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Admirable admiral bites the dust
Despite his impeccable war record, Fallon tended to discuss events as he saw them.
- Gulf News
- Published: 00:48 March 13, 2008
It was inevitable Admiral William Fallon would have to go, once he expressed views contrary to those stated in the White House. Fallon's responsibility, as head of the US Central Command, was to oversee US strategy in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.
Unfortunately for the Bush administration, though, despite Fallon's impeccable war record, he tended to discuss events as he saw them. Especially those events to which he was closest - Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.
Last September Fallon said he believed the war in Iraq "was not working". That in itself should have raised a red flag in the White House, but whether there was a private scolding is not known.
But Fallon, believing himself impregnable, said of the US position on Iran: "The constant drumbeat of conflict ... is not helpful and not useful." That was enough for Bush. Fallon had to go, and go he did.
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