Posted on 03/11/2008 7:30:20 PM PDT by khnyny
As the White House talked up conflict with Iran, the head of U.S. Central Command, William "Fox" Fallon, talked it down. Now he has resigned.
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. He is that rarest of creatures in the Bush universe: the good cop on Iran, and a man of strategic brilliance. His name is William Fallon, although all of his friends call him "Fox," which was his fighter-pilot call sign decades ago. Forty years into a military career that has seen this admiral rule over America's two most important combatant commands, Pacific Command and now United States Central Command, it's impossible to make this guy--as he likes to say--"nervous in the service." Past American governments have used saber rattling as a useful tactic to get some bad actor on the world stage to fall in line. This government hasn't mastered that kind of subtlety. When Dick Cheney has rattled his saber, it has generally meant that he intends to use it. And in spite of recent war spasms aimed at Iran from this sclerotic administration, Fallon is in no hurry to pick up any campaign medals for Iran. And therein lies the rub for the hard-liners led by Cheney. Army General David Petraeus, commanding America's forces in Iraq, may say, "You cannot win in Iraq solely in Iraq," but Fox Fallon is Petraeus's boss, and he is the commander of United States Central Command, and Fallon doesn't extend Petraeus's logic to mean war against Iran.
(Excerpt) Read more at esquire.com ...
Typical lefty BS: Anyone who disagrees with Pres. Bush is automatically a brilliant, courageous, honorable, and almost god-like being. Fred Barnes said today on Fox that Fallon disagreed with Petraeus’ strategy (which is working brilliantly), and wanted to withdraw rather than have the surge.
LOL. Hey, I just posted as it’s a timely article that everyone is talking about. That being said, I do think it’s wise to read viewpoints from all sides.
ROTFL! Esquire magazine. Is that rag still around?
Iran is surrounded. Who is going to protect Iran? Eh?
Not to mention that it is brain dead (IMHO) to be giving interviews to Esquire or Al Jazeeri and God know who else!
Bad Judgement?
Ego run amuck?
Likes to stroked by liberals?
Does not grasp that how those interviews will turn out...actually, he does, which is even more sinister.
I actually think it’s a well written article, but why he did the interview, I don’t know.
I found the following rather amusing:
[In keeping with the naval-officer tradition of emasculating bluntness, Fallon can without remorse cut the nuts off peers and subordinates alike. But it is more the intimation of his ferocity than its exercise that has the greatest effect. And Fallon has recently discovered that his reputation can leave him open to stories that might sound true but are not. Last fall, it was reported in the press that Fallon had called General Petraeus an “ass-kissing little chickenshit” for being so willing to serve as the administration’s political frontman on the Iraq surge. The old man had told reporters that it hadn’t happened like that—that that’s not the way he operates, and, in fact, any time he talks with Petraeus, there are only two men in the room—the admiral and the general—and their exchanges remain private. And when they’re not in the same room, “We e-mail each other constantly and talk by phone just about every day.” Just the two of them, he says. No outsiders observing. The press sources had an overactive imagination, Fallon said. Now when the subject comes up, he dismisses it with a wave of his hand.
“Absolute bullshit,” Fallon tells me.
Fallon and his executive assistant, Captain Craig Faller, say that they both suspect “staff agitation” to be behind the story. Interservice rivalry is mighty strong, and Admiral Fallon is the first navy man to be head of Centcom, so it’s not hard for them to imagine somebody from the Army stirring the pot.
Fallon says the tip-off that the story was bogus was the word chickenshit. “My kids called me up laughing about that one, saying they knew the story wasn’t true because I never use that word.”
So put Fallon down as a “bullshit” and not a “chickenshit” kind of guy.]
When Dick Cheney has rattled his saber, it has generally meant that he intends to use it.
So there is no ambiguity when it rattles......Doh!
Fallon was horrible at Pacific Fleet commander. When he got picked for CENTCOM, most people in and around the military were horrified. Selecting folks for jobs is not President Bush’s strong suit. So many have stabbed him in the back.
I wasn’t AT ALL criticizing your posting of this. I was just remarking on the template the left has for everyone who criticizes Pres. Bush.
I understand, and I agree - the left does seem to have a sort of rubber stamp mentality. Thanks for clarifying.
What a shame the magazine has to jazz up the man’s flying career. He was an NFO on Vigi’s and A-6’s, not a fighter jet. I looked up his bio because he was my husband’s year group and both had cruises on the Saratoga. Guess the magazine chose to make him out to be more than he was as a JO. If he led them to believe he was more than he was, he’s had problems for quite a while.
Is ANWR ready yet?
Have we properly sealed the border in order to protect the country from terrorist infiltration, aka Hamas and others?
Has the gov’t prepared to increase or has an increased Farsi speakers and other needed linguist for Iran?
Can we add another front to the War?
What actions will China take if we hit Iran? Will they take Taiwan? So many questions.
Perhaps it was an honest mistake on the magazine’s part. At least I hope so.
All good questions that I can’t answer. As a start, my guess would be “no” to several.
save
Thare’s a bastard that should have been booted a LONG time ago.
With apologies to all those great fighter RIOs out there....
If Fallon wanted to withdraw from Iraq (INSTEAD OF WINNING THE WAR LIKE WE ARE NOW)then I pray that the Ghost of George Patton comes back and kicks him square in the ass. What kind of limp-wristed General is he?
Obviously an AINO.
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