someone will be disappointed.
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 3:44 PM PDT
    Don,,,, It was a political firing,,,,, The situation in Iraq is nothing what McCain or this administration says it is. Many of his comments was also echoed by other senior milary commanders including SECDEF Gates.

    12 soldiers die in 3 days; rise in deaths cast doubt on ''surge''
    Reply to this comment
    by donbl1 March 12, 2008 3:46 PM PDT
    J, I think we will here from the horse''s mouth on the "retirement". That will be the definitive position.

    J, on the deaths, you are taking single data points and extrapolating again.
    Reply to this comment
    by westhaven5 March 12, 2008 3:53 PM PDT
    This is the critical news CBS needs to consistently report not the puff. Thank you.
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 3:54 PM PDT
    Don,,,, You might start watching more news pal... It''s an accumilation of data points from commanders on the ground warning of a change of tatics we''ve seen during the worst part of the Iraq War of Roses.
    Reply to this comment
    by donbl1 March 12, 2008 3:55 PM PDT
    J, you sound like you are hoping.

    Even Angelina Jolie said it was better so we know now.......
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 3:57 PM PDT
    Don,,,, Fallon is right about Iran, we will not attack it.

    Gates is trying to establish a coordinated regional strategic defense against Iran, not attack it.
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 3:58 PM PDT
    Don,,,, I don''t get my news from Angelina Jolie
    Reply to this comment
    by donbl1 March 12, 2008 4:07 PM PDT
    J, my point exactly. The Administration is trying to put together a "defensive" strategy which Fallon supported.

    That is not how the Esquire article came out......

    Like I said, I suspect we will hear (spelled it right this time) an interesting post retirement speech from Fallon. He might be one p***** off fighter pilot about the press.
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 4:13 PM PDT
    Don,,,, You can blame Esquire, & you''ll still miss the point, it was just one article out of many ----

    -- Sec. Gates & many military leaders also echo what
    Fallon has said & have opposed this administration including Adm. Mullen the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff & others.
    Reply to this comment
    by donbl1 March 12, 2008 4:15 PM PDT
    J, Fallon opposed war with Iran for different reasons than you are implying.

    Mullen also opposed and we are NOT at war with Iran, if you noticed.
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 4:19 PM PDT
    Don,,,, No, it hasn''t been your point at all, you''ve been limiting the conversation to his exit speech...

    In fact McCain & Cheney directly opposed puting together a "defensive" strategy which Fallon supported.......
    Reply to this comment
    by j-whitman March 12, 2008 4:21 PM PDT
    Don,,, You''ve forgotten McCain''s "Bomb Bomb Iran" & the White House constant threats of attack already ???
    Reply to this comment
    by gkc99 March 12, 2008 4:41 PM PDT
    Fallon''s resignation could be a signal that the staged, phony terror attack that will be attributed to Iran, and the rapid attack on Iran by Bushit and Chickenshit (from the safety of an undisclosed location, no doubt) will soon follow.

    The election isn''t that far away, after all!!

    The Neocons need to do something to stay in power. Watch the Reichstag--I mean Congress--perhaps a bombing or something there to inflame the peasantry.
    Reply to this comment
    by singingrick March 12, 2008 5:05 PM PDT



    The White House always listens to the Generals on tactical matters unless of course the generals disagree with them. Then they ask them to resign.

    lol!



    Reply to this comment
    by excoachken March 12, 2008 5:07 PM PDT
    Bush Diplomacy = Lie/lie/lie/lie/lie/lie/lie = anything neocons will believe.
    Reply to this comment
    by randynason March 12, 2008 5:08 PM PDT
    Fallon knows a sick, rabid dog when he sees one after a lifetime in the military. How can he in good conscience serve an idiot moron posing as the Commander-In-Chief?
    Reply to this comment
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