Whoa nellie! This came out of nowhere, as far as I am concerned. The details are here at DEBKA, but it appears that Fallon's resignation is causing some speculation on just what brought it about.
As far as I can tell, there are three possible reasons:
1. Fallon states that the perception of him being at odds with Defense Secretary Gates and the White House is the reason he quit...he emphasized the "perception" of that being the reason and he denies that there actually is that difference.
2. Some are speculating that the White House and high defense officials are continuing to look at an offensive operation on Iran and Fallon opposes that.
3. In fighting between Fallon and General Petraeus - Fallon has been much more guarded about successes in Iraq and has warned about possible swings back to more violence there - Petraeus has painted a much rosier picture.
Either way this shakes out, this appointment of Fallon was a bit suspect from the very start. It's my view that the White House wanted someone removed from the Marines and Army due to the conflict in Iraq - they wanted it to appear that Petraeus didn't have carte blanche with operations in Iraq and it appears they got exactly what they wanted but it became a real problem. I certainly hope that the next Central Command Chief is the best choice - with Afghanistan continuing to heat up and Iraq getting more explosive by the day, it will take a real top notch commander to step in and keep things on course.
As far as I can tell, there are three possible reasons:
1. Fallon states that the perception of him being at odds with Defense Secretary Gates and the White House is the reason he quit...he emphasized the "perception" of that being the reason and he denies that there actually is that difference.
2. Some are speculating that the White House and high defense officials are continuing to look at an offensive operation on Iran and Fallon opposes that.
3. In fighting between Fallon and General Petraeus - Fallon has been much more guarded about successes in Iraq and has warned about possible swings back to more violence there - Petraeus has painted a much rosier picture.
Either way this shakes out, this appointment of Fallon was a bit suspect from the very start. It's my view that the White House wanted someone removed from the Marines and Army due to the conflict in Iraq - they wanted it to appear that Petraeus didn't have carte blanche with operations in Iraq and it appears they got exactly what they wanted but it became a real problem. I certainly hope that the next Central Command Chief is the best choice - with Afghanistan continuing to heat up and Iraq getting more explosive by the day, it will take a real top notch commander to step in and keep things on course.
Top US Middle East commander Adm. William Fallon resigns, denies policy differences with White House
Defense secretary Robert Gates told reporters Tuesday, March 11, that the chief of central command had quit after an Esquire magazine article portrayed him as opposed to White House policy on Iran – in particular, against war on Iran over its suspect nuclear program.
Gates said it was “ridiculous” to speculate that Fallon’s departure from his post means the US is preparing a military strike against Iran.
The Esquire article described him as “in hot water again” with the White House for telling Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that Iran would not be attacked. Fallon reportedly said a war with Iran would not happen on "my watch."
DEBKAfile’s military sources add some background. Adm. Fallon was at loggerheads with the president and Gates over many of the US Iraq commander Gen. David Petraeus’ evaluations of the military situation in Iraq, which they backed. He considered Petraeus had overstated American military successes in the Iraq war and warned the situation there was volatile and could change rapidly.
His sudden departure comes at a particularly fraught moment for US positions in the areas of his command since 2007 - US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the war on terror and and critical developments in Pakistan and Lebanon to which he gave his personal attention.
In his statement, Fallon said: Although I don’t believe there have been any differences about the objectives of our policy in the Central Command area, the perception that there is makes it difficult for me to effectively service America’s interests there.”
In an interview last week with the Washington Post, Fallon dismissed the Esquire article as "poison pen stuff" and "really disrespectful and ugly."
Gates said CENTCOM deputy commander, Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey, will serve as acting commander until the Senate confirms Fallon’s successor.
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