Login HereThis does not bode well:
Defense Secretary Robert Gates says that Admiral William Fallon, the top U.S. military commander for the Middle East, is resigning.
Gates said Fallon had asked Gates for permission to retire and that Gates agreed.
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 isn't just stepping down, he's retiring. Which, if I'm not mistaken, allows him -- like Generals Abizaid and Batiste -- to speak out.
Which could be interesting.
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hopefully, he will speak loudly and clearly.
You have to ask for permission to quit?
why quit now?
Obviously, we’ll see if Gates has the necessary courage. To tell it like it is.
yup. one’s ass is owned by the military.
Poppy Bush has Gates nuts in a mason jar of saltwater on the back deck at the Kennebunk compound.
Don’t look to him for wisdom or guidance, he’s corrupt.
-G
At flag rank, I believe you do
Should read Fallon, not Gates.
Fallon was a good PACcom commander before taking over CENTcom… It’s a shame he’s being shown the door like Shinseki was…!
courtesy
Darth now has a large stick packed for his ME trip…
bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb-bomb Eye-Ran…bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb-bomb Eye-Ran…bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb-bomb Eye-Ran…bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb-bomb Eye-Ran…bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb-bomb Eye-Ran…bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb-bomb Eye-Ran…bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb-bomb Eye-Ran…bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb-bomb Eye-Ran…
If the generals and admirals keep resigning, we are going to have sgt. running the military which might be a good thing since they know what is actually going on.
Jane,
Let’s hope your right about his retiring so he can speak out, and that he coordinated this thing with Gates, who as the Senior Bush’s man in the WH is also against expanding the war. Your intuition gives a faint ray of hope in an otherwise dark prospect. When the news came down, I recalled the fear I felt at that November morning at 5:00 am in my Antioch College dorm as flights of B52s swarmed overhead at 500 feet. It was deafening and unforgettable. Like being in a car accident when you know it’s too late to avoid it.
My army major efirend, who works in the Pentagon, has not heard anything different on the inside than is in the public statements. He’ll let me know if he does.
Has Fallon contributed to the Bush fiasco in the Middle East?
Well the Non-Com’s are the backbone of the service… They do have a lot more spine than the Commissioned Officers! 8-)
Although I don’t recall specific freaking out here, Raven rightly pointed out down-stairs that there was much hand wringing over Bush’s pick of a Navy Admiral to head Cent-com… …because it must mean we are gonna bomb Iran.
So it is possible that this means nothing…
Maybe…
My Jane, you are the optimist! Fallon requested retirement and Gates, ever the gentleman acceded to his request? Someone handed Fallon his head & told him to get the hell out of Dodge.
As the great bard said, “This is like deja vu all over again”. When is the last time we heard from General Shinseki?
This regime wants lap dogs at the DoD, not Pit Bulls.
From ABC
Fallon is the CO and he has to wait to see his subordinate. . .fishy!
Did Fallon serve under Rumsfeld?
Yes, let’s hope he does.
Now, what are the odds that Rove and his minions aren’t cooking up a lot of bullshit to spew across the airwaves right now — things like the Spitzer story, and heaven only knows who else.
When Fallon speaks, there needs to be a ‘public space’ and a ‘broadcast space’ long enough to hear him out in detail.
The WH and GOPers must have their plans well laid to create a lot of Noise in hopes of drowning out Fallon’s Signal.
Not surprising at all. The people who do the actual work always know more about it. The suits just get in the way.
This is scary….. attended a speaking event with Scott Ritter and he said that Fallon was our firewall for a war with Iran. That the military know how stupid and dangerous a war with Iran would be.
Hmmm ….. need to ask Jeff from our progressive radio station to have him back on to get his take….
Senator Reid’s statement:
Morning all :)
Re; Fallon’s retirement, the timing worries me because of Darth’s trip this/next week to Middle east. Do we know when the ‘retirement’ is happening?
Quick OT.
‘EnergySolutions (often called EnergyPollutions) runs 2 commercial nuclear waste dumps in the US (in South Carolina and Utah) and incinerators, a metal melter and other “processing” facilities in Memphis and Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
EnergySolutions is applying for a federal license to import 20,000 tons, one million cubic feet and over 600,000,000,000,000 becquerels (radioactive emissions per second) of radioactive waste (mainly from Italian nuclear power and related industries) into the US for processing including incineration, transport and disposal. ‘
http://www.nirs.org/alerts/03-02-2008/1
Oh, if you are not freaking out you are not paying attention! Especially when the other side is paying the fear card. I’m dyin over here!
