Admiral Fallen resigns Iran policy

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

At least someone in the u s millitary had the cojones to stand up.


Fallon resigns as Mideast military chief 3 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - The top U.S. military commander for the Middle East resigned Tuesday amid speculation about a rift over U.S. policy in Iran. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that Adm. William J. Fallon had asked for permission to retire and that Gates agreed. Gates said the decision, effective March 31, was entirely Fallon's and that Gates believed it was "the right thing to do."

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Fallon was the subject of an article published last week in Esquire magazine that portrayed him as opposed to President Bush's Iran policy. It described Fallon as a lone voice against taking military action to stop the Iranian nuclear program.

Fallon, who is traveling in Iraq, issued a statement through his U.S. headquarters in Tampa, Fla.

"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," Fallon 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," Fallon added.

Gates described as "ridiculous" any notion that Fallon's departure signals the United States is planning to go to war with Iran. And he said "there is a misperception" that Fallon disagrees with the administration's approach to Iran.

"I don't think there were differences at all," Gates added.

Fallon has had a 41-year Navy career. He took the Central Command post on March 16, 2007, succeeding Army Gen. John Abizaid, who retired. Fallon previously served as commander of U.S. Pacific Command.

President Bush issued a statement saying that Fallon "has served our Nation with great distinction for forty years. He is an outstanding sailor -- and he made history as the first naval officer to serve as commander of Central Command. "

Gates said that until a permanent replacement is nominated and confirmed by the Senate, Fallon's place will be taken by his top deputy, Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey.

The secretary called Fallon a very able military strategist and said his advice will be missed at the Pentagon.

"I think this is a cumulative kind of thing," said Gates, speaking of the circumstances leading up to Fallon's decision. "It isn't the result of any one article or any one issue."

"As I say, the notion that this decision portends anything in terms of change in Iran policy is, to quote myself, 'ridiculous,' " he said.

 

[Always Neutral]

Hi,

At least someone in the u s millitary had the cojones to stand up.


Fallon resigns as Mideast military chief 3 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - The top U.S. military commander for the Middle East resigned Tuesday amid speculation about a rift over U.S. policy in Iran. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that Adm. William J. Fallon had asked for permission to retire and that Gates agreed. Gates said the decision, effective March 31, was entirely Fallon's and that Gates believed it was "the right thing to do.".

A very nice article. On the lighter side atleast he did not march upto the White House and take over as the President.

Regards

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

Is this a coinidence of what is happening or what!


UK top cop who led CIA probe found dead By ROB HARRIS, Associated Press Writer
Tue Mar 11, 2:45 PM ET



MANCHESTER, England - A city police chief who led an investigation into charges that Britain cooperated with secret CIA flights to transport terrorism suspects without formal proceedings has been found dead, his deputy said Tuesday.

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Manchester Chief Constable Michael Todd, 50, was found dead in Snowdonia, about 240 miles northwest of London, Deputy Chief Constable Dave Whatton said. He had been missing since going out for a walk Monday during his day off.

Whatton said the body, which was found Tuesday afternoon, had not yet been formally identified but he believed it was Todd.

He said a coroner's inquest would investigate the cause of death and did not give any further details.

Todd was elected vice president of the Association of Chief Police Officers of England and Wales in 2006, according to a biography on his Web site.

The association gave him the task of looking into accusations that Britain allowed the CIA to use the country's airports to fly terrorism suspects to other countries without any extradition hearings, a clandestine procedure known as "extraordinary rendition."

Todd's investigation concluded last June that there was no evidence to back the claim. Last month, however, Britain admitted one of its remote outposts in the Indian Ocean had twice been used by the United States as a refueling stop for the secret transfer of two terrorism suspects.

He and his wife had a daughter and twin sons.

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

Here is Mr Kissinger---


US manipulation to backfire: Kissinger




By Our Correspondent

WASHINGTON, March 10: Any US attempt to manipulate the political process in Pakistan will backfire, warns former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

In an article published in the Washington Post and several other influential American papers, Mr Kissinger advised Washington to concede that “the internal structure of Pakistani politics is essentially out of the control of American political decision-making”.

The US desire to build a centrist coalition, he said, was a commendable goal, “but the conditions for it can only be nurtured by Pakistani political forces and, in the absence of a centre, require patience over a period of time”.

The future of President Pervez Musharraf, he noted, will undoubtedly become a major issue as the potential coalition partners seek his removal. But “it is his task as president – not ours – to manage the consequences of the election,” he warned.

At the same time, it behoves the United States to remember “the valiant support” Mr Musharraf gave the US military effort in Afghanistan after 9/11 and his confrontation with jihadist fundamentalism at home, he added.

“Conspicuous American dissociation would only compound our risks in Pakistan – not to mention the message it would send to other leaders in the region allied to America.”

Mr Kissinger urged the decision makers in Washington to focus on US national security objectives while dealing with the emerging Pakistani leadership. He defined US objectives as “control of nuclear weapons, counter-terrorism cooperation and resistance to Islamist radicalism”.

He also urged Washington to end “ambiguity toward terrorist enclaves” in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

“Pakistan’s stability should not be viewed as an exclusively American challenge,” said Mr Kissinger while arguing that others affected by changes in Pakistan should also be consulted.

The United States, he said, should promote democracy in Pakistan but not at the risk of its security interests.

“The elections in Pakistan, he observed, “far from calming the political crisis, have opened a new phase of it” and the world has a “huge stake” in the outcome.

Pakistan, he noted, is a nuclear power and a state occupying strategic terrain. Its incapability to maintaining control over both could turn Pakistan “into the wildcard of international diplomacy”.

Mr Kissinger noted that the United States played a key role in arranging a deal between President Musharraf and the politicians.

 

[fatman17]

good analysis by HK even in his old age- wellcome to the murky world of global political intrigue.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

A most interesting event.

He is anti Bush, though he has claimed that he is not against Bush's policy as per the Strait Times of today.

So, what gives?

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi Salim,

If you check the sino defence forum there is a complete article about adm Fallon. This is what the american generals were known as---not some kiss ars-e like Tommy, Abizaid, Peter or Ramirez.