The sudden resignation of the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East yesterday presents a precarious situation for Central Command, some Pentagon officials say, and will “leave a hole” difficult to fill, said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates.
A “misperception” in a feature article published in Esquire last week was a deciding factor in the early resignation of Adm. William J. Fallon but it was not the only factor, Mr. Gates said.
The article, titled “The Man Between War and Peace,” alluded to the differences in policy between Adm. Fallon and the Bush administration regarding Iran.
“I don’t think that there really were differences at all,” Mr. Gates said yesterday. “But I think there is this misperception out there that there were. The fact is, that administration policy is to try and deal with the Iranian challenge through diplomatic and economic pressures and sanctions.”
Even months of trying to “put this misperception behind us,” it hasn’t worked, Mr. Gates added.
Adm. Fallon, who was the first Navy officer to head Central Command in the Middle East, noted the Esquire article finalized his decision to retire early.
“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,” he said. “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.”
The article written by Thomas P.M. Barnett, a well-known military analyst, portrayed Adm. Fallon as the single voice of opposition to the administration’s policies with Iran.
In the article, Adm. Fallon is described as a lone voice against the administration’s policies regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
The article also states that Adm. Fallon told Al Jazeera last fall: “This constant drumbeat of conflict … is not helpful and not useful. I expect that there will be no war, and that is what we ought to be working for. We ought to try to do our utmost to create different conditions.
“What America needs, Fallon says, is a ’combination of strength and willingness to engage.’ ”
The article also alluded that if Adm. Fallon is forced to resign, the U.S. will be one step closer to war with Iran.
“If, in the dying light of the Bush administration, we go to war with Iran, it’ll all come down to one man. If we do not go to war with Iran, it’ll come down to the same man,” the article states, referring to Adm. Fallon.
Yesterday, Mr. Gates said “it’s ridiculous” that the U.S. would go to war with Iran now that Adm. Fallon has retired.
“I am presented with dealing with Admiral Fallon’s decision, the notion that this decision portends anything with a change in Iran’s policy … is ridiculous,” he said.
Democrats charged that Adm. Fallon’s departure was another sign the Bush administration did not tolerate military commanders who spoke their mind.
“I am concerned that the resignation of Admiral William J. Fallon, commander of all U.S. forces in the Middle East and a military leader with more than three decades of command experience, is yet another example that independence and the frank, open airing of experts’ views are not welcomed in this administration,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said in a statement.
Pentagon officials rejected that claim.
Even though Adm. Fallon downplayed possible differences between his perceptions regarding Iran and the Bush administration, his public statements could not be erased, some Pentagon officials say.
Adm. Fallon was known for his conciliatory views on China when he was commander of the Pacific Command, and according to military officials, he restricted U.S. intelligence-gathering efforts against China to avoid upsetting military exchange programs with the Chinese. He also was known to upset some working-level military officers at the Army-oriented Central Command who said the admiral had little understanding of ground combat.
In the past, Adm. Fallon also clashed with Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, over plans to draw down troops in Iraq. He favored a more rapid drawdown of troops than Gen. Petraeus, military officials said.
In a statement issued shortly after the announcement, President Bush touted Adm. Fallon’s service, saying he “deserves considerable credit for progress that has been made [in the Middle East], especially in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
“Admiral William Fallon has served our nation with great distinction for forty years,” Mr. Bush said. “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.”
The 63-year-old commander, who was well respected by close colleagues, was also touted by others in the Defense Department as “Darth Vader” for his strong personality. He was forthright about his thoughts regarding the administration’s hard-line policies with Iran.
Mr. Gates said replacing Adm. Fallon will not be easy. “He is enormously talented, very experienced, and he does have a strategic vision that is rare,” he said. “So it does leave a hole.”
Adm. Fallon’s deputy, Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, will replace the commander temporarily until a permanent replacement is found.
DM. WILLIAM J. FALLON
Age: 63, born Dec. 30, 1944, in East Orange, N.J.
Family: Wife, Mary Fallon.
Education: Villanova University, 1967; commissioned as naval officer through Naval ROTC program; Naval War College, Newport, R.I.; the National War College in Washington; master”s degree, Old Dominion University.
Experience: Served in flying assignments for 24 years, deploying to the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans; embarked aboard the USS Nimitz, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Theodore Roosevelt; logged 4,800 flight hours in jet aircraft; served in staff assignments with NATO and the U.S. Atlantic Command; vice chief of naval operations at the Pentagon, 2000-03; commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command and the U.S. Atlantic Fleet; commander of U.S. Pacific Command; commander of U.S. Central Command since March 16, 2007.
Source: Associated Press
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