The Danger of Ethics and Competency: Bush Considering Firing CentCom Chief Adm. Fallon
By Nicole Belle Wednesday Mar 05, 2008 11:00am
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has called CENTCOM commander Adm. William Fallon “one of the best strategic thinkers in uniform today.” Fallon opposed the “surge” in Iraq and has consistently battled the Bush administration to avoid a confrontation with Iran, calling officials’ war-mongering “not helpful.” Privately, he has vowed that an attack on Iran “will not happen on my watch.”
Unfortunately, this level-headed thinking and willingness to stand up to President Bush may cost him his job. According to a new article by Thomas P.M. Barnett in the April issue of Esquire magazine (on newsstands March 12), Fallon may be prematurely “relieved of his command” as soon as this summer:
[W]ell-placed observers now say that it will come as no surprise if Fallon is relieved of his command before his time is up next spring, maybe as early as this summer, in favor of a commander the White House considers to be more pliable. If that were to happen, it may well mean that the president and vice-president intend to take military action against Iran before the end of this year and don’t want a commander standing in their way.
Just another day in BushWorld. There's a sneaky (and admittedly tin-foil hatted) suspicion on my part that there is a calculus going on here to make sure that we're either in or on the threshold of aggression with Iran--something that Fallon has dug his heels in and fought vehemently against--as we near the November election, to help give the edge to John McCain.
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just like ALL DICTATORS do.....
they consolidate their generals and power for a takeover of the country.
the shadow PNACers have their Bushbot McCain and they've already decided that he is going to win.
bush listens to the generals until they tell him the truth. then he fires 'em.
If you're going to wag the dog by attacking Iran on August 31st, you first need to remove those military leaders who oppose attacking Iran. That's not tin-foil-hattedness, that's just plain procedure. Removing Fallon doesn't mean the U.S. WILL attack Iran, but it is a necessary step in the process.
This is just great.
While the public and media pile heaps of attention to the Dems presidential nomination battle.
No one is looking into the Bush Co's to see what they are doing. What a perfect timing for Bush Co.
They can do whatever they want without a lot of media and public scrutiny now till Nov. This
is akin to the Flag Burning, Gay marriage battle of the past. A headline story to mislead or misdirect public and media attention from the real actual Bush Co's plan of action.
Is it torches and pitchforks time YET?
Admiral Fallon: General Petraeus is an Ass-Kissing Chickenshit
Great. Pelosi and Reid will agree with him, Hillary and Obama will help by making "evil terrist" stump speeches, and McCain will smile all the way to the WhiteHouse. Perfect.
Q: What's the difference between the White House and the Boy Scouts?
A: The Boy Scouts have adult leadership
You know... if Congress will just grow some balls and stand up to the bullying tactics of the president... we wouldn't be in this mess and we won't be in another mess.
Perhaps we need to take a more concerted effort in sending balls (footballs, basketballs, soccer balls — that way the balls can be donated to various charity organizations — including the YMCA or the Boys & Girls Clubs) to congress to get them to stand up to Bush.
Either that, they could just throw them at him.
Stewart Dean @ 7:
Another difference: The White House doesn't seem to be prepared for anything.
Yesterday when bush was endorsing McCain. Bush made one statement that sent chills down my spine. He said, "I'm not done yet". I thought to myself, hell, he's going to strike Iran before he leaves office. Won't that bring us up to three wars he will be leaving us with? I guess that's about the right number for a "war president".
Can he do this without congressional approval (strike iran) due to that piece of legislation that Hillary voted for? The one designating Iran's military as a terrorist group.
Fallon doesn't fit the bush mold. He is honest, brilliant and against pre-emptive war. He also thinks Petraeus is a piece of shit. So of course bushco needs to rid themselves of competency. I think fredos in a fitting for a Freedonia Field Marshal uniform right now.
I think that it's the other way around.
i believe that they are sitting on the knowledge of an additional plot by Al Queda to attack us here, domestically, or in the Green Zone.
this summer or in the fall.
and they are going to let it happen so's McCain can get elected.
I know that it's blasphemy to think that our leaders will allow something like that to happen, but with Bush and Cheney, I wouldn't be surprised.
Where's Christopher Walken when you need him? This is so Dead Zone-ish.
The Bush Administration has always held ideology above sound military strategies and tactics. These are always signs of incompetence and ignorance. Its also how many empires in the past were beaten and thrown into the dust bin of history. Say what you want about Admiral Fallon but he tells it like he sees it and just like all of Bush's competent commanders that go against Bush's ideology he is going to pay a price for it and so will the military along with the nation as a whole.