Well, I’m really excited at Reid being concerned. That’s what DiFi always tells me in her e-mails and look how well that’s turned out.
Everyone in the military serves under the Secretary of Defense. it’s the Chain of Command. They make you memorize it in boot camp.
Fallon speaking out. Is that like Ari coming out and saying ‘I lied’?
I other words, shit rolls down hill.
I understand that.
Ok after this continuing drain of the officer corp, if Bush decides that he wants to extend his unitary occupancy of the White House in a more permanent manner, who’s gonna stop him? Is there a mechanism to prevent Bush from declaring a national emergency that keeps him in power?
They fired him into resigning.
I suppose a little war with Iran might, in theory, help McOld with his campaign.
Not gonna happen.
Relax everyone.
Frank Gaffney says the Iranians are a paper tiger.
I mean, really, what could they do to the most powerful nation in the world?
-G
I believe that Mr. Fallon could have resigned, say five years ago, and spoken out.
I really am more concerned about what we can do to them - not to mention what would happen in the rest of the ME.
They could do to us, in defense, the same as the Iraqi’s did. That is to say… next to nothing.
Thanks.
And will it make a difference, in any cse?
Drive-by: Do not leave the Senate without baby-sitters. We don’t want a recess appointment for the admiral’s position.
Fallon will be not much more than a burp.
OK, Raven -
Help me get this straight….you *are* or *aren’t* freakin’ out? Can’t tell from downstairs vs. here.
And give the furry children a smooch from me.
When I was in the AF, I once had a First Sergeant tell me that he was non-political and didn’t vote because “it is a soldier’s duty to serve with equal devotion no matter who is the President.”
This ethic is very old and deep, and goes a long way toward explaining why most old soldiers don’t speak out, IMHO.
Now that’s a news flash. Thanks Harry Reid.
W’s lyrics in his
hilariousdisrespectfulsonglatest “rendition” were so despicable andsungcroaked in the same sarcastic, patronizing tone as when he was looking for the WMD’s “under his desk” that have cost the lives of over a million people…Scooter no longer pursued by the prosecutor.
Being hassled about Brownie.
etc.
Bush lied and people died. He is one deranged #&^$#%&$*.
Spit.
I hope Fallon lays his insanity out on the table. That would be patriotic.
Does this appointment go through Congress or does the Chimporer have full control?
It doesn’t work that way for the military, the only role the Senate plays, besides ‘oversight’, is the awarding of stars…! ;-)
Combine Fallon’s departure with DeadEye’s trip to the MidEast where yesterday he disparaged IsR@el’s East Jeruselam (illegal) housing expansion.
don’t like the sound of things, fellow dogs.
No coinkydinky.
Which is why it has been so totally amazing when the retired stars HAVE spoken out in the last few months. That ethos goes very deep and is difficult for most of then to overcome.
Abizaid and Batiste have sure made a difference. Now haven’t they?
This is not accurate. Iran is far larger, with developed infrastructure, and state-of-the-art Russian air-defense assets. Iraq had been bombed for 13 years before the invasion, Iran-not. There may be dissent in Iran, but if we attack they will instantly be unified.
This would be a very different war.
Admiral Fallon to offer his support and advice to the Obama campaign.
O.K I’m making it up but wouldn’t it be something if he did.
Hi CT!
FWIW, I fear that Fallon’s departure is precisely because he’s been a good commander and - like Shinseki - honors his oath and speaks truth to Power when the welfare of those under his command is at stake.
As Fallon has been the plug holding Iran War in the bottle, I believe his resignation was about as spontaneous as the Bushies’ resignations to spend more time with family. Civilian authority (Sec Def under Bush/Cheney) was apparently required to allow him to leave - and I don’t think Gates ignored the chain of command.
I believe Fallon is out ’cause the Bushies want him out - and the Iran War Bush/Cheney want is precisely what Fallon had the power to block. Until today.
Hmm - I wonder who benefits from oil going to $400/bbl? And I wonder who benefits from a “splendid little war” in the run-up to November?
I so want to be wrong on this.
And I so want to have dual citizenship. Are any readers in the EU/Canada/NZ/Australia adopting? Five adorable felines and one slightly used psychiatrist would love to know.
