Fallon resigns Pentagon post

Posted: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 3:38 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: White House

From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro
The top U.S. Commander for Iraq and Afghanistan, Admiral William “Fox” Fallon, resigned today, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a news conference minutes ago. As NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski reported this morning on the NBC News blog Field Notes, “The Pentagon sharks [were] circling ... Fallon for a magazine interview in which he appears to openly criticize President Bush on the administration's Iran policy. The very public comments raised speculation Fallon would either volunteer or be forced to resign."

Per AP, "Gates said Fallon had asked him Tuesday morning for permission to retire and Gates agreed. Gates said the decision was entirely Fallon's and that Gates believed it was 'the right thing to do.'" Gates also denied that Fallon's position on Iran policy was any different than that of the president's, despite the current issue of Esquire Magazine , which "portrays Fallon as the one person in the military or Pentagon standing between the White House and war with Iran," Miklaszewski writes. "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.

“Asked on Monday whether Defense Secretary Robert Gates still has full confidence in Fallon, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell would only say that Fallon 'still enjoys a working -- a good working relationship with the Secretary of Defense.'

“Although reporters did not specifically ask about a possible Fallon resignation, Morrell freely offered, 'Admiral Fallon serves at the pleasure of the president.' That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement, but far from a political death knell.

“Still, the gruff, outspoken CENTCOM commander has his detractors. 'How many times can [Fallon] get away with these kinds of remarks,' before he's forced out the door, asked one senior Pentagon official. The reason may be that on Iran, Gates and many senior military officials happen to agree with Fallon.

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Comments

Another Bush lackey bites the dust....see ya, don't let the door hit you in your rethuglican you know what...

pat huntington ny (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:08 PM)

Rally round the flag boys and girls. Adm. Fallon just resigned Centcom. Bush must be going to make good on his promise to McCain to do anything he could to help him win the election. Apparently that means he is ready to "do" Iran. Fallon was against it, said so in public and unlike lesser officers, put his money where his mouth is did the only thing a career Officer and do when faced with an incompetent CinC. Resign.
If you are in Tehran...duck. The Lone Ranger looks like he is about to take a "victory lap".

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:08 PM)

Something is in the air with this story about Fallon -------- and it's called honesty, again.

When did Jackie Robinson entered the Major Leagues - 1947??? In case anyone has forgotten, he went through hell when he arrived. Are we still that country? No.

We like Senator Obama NOT because he's an African American, but because he's brillant, because he's so different from the politicians we're used to. He's willing to take a chance and go after Bush, McCain and the Clintons. Just like he was willing to take a chance and speak up against the war when he was running for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

I'm damn proud of him and I hope he succeeds. But he needs our help.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By the way in case no one has noticed, Sean Hannity is on a mission to destroy Michelle Obama.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:09 PM)

Typical GW Bush and would be typical Hillary Clinton if she were elected President. MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY.
Obama would at least listen to what Fallon had to say.

Oh wait, Obama would not have gotten us in this middle east mess in the first place (Iraq and potentially Iran) if he were Presdient unlike GW Bush who has been supported by Hillary.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:09 PM)

So now I guess it's, "hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to another war we go." Bush won't settle for anything less than to totally destroy this country before he leaves office.

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:11 PM)

Fallon has crossed policy position swords with the administration before advocating for diplomacy over militarism. I'm only surprised it took them as long as it did to show him the door.

Ian (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:12 PM)

Now tonight I have to listen to my mother's version of "Bomb Bomb Bomb....Bomb Bomb Iran"...

Barbara C., - Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:12 PM)

Hey Chuck.

Any news on the Mississippi primary? We know you can't report actual numbers until the polls are almost closed, but we know you have some good data from exit polling. How bad is Obama beating Hillary? Is he reaching 70%, 75%, 80% ?

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:13 PM)

We salure your courage, Admiral Fallon. How many of our best military leaders have now been forced to sacrifice their careers because of the Bush/Cheney madness ... starting with Colin Powell, and ending ... where? A real tragedy, that's for sure.

Now that John McCain has joined himself to Bush at the hip, I wonder what he thinks about this.

Amy Andersen, Eden Prairie MN (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:13 PM)

Another Bush lackey bites the dust....see ya, don't let the door hit you in your rethuglican you know what...
pat huntington ny
---------------------------
Actually, that was the problem with Fallon. He wasn't lackey enough.