Given the Republican's past record of fighting wars I have a better appreciation for Bill Clinton. He may have never served in the military but he listened to those experienced commanders that were his advisors and because he listened he won the confilcts that he ordered the military (of which I was a member at the time) to carry out.
Get out the tin hats
Sept 08 Iran "attacks" US Forces (has to be sept so the 9-11 ads can be run again)
Oct 08 Petreas announced as McC's VP, dumping Mitt Rummoney
McC wins as we can't change leaders mid war 04 reasoning worked out well didn't it.
Feb 09 we learn 9/08 attack was faked, but hey we're there can't leave til finished, right?
Wouldn't be nice (if the rumor is true) that Gates would resign in protest. Just joking HA HA.
Albatross @ 2:
Agreed. Given this turd's track record, very little is tin-foil hat territory. He definitely wants to attack Iran, because he's a sadist who likes to kill and wants to break something new.
Nicolle,
I should think that at this late date, you would understand that as regards what the Bush junta is capable of doing, anybody's informed speculation would have to be extreme - really extreme - before it qualified as tin-foil hat material. Go easy on yourself.
I agree that Congress could stop Bush in his tracks by simply requiring Congressional approval for any attacks on any other country. But if both houses fold on telecom immunity, why should we believe they'd stand up to Bush on an Iran attack?
The only other thing that would stop it would be a Pentagon refusal to obey orders down the line.
Who did not know this was coming? It had to go on a back burner just until the hoopla died down over his having called General Betray Us an obseqious little asskiss, or whatever that was. See? It's nearly forgotten! Now they can FIRE Fallon. It's overdue. It was set in stone some while back.
Curious Canadian here: In a national emergency, can the President declare martial law and suspend elections?
Start another war to swing an election. That's leadership? Another reason to vote Democrat, whoever is the nominee. The repugs will do anything to win.
"It's called impeachment, and you don't wait, you do it now." -- Dennis J. Kuncinich
OBSEQUIOUS.
(we have repuglicans checking our typos here, gathering proof that we are as dumb as them, I mean as THEY.)
anney @ 20:
As far fetched as it may seem now, a Pentagon refusal could come to pass. Bush is turning more and more into an Roman Emperor Nero. It was Nero as I recall, that after a period of time, his unwise military decisions and insane policies forced his own Commanders and troops to turn against him. In the end, even Nero's own Praetorian Guard refused to protect him anymore and he eventually committed suicide.
Yawwnnnnn...no surprises here. Bush seems to go through military commanders almost as quickly as most people go through clean socks -- mainly because he's shown time and time again that he's stubborn enough to make your average mule look like a pushover and has no tolerance whatsoever for anyone who questions or disagrees with him and who doesn't ask "How high?" on the way up when he asks them to jump.
jackinthebox4 @ 13:
Not so far-fetched Jack, I have said for a long time, the NeoCon won't leave office easily. They will allow some False-Flag operation to happen a short time before the elections to frighten the American Public.
The question remains, will the American public fall for this yet again.
Fool me once shame on ... shame me .. ya fool me ya can't get fool again.
Ron @ 23:
75%+ of Democrats are gutless douchebags who will do anything to get (re)elected.
95% of Republicans are worthless douchebags who will do anything to help the Commander Guy (TM).
DearEditor @ 22:
Oh, my God. SHUT UP.
This is becoming a familiar pattern. Bush I got us into the quagmire in Somalia right before he left office. That was his petty way of welcoming in Clinton to office.
This site has totally lost any real credibility to me. It's just the same old crap everyone already has seen and is familiar with. Want REAL news? Go to Infowars.
Carly Corday @ 30:
As of right now, YES. And, he decides what constitutes a national emergency.
I have said for a VERY long time.....
Bush is gonna start something with Iran near the end of his "presidency" so he can "put off the elections" so he can stay in power "until it is safe again"
That is the same thing that Rudy 911 tried to do in NYC.... it didnt work for him...... I just hope it doesnt work for George and Dick
Joe O. @ 26:
Then there was the sadist torturer Caligula (Little Boots) whose own guards set upon him with daggers in a hallway.
I hope I don't get waterboarded for taking this too far. BUT, I am prepared for waterboarding, now that I know it's one of the totures my government allows. Preparing for waterboarding is a cinch, once you know.
My guess is that Cheney is itching to start something with Iran before he leaves office and Bush is just plain nuts and "lost it". An escalation of tensions would definitely help McCain ("bomb, bomb Iran") and take the focus off the economy. Once in office, McCain will start a war with Iran.
pissed off patricia @ 11:
Do you think Bush cares? Whether or not he's required to have congressional approval, sure as hell won't stop Bush from doing it. He's above the law, he's above the constitution, or atleast Bush thinks he is. Since Congress has refused to reign him in by impeaching him, he'll do whatever the hell he wants. So if he wants to bomb Iran, nothing is going to stop him.
