Admiral William Fallon Resigns
CNN reports that Admiral “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.
Both co-blogger Jason Steck and I believed the story to be inaccurate, but it’s clear that it’s difficult if not impossible for him to function when it’s all about him, and not about actual policies / the war. The New York Times adds, however, that although the story claiming that the only thing standing between a war with Iran and Bush was Adm. Fallon may have been incorrect, he was most certainly at odds with General David Petraeus on a number of issues.
Combine the above and the logical conclusion is that the Admiral made the right decision.
Another great military mind has taken a back seat to the Bush/Cheney neocon gameplan. Bush’s policies have created instability that only rational thought can counteract. The Admiral deserves credit for trying to maintain calm within the region. Ad another general to the “Generals Revolt”.