Fallon's resignation is frightening

Fallon resigns as Mideast military chief

WASHINGTON - The Navy admiral in charge of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan announced Tuesday that he is resigning over press reports portraying him as opposed to President Bush's Iran policy.

Adm. William J. Fallon, one of the most experienced officers in the U.S. military, said the reports were wrong but had become a distraction hampering his efforts in the Middle East. Fallon's area of responsibility includes Iran and stretches from Central Asia across the Middle East to the Horn of Africa.

"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, and he regretted "the simple perception that there is." He was in Iraq when he made the statement.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates told a Pentagon news conference that he accepted Fallon's request to resign and retire from the Navy, agreeing that the Iran issue had become a distraction. But Gates said repeatedly that he believed talk of Fallon opposing 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. More

Fallon's resignation is frightening. President Bush and his administration are totally out of control and it is a bad sign for Fallon to resign given the context. It is unwise to simply hope that it doesn't "mean anything" with regard to a totally outrageous, illegal and unthinkable act which could be catastrophic for God knows how many people. The act I refer to is being discussed matter-of-factly as "war with Iran." A clear war crime and the mainstream media, as I type this, discuss it as simply an "option." It is NOT an option, it is a crime that can not be allowed to be carried out. We can not allow domestic forces to violate our laws and put our lives at risk. Bush attacks countries without any legal, legitimate or moral reason! He LIES about the reason why he started his war with Iraq! Bush has said at least four times now that Saddam didn't let the inspectors in. This is how out of control Bush is, it must be made clear immediately to Bush that he has no authority at all to attack another country. All those powers must we taken from him in the legal procedure that we the American people have at our disposal to protect ourselves. Mainstream media is working against us. For Bush to claim that Saddam didn't let the inspectors in is totally off the wall and it is DANGEROUS for mainstream media to let such a thing slide. We have a man with SERIOUS problems running our country. This threatens our lives.

The Man Between War and Peace

The article credits Fallon with "brazenly challenging his commander in chief" over a possible war with Iran, which Fallon called an "ill-advised action," and implies Fallon would resign rather than go to war against Iran." - By Jim Miklaszewski, NBC News Chief Pentagon Correspondent - Posted at NBC News BLOG "Field Notes" on Tuesday, March 11, 2008 11:25 AM