Not to mention blocking the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices to $200 or more.
Would this wacky admin trade progess in the Isr/Pal peace process for 100 cruise missiles??
Thing of it is, Bush is out in eight months.
I swear he thinks not.
Heh, get while the getting is good, eh Doc? ;-)
Which is why I can’t understand why they would want to start another war. I simply can’t see any purpose in this whole thing.
Come next January it’s McCain’s, Obama’s or Clinton’s prob.
I’m assuming Cheney’s trip has something to do with Bandar Bush’s threat of terrorism to the Brits. Cheney wouldn’t want some information like that leaking out about the US, given all those Saudi hijackers on 9/11.
And then we have General (ret.) Colin Powell.
We have been told the answer to that one: because if W doesn’t stop Iran, no one else will. I’ve been thinking he’ll do it round about Xmas, out of spite to the next D prez.
I swear, I think W thinks he’s Cuban Pete:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
Yes. The economic counterattack….also, the F-117 Stealth has been solved, as demonstrated when the Serbs shot one down using radar based on cell-phone technology. The Russians have been developing that technology and selling it. The F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter are not available in sufficient numbers. The F-15, -16, and -18 would be very questionable against a state-of-the-art air defense network, as they are 30-year-old designs.
A seriously different war.
Freakin out may in fact be called for. I’m worried as hell, but I’m trying to keep a little optimism…
Maybe, as Jane had hinted, Fallon could be preparing to speak out — it would be hard to go to war with Fallon publicly calling the administration out over it.
It is now a CERTAINTY that the Cheney Admin will attack Iran before November.
I’ve been reading about this Fallon thing for weeks around certain sites on the intertubes. I was hoping that it wouldn’t pan out, that it wouldn’t be true that the Bushistas would actually can Fallon before the end of the Bush Debacle so that they could insert a sock puppet. But the rumors have turned out to be true. There is only ONE reason to dump Fallon: to attack. Fallon stood steadfastly opposed to an attack on Iran (besides his opposition to the splurge and Gen Betrayus).
This is where
BushCheney tells Congress in the most blatant manner possible that aPresidentEmperor can do anything he damn well wants to do regardless of the law, regardless of the Constitution.Congress will do nothing but sit on their hands and puff.
W is what ever he imagines himself to be. I think. This is a ‘problem’ prez. Perhaps his diapers need to be changed. I don’t know. ;0)
Not to mention all F-117’s will be retired soon (before the end of this year).
I don’t know that congress will do nothing!
They might pass a law giving retroactive immunity to people who start wars without going to congress!
Yep. They’re obsolete.
Hey lookout. I’m Kuban kiddo.
My army major efriend told me awhile ago that guidance systems for smart bombs (and everything else) can be knocked akilter by devices you can buy in Radio Shack. Maybe that’s what you’re talking about (IANAG: I am not a geek), or maybe it’s possible to wreak even more widespread chaos than you said. And I’d be surprised if the Iranians haven’t been preparing, unlike Saddam Hussein who thought we were bluffing, and was afraid to empower his military for fear they might turn on him.
Congress…this is your 100th frikkin’ 3:00 A.M wake-up call. Wake up!!
So much excitement. Spitzer and Fallon. It’s to the point where I almost can’t stand it.
This is rank (heh) speculation, but it’s well known that Fallon dislikes Petraeus, Washington’s fair-haired boy. This could be the fallout from a larger turf battle, not just about Iran.
TPM Headline: Fallon on His Sword. Did punaise go over to the competition?
Me? I want to bomb everyone.
Attacking Iran would occur during the ‘08 campaign to aid Repukes and McBush using “Wag the Dog” to distract our fickle populace.
jackie at 27
thanks
Betrayus has said that he would like to be prezdinent. Perfect running mate for McCain.
well, i don’t know if it means anything or not (on iran, on turf battles or whatever).
but i’m gonna be paying more attention to the location of our carriers again:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/...../where.htm
Anybody watching the Repugs’ shenanigans in the House on FISA, right now?
I can’t find the linkies (f’n dialup) fast enough, but I recall:
(1) War games showing Iranian irregulars sending USN to bottom of Persian Gulf (”enemy” commanded by stalwart USMC General - he withdrew when DOD flunkies blocked his commands in order to swing wargame outcome to favor Bushies’ desired outcome)
(2) Supersonic anti-ship missles againnst which USN is reportedly defenseless: provided to Iran by China (hey, wasn’t America’s offshoring - via legal/illegal export - of military technology to China a grand idea? Thanks, War Contractors - care for a smoke before the treason executions?)