Ian (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:13 PM)

Oh Dear, what is the Bush administration up to now?

jd (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:14 PM)

It is scary when yet another person who opposes a war and opposes all of Bush's misguided policies is forced out. That leaves all the yes-men to do what they want unfettered. Bush is probably dancing with glee.

ginny, WA (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:14 PM)

Fallon was FAR from a Bush lacky. He's the ONLY person preventing a invasion of Iran. The same invasion of Iran that HRC is more than willing to support.

This is going to be a long nine months until Bush is out of office. Obamam should put Hillary on the spot right now on whether or not she will support a attack on Iran if there's not actionable evidence of them being a imminent threat.

Mister Anderson (The Matrix) (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:15 PM)

Pat, you should realize that the reason he's resigning is because of the tension he has built by NOT being a lackey. Fallon doesn't oppose war with Iran because it's not fightable, he opposes it because it's not right and would plunge an entire global region almost literally into anarchy.

And if you think he's a lackey because of his command over Afghanistan and Iraq, he doesn't get to choose whether we fight or not. Only how. It's not his fault.

You can't go through political life labeling ALL republicans this or that because of Bush. You need to grow up, Pat.

These People (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:16 PM)

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:09 PM):

Pat:

I agree with you, but note how many people seem to forget that Obama is just as much White as Black. His mother was White. That makes Obama Whiack or Blaite, not Black. Makes no difference. He is a very sharp individual with a good heart.

And that is why I can't understand the media pressing Obama to attack Hillary and stating they are not sure he has it in him. Is not a person with a heart and that wants to treat others as he would want to be treated the kind of President we all truly want. If it is true that Obama has difficulty attacking Hillary does that not make him a cut above her and the kind of person we are all looking for? Yet the press tries to imply there is a weakness here. I see it more as a strength then a weakness. Is strength to be defined by one's ability and willingness to attack another? Or is strength a confidence in oneself that he/she can perservere without having to attack another? We all need to think about that some more before wishing that Obama would use attack tactics as has Hillary. It is however good to see Obama subtlely nail Hillary now and then with his humor. We can appreicate that.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:25 PM)

C A-
I would agree that the direction things are going in the Middle East is unfavorable - even a mess as you say. I don't think that the 'mess' started with GW Bush, nor do I believe that Obama could have saved us from an inevitable role in what is a 'messy' situation there - with or without the ongoing 'war on terror'. Because of our unfortunate dependance on the nations of the Middle East for oil and because of our increasing dependance on foreign relations for many of the goods/services we are afforded in our country it is not only inevitable, but imparative that we protect and nurture our interests in what you call 'the mess'!

Kathryn in Bham (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:27 PM)

Oh, Obamatons, you need to get a life. Not EVERYTHING revolves around your candidate. This story is about Fallon.

disgusted (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:27 PM)

If we go to war with Iran, I will leave this country behind me like a bad pair of underwear.

There is no reasonable reason to even be talking about war with Iran. We are a Democracy people!!!! Everyone forget about that or something? We aren't supposed to be nation building or dictating to people around the world what they should be doing while aiming a gun at their heads!!!!

Furthermore, unless you are going to convert the US into a WWII type economy and institute the draft, how the hell does anyone think we could actually get away with invading Iran?

We can't even straighten out the mess that is Iraq, where we got rid of a dictatorship that was all smoke and mirrors.

Not only is Iran much more prepared militarily speaking, but they have a MUCH MUCH larger fighting force than Iraq had, with better equipment & weapons. In addition to that, this would ignite a wider war in the Middle East, and probably lead to WWIII.

If this guy was the only one standing in the way of invading Iran (which he can't possibly be the only one), we are in deep doo doo.

How stupid can you be America?

Matt, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:27 PM)

C A in Tuscaloosa, AL

Being opposed to Iraq is great, but if a war breaks out somewhere else that we DIDNT start and Obama is at the wheel, fear for our lives, because his self-professed plan is to hack our defense capabilities to pieces, particularly missile defense. And maybe you didn't do the math on this one, but for every dollar we spend on researching missile and other advanced defense, the more ground troops' lives we save. And with Iran having centrifuges online, I wouldn't mind a dollar or two out of my paycheck for missile defense. (Oh wait, I guess two or three dollars for all of the people whose weight I have to pull.)

