Breaking and disturbing News! Admiral Fallon, who has been an outspoken opponent in regard war with Iran, has resigned his post and is retiring from the military. America has just suffered another enormous loss with the resignation of Admiral Fallon, adding to the wealth of military expertise and talent that Bush has run-off with his partisan politics and do-it-my-way or the highway attitude as he casually reduces our experienced military talent and assets, leaving America even more vulnerable to outside aggression as our adversaries are watching us destroy our own military! Below is a brief description of the issue(s)that led to his “retirement”.
Admiral Fallon’s “No Iran War” Line Angered White House
by Gareth Porter
WASHINGTON — A new article on CENTCOM commander Adm. William Fallon confirms that his public statements last fall ruling out war against Iran last fall were not coordinated with the White House and landed him in trouble more than once with President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.
0308 02In an admiring article on Fallon in Esquire, former Pentagon official Thomas P.M. Barnett writes that Fallon angered the White House by “brazenly challenging” Bush on his aggressive threat of war against Tehran. Barnett also cites “well-placed observers” as saying Bush may soon replace Fallon with a “more pliable” commander.
Barnett’s account, which quotes conversations with Fallon during the CENTCOM commander’s trips to the Middle East, shows that Fallon privately justified his statements contradicting the Bush policy of keeping the “option” of an unprovoked attack on Iran “on the table” as necessary to calm the fears of Egypt and other friendly Arab regimes of a U.S.-Iran war.
Barnett recalls that when Fallon was in Cairo in November, the lead story in that day’s edition of the English-language daily Egyptian Gazette carried the headline “U.S. Rules Out Strike against Iran” over a picture of Fallon meeting with President Hosni Mubarak. MUCH MORE
Admiral Fallon is the only senior military official that opposes a war with Iran according to CNN reporting that I’m listening to live as I write this brief report. How will this affect our prospects for going to war with Iran and how much importance is really associated with this event? I noted that oil prices were increasing while US consumption was actually decreasing in the US, and I wondered what the “money” in the country knew that we didn’t, as the rise in oil prices defied logic. This is a brief report of what we know:
Fallon resigns as chief of U.S. forces in Middle East
* Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he accepted the resignation with regret
* Gates said he will be replaced by Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey
* Fallon cites what he calls inaccurate news reports for decision to step aside
* Fallon: Perception “makes it difficult for me to effectively serve America’s interests”
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Adm. William Fallon has resigned as chief of U.S. forces in the Middle East and Central Asia after more than a year in the post, citing what he called an inaccurate perception that he is at odds with the Bush administration over Iran.Fallon, the head of U.S. Central Command, was the subject of a recent Esquire magazine profile that portrayed him as resisting pressure for military action against Iran, which the Bush administration accuses of trying to develop nuclear weapons.
In a written statement, he said the article’s “disrespect for the president” and “resulting embarrassment” have become a distraction.
“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,” he said. MUCH MORE
There’s no question this is an event that is beneficial to Bush and Cheney’s ambitions to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities, and with Admiral Fallon now retired, who will be the voice of reason? What happens next? When will Congress step-in and actually perform their duties and responsibilities to the American people?
William Cormier
