Bush May Fire CentCom Chief Adm. Fallon

[malcolm]

Bush May Fire CentCom Chief Adm. Fallon, Replace With Commander More 'Pliable' To War With Iran

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has called CENTCOM commander Adm. William Fallon "one of the best strategic thinkers in uniform today." Fallon opposed the "surge" in Iraq and has consistently battled the Bush administration to avoid a confrontation with Iran, calling officials' war-mongering "not helpful." Privately, he has vowed that an attack on Iran "will not happen on my watch."

Unfortunately, this level-headed thinking and willingness to stand up to President Bush may cost him his job. According to a new article by Thomas P.M. Barnett in the April issue of Esquire magazine (on newsstands March 12), Fallon may be prematurely "relieved of his command" as soon as this summer:

Well-placed observers now say that it will come as no surprise if Fallon is relieved of his command before his time is up next spring, maybe as early as this summer, in favor of a commander the White House considers to be more pliable. If that were to happen, it may well mean that the president and vice-president intend to take military action against Iran before the end of this year and don't want a commander standing in their way.

More: http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/05/fallon-bush-fire/

If there is war with Iran (and you know it will draw in other countries), will there even be an election in November?  Is TSHTF close at hand?

[Caleb]

Well, if there is war with Iran, I guess I'm moving back to Keene. 

[Kat Kanning]

You'd have some US flags to burn, Caleb

[srqrebel]

Well, if there is war with Iran, I guess I'm moving back to Keene. 

Huh?

[Caleb]

Well, if there is war with Iran, I guess I'm moving back to Keene. 

Huh?

http://calebjohnson.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=36

[malcolm]

Yup.  There he goes.
http://tinyurl.com/2kpctv

[KBCraig]

On some nondescript talk show I listened to on the way home tonight after work, the host and guest "expert" did their best to portray the resignationfiring as not so much a genuine disagreement about nuking Iran, but more of a move to "avoid distractions" such as the Esquire interview.



When the host asked the expert what Bush should look for in a new CENTCOM commander, he said, "...someone who is bold, certain, and unafraid to state his opinion. Basically, someone just like Fallon." Then he went on to gripe about the political sensitivity of the General Officer corps and how they tiptoe around the politicians.

Otherwise, they wind up with "distractions" and retireget fired.