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Title: Fallon Resigns As Mideast Military Chief [already posted but more details - this could be big, people]
Source:
AP
URL Source: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/storie ... &SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Published: Mar 11, 2008
Author: AP
Post Date: 2008-03-11 17:16:32 by a vast rightwing conspirator
Keywords: None
Views: 675
Comments: 7
Fallon Resigns As Mideast Military Chief WASHINGTON (AP) -- The top U.S. military commander for the Middle East resigned Tuesday amid speculation about a rift over U.S. policy in Iran. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that Adm. William J. Fallon, whose area of responsibility includes Iraq, 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. "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, who is traveling in Iraq, said in a statement issued by his U.S. headquarters in Tampa, Fla. "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," he said. President Bush praised Fallon in a statement. "During his tenure at Centcom, Admiral Fallon's job has been to help ensure that America's military forces are ready to meet the threats of an often-troubled region of the world, and he deserves considerable credit for progress that has been made there, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan," Bush said. Gates announced that Fallon's top deputy, Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, will take over temporarily when Fallon leaves. A permanent successor, requiring nomination by the president and confirmation by the Senate, might not be designated in the near term. Dempsey could be elevated to Central Command chief, although he already has been selected to become the top U.S. Army general in Europe. Among other possible candidates for the post - considered one of the most important in the U.S. military - is Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who had just been named to a top post on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and who had been commander of U.S. special operations forces in Iraq. Another possibility is Army Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, who serves as Gates' senior military assistant and is a former senior commander in Iraq. Gates described as "ridiculous" any 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. He said he believed Fallon was fully supportive of the administration's policy on dealing with Iran through diplomatic and economic pressures. Fallon, 63, a veteran of the Vietnam War and a former vice chief of naval operations, 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. Gates 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." © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
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#1. To: All (#0)
Bush will have 9.5 months to try to do something in Iran. By the way, could this be one of the reasons behind the $108 oil?
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
Maybe the speculators who have been driving up the price of oil know something.
To reason, indeed, he was not in the habit of attending. His mode of arguing, if it is to be so called, was one not uncommon among dull and stubborn persons, who are accustomed to be surrounded by their inferiors. He asserted a proposition; and, as often as wiser people ventured respectfully to show that it was erroneous, he asserted it again, in exactly the same words, and conceived that, by doing so, he at once disposed of all objections. - Macaulay, "History of England," Vol. 1, Chapter 6, on James II.
Well... I heard that there were some speculation with airlines stocks going on before the 9/11. Hillary made a small fortune speculating about cow futures. I'm wondering who's throwing all that money at oil. The economical commentators say that it's the 'sovereign funds', among others. Those would be funds controlled by foreign governments. If Bush is planning to go nukular on Iran he would probably let the other nukular powers know about or he'd risk a nuke falling on his belovet Crawford.
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
With Cheney, McCain, Lieberman and Graham headed for israel this is indeed troubling...
Never swear "allegiance" to anything other than the 'right to change your mind'!
from Wayne Madsen: Admiral William Fallon, CENTCOM commander, resigns. Resignation forced after Fallon complained about Bush in Esquire article. Bush has fired more generals and admirals than Adolf Hitler.
'He will make Cheney look like Gandhi.' Very unusual to see one of the perfumed Star people bucking the system. Billy Mitchell did it, got canned. MacArthur did it and got canned.
The Israeli Lobby needs to be held FULLY accountable for the Iraq and Lebanon wars. And if we provoke Iran, the American people need to know full well on whose pressure our craven or corrupt political "leaders" acting for against the natural interests of the United States.
"Satan / Cheney in "08"
#2. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#1)
By the way, could this be one of the reasons behind the $108 oil?
#3. To: aristeides (#2)
#4. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#0)
this could be big, people
#5. To: a vast rightwing conspirator, Cynicom, gord (#0)
U.S. conservative pundit Pat Buchanan, imagining presidential hopeful John McCain in the White House.
#6. To: robin (#5)
#7. To: Brian S (#4)
With Cheney, McCain, Lieberman and Graham headed for israel this is indeed troubling...
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