# Admiral William Fallon, head of CENTCOM, "retires" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 11, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026 "2008-03-11T21:45:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/1 "2008-03-11T21:45:53Z")
[SecDef Gates says he accepted Fallon’s request for early retirement “with reluctance and regret.”](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/11/washington/11cnd-fallon.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin) But everybody knows what’s really going on here: Fallon was pushed out for disagreeing with the Admin’s Iran policy, [as reported in _Esquire._](http://www.esquire.com/features/fox-fallon?click=pp) How many officers does that make, now, who have been in one way or another cashiered for saying things the Bush Admin did not want to hear or did not want anyone else to hear? ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/2 "2008-03-11T21:58:33Z")
They probably fired him because he hates America. Tris ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/3 "2008-03-11T22:13:25Z")
To paraphrase a brilliant mind: you go to war with the commander you might want, or wish to have at a later time, not the one you have. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/4 "2008-03-11T22:30:39Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] How many officers does that make, now, who have been in one way or another cashiered for saying things the Bush Admin did not want to hear or did not want anyone else to hear? [/QUOTE] The answer’s blowin in the wind? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/5 "2008-03-12T13:45:38Z")
It wasn’t **just** about Iran, of course. Fallon also opposd the Surge: > [@](#): > > Judging by Fallon’s grimace as his official party passes, I can tell that the cover story in this morning’s Egyptian Gazette landed hard on somebody’s desk at the White House. U.S. RULES OUT STRIKE AGAINST IRAN, read the banner headline, and the accompanying photo showed Fallon in deep consultation with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. > > Fallon sidles up to me during a morning coffee break. “I’m in hot water again,” he says. > > “The White House?” > > The admiral slowly nods his head. > > "They say, ‘Why are you even meeting with Mubarak?’ " This seems to utterly mystify Fallon. > > “Why?” he says, shrugging with palms extending outward. “Because it’s my job to deal with this region, and it’s all anyone wants to talk about right now. People here hear what I’m saying and understand. I don’t want to get them too spun up. Washington interprets this as all aimed at them. Instead, it’s aimed at governments and media in this region. I’m not talking about the White House.” He points to the ground, getting exercised. “This is my center of gravity. This is my job.” > > Fallon was quietly opposed to a long-term surge in Iraq, because more of our military assets tied down in Iraq makes it harder to come up with a comprehensive strategy for the Middle East, and he knew how that looked to higher-ups. He also knows that sometimes his statements on Iran strike the same people as running “counter to stated policy.” “But look,” he says, “yesterday I’m speaking in front of 250 Egyptian businessmen over lunch here in Cairo, and these guys keep holding up newspapers and asking, ‘Is this true and can you explain, please?’ I need to present the threats and capabilities in the appropriate language. That’s one of my duties.” > > Fallon explains his approach to Iran the same way he explains why he doesn’t make Al Qaeda the focus of his regional strategy as Centcom’s commander: "What’s the best and most effective way to combat Al Qaeda? We tend to make too much or too little a deal about it. I want a more even keel. I come from the school of ‘walk softly and carry a big stick.’ " ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/6 "2008-03-12T14:22:49Z")
Fallon showed no respect for our surgin general Patraeus. Fallon is not interested in going after Iran. He feels we should concentrate on Afghanistan. With crazy ideas like that ,how could they allow him to stay. He shows the ability to think. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/7 "2008-03-12T14:52:37Z")
[QUOTE=Triskadecamus] They probably fired him because he hates America. [/QUOTE] He’s a Democrat? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/8 "2008-03-12T15:55:26Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] He’s a Democrat? -Joe [/QUOTE] Well, he probably is _now_. (Or will be if Obama wins the nom, decides Clark is too Hillary-y and wants a military veep) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/9 "2008-03-12T21:45:04Z")
[QUOTE=Menocchio] . . . too Hillary-y . . . [/QUOTE] Doesn’t work. How about “Hillarian”? ---
**Author:** ![Carson\_O\_Genic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Carson\_O\_Genic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carson_O_Genic)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/10 "2008-03-12T22:15:38Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Doesn’t work. How about “Hillarian”? [/QUOTE] Hilarious? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/11 "2008-03-12T22:30:25Z")
[QUOTE=Carson O’Genic] Hilarious? [/QUOTE] Anything but. ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/12 "2008-03-12T22:53:01Z")
How about Hillish? ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/13 "2008-03-13T00:06:09Z")
The White House is [denying](http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080312/pl_nm/usa_military_fallon_dc;_ylt=AmrSKonzVXkblqcptXE3C8Ss0NUE) that it’s stifling dissent. > [@Whitehouse Spokeswoman Dana Perino](#): > > That is absolutely nonsense because President Bush has always fostered an environment of robust and healthy debate. It’s a testament to her professional skills that she was able to say that and still keep a straight face. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/14 "2008-03-13T00:22:18Z")
[QUOTE=Blalron] The White House is [denying](http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080312/pl_nm/usa_military_fallon_dc;_ylt=AmrSKonzVXkblqcptXE3C8Ss0NUE) that it’s stifling dissent. It’s a testament to her professional skills that she was able to say that and still keep a straight face. :smack: [/QUOTE] Well, it’s _possible_ that Bush does foster that kind of an environment, at least until his handlers usher him to the minibar in the other room to memorize another of their speeches… ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/15 "2008-03-13T02:01:30Z")
[QUOTE=Blalron] The White House is [denying](http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080312/pl_nm/usa_military_fallon_dc;_ylt=AmrSKonzVXkblqcptXE3C8Ss0NUE) that it’s stifling dissent. It’s a testament to her professional skills that she was able to say that and still keep a straight face. :smack: [/QUOTE] I would love to have someone ask as a followup question: “Give me one example in the seven years Bush has been president where there was a vigorous debate between opposing viewpoints before a decision was made. Just one.” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/16 "2008-03-13T02:08:49Z")
“Should we simply suck Big Oil’s dick, or need we rim them first?” “Invading Iraq: great idea, or totally awesome!” ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/17 "2008-03-13T03:42:16Z")
[QUOTE=Frostillicus] I would love to have someone ask as a followup question: “Give me one example in the seven years Bush has been president where there was a vigorous debate between opposing viewpoints before a decision was made. Just one.” [/QUOTE] Just to shed reason on the question, how do you know for sure there wasn’t? I don’t…you don’t…is this based on a Keith Olbermann rant? I’m being serious. People like to throw around a bunch of uninformed (not saying you) opinoins because they don’t agree with something…is there evidence of that (post-Rumsfeld)? ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/18 "2008-03-13T03:43:04Z")
[QUOTE=Frostillicus] I would love to have someone ask as a followup question: “Give me one example in the seven years Bush has been president where there was a vigorous debate between opposing viewpoints before a decision was made. Just one.” [/QUOTE] Come on, there was the time in his first term that Colin Powell actually got a word and a half in edgewise about what a bad idea invading Iraq would be before Cheney and Rumsfeld drowned him out. ---
**Author:** ![bannerrefugee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@bannerrefugee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bannerrefugee)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/19 "2008-03-13T04:20:19Z")
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil] Just to shed reason on the question, how do you know for sure there wasn’t? [/QUOTE] wasn’t debate? For Bush and his helpers, I hope there was no debate. If there was debate he and his helpers look even stupider. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026/20 "2008-03-13T04:30:04Z")
“But, Daddy, if you invade Iraq, won’t that, like, really make a whole bunch of people really, really mad? And cost, like, totally a lot of money?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/admiral-william-fallon-head-of-centcom-retires/441026.md?page=2)