Well, if he is fired early enough, he would make a great Democratic VP running mate.
Putting the U.S. on the brink of war in order to give McCain an advantage won't work this time: he doesn't have a chance in h--l of getting anywhere near the Oval Office.
DearEditor @ 22:
Yes...yes he can...and likely will...ya wouldn't happen to be lookin for a roommate would ya? Say...oh I dunno...in late August or early September?
There is only one solution to Bush/Cheney's transformation of this country to Banana Republic.
A Banana Republic solution:
Military Coup.
To be dissolved January 20, 2009.
I wouldn't mind having Bush and Cheney placed under arrest by their own military.
No, suh. Not at all.
Conservativeslayer @ 37:
The President may conduct military action without congressional aproval for 120 days (may be off on # of days).
This would be a very stupid move by the Bushies. They have a p!$$ed off military on their hands already. Taking on a four star general with an attitude could be more than embarrassing.
biff diggerence @ 41:
I said almost the same thing months ago and got hammered by C&L commenters.
pissed off patricia @ 11:
Yep. Nice, eh?
If threatening to bomb yet another foreign sovereign nation is going to give mcstain an 'edge' then my suggestion to those who still see reason is to leave. Move somewhere your intelligence and personal values are still held in esteem. Let the brainless scum who would have war on the entire world for no reason continue on their path of destruction. Let 'em have mcstain and enjoy all the fallout, literal and otherwise, that he can provide them with.
The REAL war in this country is the one stewing WITHIN the military. More and more military leaders and foot soldiers are realizing that our Commander-in-Chimp is clueless and dangerous.
Bush may declare war against Iran on Aug 31st, but will anyone respond ?
He threatened to cancel his trip to Africa if Congress didnt kiss his ass on FISA. Congress ignored him anyway and he pouted all the way to Liberia. He's becoming as irrelevant as Rush, Hannity, Ingram and the rest of 'em.
Sorry, but I just cannot take my eyes off this super-slo-motion train wreck known as the GOP !
If Bush axes Fallon, that's one less person to stand up against Bush and Cheney's wish to start a war against Iran.
Bushies surround themselves with sychophants, yes men, and incompetent party apparatchiks. They could care less about the people whose lives they destroy as a result, or how many people have to die as a result of their criminality.
But if Bush thinks he can use the Iraq War Resolution to justify yet another unnecessary war...or that that's somehow going to help McCain.... Mr. 19% may reap a whirlwind. [At least I hope so!]
Mmmm... How will attacking Iran, or very nearly so help McCain? How are you traveling the distance from W relieving a general who disagrees with him to the very act helping Republicans in the November election? I would argue that attacking Iran would have the effect of helping Democrats.
Ron @ 44:
But Ron, did you really think you could propose a military coup and not get hammered? :)
ConcernedCanuck @ 45:
He had these powers BEFORE that. Vietnam? Anyone?
Ron @ 44.
F**k that noise.
They acquired the Executive by coup in 2000.
Let them be removed that way.
Steve Chapman just published the most recent exposition of McCain's "folly on Iraq." The link is
biff diggerence @ 52:
Two wrongs...
DearEditor @ 22:
I believe that is his plan. He said in 2006 that it was a great thing that America was willing to hold elections during a time of war. Its already in his head and it look like they are moving in that direction. He and his party cheated in the last two presidential elections, now they want to cancel them altogether. Or maybe they just want something to blame it on when they rig the election for McCain. Last time it was "values voters", this time its "the war" with Iran.
I hope I am wrong, I really do.
EliteLemming @ 54.
Wow. A trite cliche will solve our problems.
This is what the little Hitler will do every time, He is an ass!!!!
pissed off patricia @ 11:
yes
fiver @ 50:
I didn't suggest a coup, I thought the military should put the administration under arrest. That is why I said, "almost the same thing."
ThunderMonkey @ 9:
The WH doesn't respect the Constitution.
Isn't the Military themselves tired of this P.O.S. "Commander" in chief who only rewards yes-men like Petreaus? Aren't they tired of Bush's administration running the U.S. military into the ground?
biff diggerence @ 56:
Wasn't offering asolution, hoping for a better one.
liberalNmoderation @ 4:
I have to ask the same question, but I wouldn't call myself LiberalNModeration. No. I am and allways will be a Leftist Americanista. Where are the Patrick Henrys of our day?