So opposed to Iraq? Good. In control of the military? Bad. Keep his butt in the Senate where he can keep being inspirational. And tell Hillary to go home all together.

McCain is the Only Experienced Candidate (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:27 PM)

Why was Hillary in such a hurry to leave Mississippi, when she has weeks to campaign in Pennsylvania?

Gregory Peek, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:28 PM)

This would explain bush's singing and dancing of late. Nothing happier than a WAR President at work.
HRC, didn't you vote for Lieberman-Kyl? You're gonna make a great Republican-lite President.

excerpt:
(3) that it should be the policy of the United States to combat, contain, and roll back the violent activities and destabilizing influence inside Iraq of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, its foreign facilitators such as Lebanese Hezbollah, and its indigenous Iraqi proxies;

(4) to support the prudent and calibrated use of all instruments of United States national power in Iraq, including diplomatic, economic, intelligence, and military instruments, in support of the policy described in paragraph (3) with respect to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxies.

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:29 PM)

Has anyone here actually read the article completely? I am guessing not and just doing again their knee-jerk raction. The Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs agrees with Fallon about not going to war with Iran it even says that at the end of the article above, but that would be too much for people to actually read the full article.
http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/03/11/754424.aspx

There is the story that is being quoted above. So now we have the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense against invading Iran but that doesn't stop those that are supposedly informed from jumping to conclusions. Actually read the stories before you comment. It pains me that people like you all above will be actually voting for President.

Unbelievable, Portland, OR (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:31 PM)

If Colin Powell had resigned over his opposition to the Iraq invasion - which has since been revealed and confirmed, it would never have happened.

Bravo, Adm. Fallon! Shame on you, Colin Powell.

jac13 (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:34 PM)

If you look at Obama's voting record, he's voted not to end the war. He's voted to finance the war. He wants to send more troops into Afghanistan. He wants to broaden the military. It's a fraud what he's talking about when he says he wants to really get out of Iraq. That's politics.

John S., Atlanta, GA (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:35 PM)

Falon for President! Get rid of McWar and BO No experience! Save America get rid of the old sick guy and the all talk no IDEA guy!
FALLON BUCK BUSH GUY FOR PRESIDENT!

CLINTON/FALLON (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:38 PM)

Falon for President! Get rid of McWar and BO No experience! Save America get rid of the old sick guy and the all talk no IDEA guy!
FALLON BUCK BUSH GUY FOR PRESIDENT!

CLINTON/FALLON (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:38 PM)

Good, having served with him he had a habit of talking before thinking not to mention he was a sheep in wolf's clothing. I'd bet he would make a good advisor for the Obama team - they need another surrender advocate to add to their team of liberal tree huggers.

Three Star (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:40 PM)

Didn't Bush say he listens to the Generals and not the politicians ?

Here's a General who has some sense....
Bush doesn't want to listen to him

There's NO EXCUSE for war with Iran

Bush wants war, McCain wants war and
Hillary VOTED FOR WAR WITH IRAN (Kyl-Lieberman)

There's Neroism in the air

Obama/Edwards '08
Character DOES MATTER
Honesty DOES MATTER

Sierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:40 PM)

Kathryn in Bham:

Oh Kathryn. I am not opppoosed to involving ourselves in the world community even if we have to use force when force is needed due to threats to the US or our friends. But when and if we do so let's do it right. Not by flinging ourselves and all our resources at one country (that was not responsible for 911) and then bogging our troops down in a police action and who are caught in the middle of a civil war. And remember, GWB and McCain's terrorist (al quaeda) make up perhaps less then 2% of all the violent and hostile acts towards Amercians in Iraq. The rest are conducted by Iraqis, Sunni and Shiite. Yes, this is a mess in the cost to Amercian and Iraqi lives first and the amounts of resources and monies spent to elimnate a dictator who was picking his nose when Bin laden had the twin towers destroyed. Like I said. I agree with being involved in the world and global economy and protecting our interests. But there is a right way to do it and a wrong way to do it. GWB chose the wrong way and Hillary supported his choice. Very, very poor judgement. They should have had the knowldge that many have of these people in this region, their culture and religion and tendancy towards infighting and factionalization if diisrupted in any way as we did by invading their country. We were not the liberators that GWB and those who supported thought we would be. Yes, it is a mess.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:40 PM)

Top current advisers to Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign last year lobbied for a European plane maker that beat Boeing to a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract, taking sides in a bidding fight that McCain has tried to referee for more than five years.