(3) Oh yeah - that little problem of Iraq’s Shia (inconviently located athwart US withdrawal route to Kuwait) response to US attack on Shia Iran.
Lets see now. The election is in eight months. Who do you want as the next president? Obama, Clinton or McCain?
too bad there aren’t many left
utter destruction of Institutional Intelligence in their great war
Well, I try not to be a geek either, but the hardware does interest me…I was talking about the planes. A satellite-guided bomb, ( JDAM) is guided by GPS, which can certainly be jammed. Laser-guided, no. The satellite-guided bombs are 1/10 the price of the laser guided.
All last fall, people were saying that Iran would be attacked during the spring. This spring. Now. Soon.
Lahoma and I have decided to send another $500.00 to the Obama campaign.
Hoo Hah! This is it, Elizabeth, the big one. Here we go off to start the
next war for the neocons and israel… so long constitution, been good to
know ya’.
crikey - Twain and others - you can change the filter on that page to
“by rank”
801 Sgts to date = 20.1% of all casualties
442 St Sgts = 11%
Gillard would weep at the gunny’s and Sgt Majors
I actually think that the public won’t rally to the country if W launches yet another war. But that doesn’t mean that the Rs won’t think that they will. They are radical risk takers and, in any event, it might look like their only chance by then.
The Challenge of Paul Van Riper
I should have indicated snarkiness in posing that question.
Sorry one and all.
-G
Yes, you’re right, I now remember, its the GPS that he told me can be jammed. Do you know what the % usage of GPS-guided vs. laser-guided bombs? When they say “paint the target” wrt bombing, they’re talking about lasers, no?
Sanrk recieved on this terminal (and snark). Tahnks for the smile amidst grim news.
And RonD - thanks for the Van Riper linky (love that name for a general)
Lahoma and I say: Go Obama in Mississippi! My woman and I have the courage to speak out on who we support.
Senator Reid’s statement:
Senator Reid’s signing statement:
also RonD - thanks for your great summation re Van Riper and the war games.
FWIW, Fallons’ resignation has not been mentioned on CNBC, so it seems like it’s implications for war are not on the market’s radar yet. (I was watching CNN during the actual presser, so don’t know if it was covered then, but flipped back to CNBC about 10 minutes later & it hasn’t been mentioned since.) We’ll see what happens to oil prices tonight.
and it cost Van Riper his fourth star -
Janes is a pretty good source too
http://www.janes.com/news/defe....._1_n.shtml
You bad, Badwater.
Frankly, I don’t care what Fallon does.
kemo at 52
link didn’t work
Well, they’ve been buying a lot of the sat-guidance rigs, because they can be retrofitted onto normal dumb bombs, they are accurate, and they’re 1/10 the cost of laser-guided. Laser guided is more accurate-a laser “paints the target”, and the bomb homes in on the laser dot.
Very accurate, and very difficult to stop. Bang for the buck favors the JDAM (sat) bombs. Of course we still use plenty f old-fashioned gravity (dumb) bombs.
Probably 60% (wild-ass guess) are gravity bombs.
Van Riper was already retired when he commanded Red during MC02.
On an ironically lighter note, via Dan Froomkin’s column today:
I recall many saying that when Rumsfeld left things would change. I remember some indicating that when Gonzales left situations would be different.
Thought I hit reply :(
Wanted to give credit, that was a reply to selise
Here is the link to the Esquire article:
http://www.esquire.com/features/fox-fallon
I hear the new CentCom CINC is General Jack D. Ripper.
It’s all too tedious. I have to fix supper.
Thanks. Maybe I’ll remember it a bit better now.
If you need a chuckle near the end of the hour, Cafferty’s question:
That one should be good for a few slings and arrows. *g*
Bring back the A-7E Corsair and Walleye!
OY, Dershowitz now on CNN. BTW, Heidi Fleiss (Hollywood Madam) sez Spitzer did it “because he wanted to have sex.” Glad we got that cleared up.
thank you
rond at 92—good/bad good/bad ——don’t the laser guided ones-that can’t be ’jammed’-have to have a person on the ground, ’marking’ the target? and the satellite ones-that can be ’jammed’-don’t?