Yes, because we're talking about a preznit who ignores Congress, ignores treaties, ignores the rules of law, ignores the Constitution, ignores world opinion, ignores the United Nations....
So who's going to stop him? Mr. Bomb, bomb, bomb McSame?
Your either with us, or against us.
Carly Corday @ 30:
Inspite of what Carly sez, no the prez can't declare martial law and suspend elections. Oh, wait a minute, I forgot boooosh is the preznitwit. Me bad.
Oh, and if the Bushies attack Iran, that little paper Hillary signed twice [for Iraq and Iran] will be one more reason to question her "experience" and compare her unfavorably with McCain.
AF_Comm_Guy @ 31:
My God, you're right. The truth is so soon forgotten! I thought I would never forget my dismay at old bush pulling a thing like that right at transition time! I was flumoxed. Oh, and I was a repuglican, too. Maybe THAT'S how I "forgot."
EliteLemming @ 51:
Ya, all they need is an excuse, and everybody knows political leaders lie through their teeth.
Robert H. Graham @ 57:
Gran'pa Prescott Bush seems to have passed on some of the Führer's attributes to his li'l grandson Dubya. Prescott must have learned a lot from his friendship and support of the Nazi leader during WWII.
sassafra @ 1:
Bushco didn't say anything about keeping on Chief Adm.
Does it strike anyone else as odd that such a move would be telegraphed like this? I'm trying to figure out the angle here. Who leaked this information?
Fade @ 61:
yes, they are.
EliteLemming @ 54.
Too late to employ the Constitutional provisions for removal. An unwilling House. A preposterously divided Senate. A piece of shit of a Supreme Court (who selected our current CIC).
Sufficient time remains for them to attack Iran.
I'd say we're out of solutions, short of a military coup.
jackinthebox4 @ 13:
Allow, or do?
biff diggerence @ 74:
YES, REDS UNITE! We willtake the hill! CHAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGE... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH...... (splash)!
biff diggerence @ 74:
It wouldn't have to be a "coup", meaning a military takeover of the government, but just a refusal down the line to attack Iran would do it.
Give Me Convenience @ 49:
Hi! Welcome to Terra, or as we call it, "Earth." Yes, we've named our planet after dirt. We also named a large indigenous population after a distant unrelated country, and two continents for a mapmaker, so that should tell you something about us.
Anywho you might want to check into the recent history of the U.S.A., say since Sept 11, 2001, in order to see how your normally logical conclusion doesn't apply here. On that day, one of our former foreign agents turned on us and murdered a lot of civilians, so we knowingly attacked an unrelated country and then pretended we didn't realize what we were doing.
So trust me when I tell you that if our leader once again knowingly launched an illegal and immoral war, he could use that action to justify holding power, and he'd pretty much get away with it.
Remember, on this planet we named a large, ice-covered continent "Greenland."
marco @ 66:
Um...actually, he DOES in fact have the legal authority to do just that. I can't remember the exact terminilogy , but he has that power. And he's insane enough to do it.
EliteLemming @ 76:
Come out of your heroin stupor.
This fucking republic is broke.
A couple things I want to share with you about our deluded society.
I meet in walking, an old man the other day. He said to me "if they let that obama in there for president. I will move to another country." My reply? "Dont let the door hit you in the ass."
I talked with an old lady the other day who said that she likes Bush because he is a christian. I asked her.. "Ma'am do you make this decision that he is a christian based upon his actions or just because he said he is one?"
The older class of our society is programmed in large part by Fox news and to some extent the other television media outlets. Until this class either turns the television off and reads a little or dies off this country is going to continue to have alot of difficulty. We are lucky that Bush was bashing social security the way that he was in the years between his 2004 win and the 2006 elections. Otherwise we might still have a republican congress and senate. We thus would probably be at war with Iran and our military would be broken.
pissed off patricia @ 10:
That would be the Busholini "trifecta".
Ronnie @ 39:
Ya, that's why all the public opinion polls have a Dem Vs Rep election withing a percent or two......no way in h_ _l Bush will win either....twice
These are people that have spent a lifetime in the military, courageously serving, and rising through the ranks. Our AWOL President can ruin their future if they don't tell him what he wants to hear. Life isn't fair. What a mean son-of-a-gun we elected.
Bush and Cheney only want yes-men, and seek to destroy the rest. This is not a good development regarding Iran.
Ron @ 59:
That's a military coup then and suspends ALL constitutional rights. You want that?
fiver @ 50:
I've thought this for years and have been getting hammered the whole time for it. You're not alone!
steambomb
I live in the South, and the fundamentalist CHURCHES are also spreading lies and inciting racist sentiments about Obama, so it's more than Fox.