Two of the advisers gave up their lobbying work when they joined McCain's campaign. A third, former Texas Rep. Tom Loeffler, lobbied for the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. while serving as McCain's national finance chairman.

EADS is the parent company of Airbus, which teamed up with U.S.-based Northrop Grumman Corp. to win the lucrative aerial refueling contract on Feb. 29. Boeing Co. Chairman and CEO Jim McNerney said in a statement Monday that the Chicago-based aerospace company "found serious flaws in the process that we believe warrant appeal."

Matt, Las Vegas, NV (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:42 PM)

From all the crap flyin' around, we could always send over some trucks and bury them with bull!
The "Walk tall and carry a big stick" policies from the past are no-longer appropriate. We are all on the same rock, 3rd from the sun.

Just-a-Guy, Addison,VT (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:42 PM)

Pat Huntington NY ... Apparently you don't read past the headlines ... which speaks to how you form so many of your uninformed remarks. Fallon was "against" the Bush policy. He was one of the few who was standing up to Bush about Iran. How do you equate this with his being a "lackey" ??? Sorry to say, you are not very bright ... and your comments should be taken "with a grain of salt".

sunny, nv (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:43 PM)

Just curious, why the hell is an Admiral in charge of Afghanistan in the first place? Is that where Bin Laden is hiding his Navy?

turnip (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:44 PM)

Lets hope the fallout from this is not nuclear. This story transcends any other rhetoric about O and H and Mac. There will not be a build up. If anything happens we will wake up to a news story about bombing the nuclear facilities in Iran. Bush will just punch Iran in the mouth and dare them to respond. Just like he played basketball in college.

TEC-spring-TX (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:45 PM)

Regarding the post by the person "McCain is the Only Experienced Candidate": So, I guess what you're saying is the same old, 'Vote for the Republican war monger or else we'll all die at the hands of terrrorists'....well my answer to you is this: You people who are so busy spreading this irrational fear are the real "terrorists" and you're not going to use it to scare up votes this time. We got wise. Live in fear if you want to. Sorry not me, I live in the Home of The Brave. Spreading fear to get a political result is NOT brave, its cowardly.

JohnnyU, WA State (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:48 PM)

I salute Admiral Fallon, and hope to God someone can stop cowboy george. As a democrat, I haven't seen the house and senate do anything, so it's pretty scary. Wouldn't be surprised if it was cooked up between the ignorant cowboy and gasbag mccain to get him elected. WAKE UP AMERICA!!

Steve A Jonesboro IN (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:50 PM)

a bit off subject, but worth mentioning, it's heart warming the way the federal reserve is bailing out the banking industry, even though the banking industries greed brought about their own difficulties, it is crystal clear our current government will keep the investment class wealthy and happy, while forsaking the rest of it's population

MK,MO (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:51 PM)

Wow, republicans are still advocating missle defense?? Sure, why not. They seem to be the best military minds around are the policies advocated are ALWAYS spot on.

Is there any point the RNC says maybe constant warfare isn't the direction to take the country?

Dr.Strangedog, MI (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:51 PM)

heh, heh, Ah always listen to my commanders and do what they tell me, unless they disagree with me -- then they need to resign. Heh heh

W, sign of the American Chickenhawk (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:53 PM)

Missile Defense? To protect against countries that don't have missiles to get here?

McCain is experienced? At what? Flying planes? He crashed 5 of them before he got himself shot down in Vietnam. Then he has experience in being a POW for >5 years. That's experience? At what?

Ron Hohn (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:54 PM)

McCain is the Only ??? How in the heck do you spin this into Barak Obama's problem. A typical Republican...screws up and then find others to blame. IF Barak Obama was in control...we wouldn't be in the mess in the first place. War, Lost jobs' high gas prices, high food prices, rich getting richer so they can help more Republicans take control so they can get richer. You are a loser. GO to the former USSR if you want to live in a Communistic style government. We Smart American want our Demomcracy back. AND when will you Republicans stop blaming others for you mess up. It's been 7 years all ready. Now we Democrats have to come back and clean up your mess once again

KW, Philadephia, PA (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:55 PM)

McCain is the Only:

Sorry McCain Is The Only. I must disagree. As a three tour veteran of Nam I think I can say that you cannot defeat terrorism and enemies who are able to blend into the populace using missles unless you are willing to kill hundreds and thousands of innocents. Perhaps that is McCain's intentions, who knows. And for every 10 terrorists or insugents that you kill another 20 will take their place. You have no clue on how to fight such a war and neither does McCain. I am surprised at this after he also served in Nam. But remember, he was in the skys dropping bombs before being shot down. He was not on the ground trying to determine who the hell his enemy was.

The key is building strong and well equip stealth anti-terrorists forces and being prepared to send them anywhere in the world to take out rouge leaders or a group of terrorits. You cannot invade countries and overextend yourself and expect to win the kind of conflict you find yourself in Iraq. If you wish to fight that kind of war then find some other people besides our young military personnel to walk down streets not knowing the whos, whats and whens will blow them to bits before they have a chance to say oh shit. When we leave, and we will leave one day, whether sooner or later, the country will once again fight between their own factions for control regardless of how many terrorists are involved. Go ahead McCain, build all the missles you want and see just how scared the terrorists will be and how effective you will be against terrorism. Good Luck.

Oh, one more thing. You better think about relying on Obama's call for diplomacy before you go off and start invading half the world. You have to find out why people hate you and want to kill you and see what you can do if anything to change their minds before going off half-cocked trying to destroy the entire world with missles.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:56 PM)

"Another Bush lackey bites the dust"
--pat huntington ny

Pat my dear, is there no subject on which you cannot be wrong?

nuanced (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:57 PM)

Mister Anderson (The Matrix)--

I think HRC already answered that question by voting to approve action in Iran if necessary a while back. We all know that the current administration thinks it is necessary, because they are demented. I am feeling an extreme overwhelming doom settling in on us all.

tired of the warmongering administration (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 5:00 PM)

McCain is the Only Experienced Candidate: '...particularly missile defense. And maybe you didn't do the math on this one, but for every dollar we spend on researching missile and other advanced defense...'

The more we ratchet up the war fever in this country

Don't you remember ?
Bush/Cheney/Clinton/McCain are the CLOWNS who got us into Iraq
There WAS NO EXCUSE FOR WAR !!
There's NO EXCUSE FOR WAR WITH IRAN, either
If you want war so badly..... JOIN UP, CHICKEN HAWK

'...And with Iran having centrifuges online, I wouldn't mind a dollar or two out of my paycheck for missile defense...'

So pay your taxes....
I don't want pork barrel military spending
How are we gonna pay for the Iraq war ?
$12 Billion a month ???

'...Keep his butt in the Senate where he can keep being inspirational....'

A put YOURS IN IRAQ !!

McCain is a Senile BOZO and War Monger

Sierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 5:00 PM)

Fallon joins good company.

Gregory Peek, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 5:02 PM)

McCain is the Only ??? How in the heck do you spin this into Barak Obama's problem. A typical Republican...screws up and then find others to blame. IF Barak Obama was in control...we wouldn't be in the mess in the first place. War, Lost jobs' high gas prices, high food prices, rich getting richer so they can help more Republicans take control so they can get richer. You are a loser. GO to USSR if you want to live in a Communistic style government. We Smart American want our Demomcracy back. AND when will you Republicans stop blaming others for you mess up. It's been 7 years all ready. Now we Democrats have to come back and clean up your mess once again

KW,Philadelphia,PA (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 5:02 PM)

OK, I read the article. It really appears that the only people with a burr up their butt are the author of the article and possibly Jim Miklaszewski.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 5:02 PM)

McCain is the Only ??? How in the heck do you spin this into Barak Obama's problem. A typical Republican...screws up and then find others to blame. IF Barak Obama was in control...we wouldn't be in the mess in the first place. War, Lost jobs' high gas prices, high food prices, rich getting richer so they can help more Republicans take control so they can get richer. You are a loser. GO to USSR if you want to live in a Communistic style government. We Smart American want our Demomcracy back. AND when will you Republicans stop blaming others for you mess up. It's been 7 years all ready. Now we Democrats have to come back and clean up your mess once again

KW,Philadelphia,PA (Sent Tuesday, March 11, 2008 5:02 PM)

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